I made two posters for my tattoo studio and posted them on Instagram. I plan to invite two or three people to my offline workshop. Due to time differences, covid and venue restrictions, the number of participants could not be large. The rest of participants may still have to attend the meeting on zoom. The workshop is an invitation for girls to look at their imperfections, recall their own stories, design a tattoo for themselves and then draw the tattoo (a temporary, removable tattoo) as a process of reconnecting with themselves and sharing their stories with other women participants.
Reflection: First of all I have to give a brief introduction to my project with the participants. So one of the things I have to do is tell them why I associate tattooing with self-esteem and body image. This is the question that was asked during the previous presentation. I think I need to address such doubts of others.
I have divided my reasons for choosing tattoos as a way to improve my self-esteem and body image into two aspects. On the one hand I think tattooed women challenge the dominant beauty culture. Women can protect themselves from mainstream beauty culture with tattoos and they could feel that they were armoring themselves against the mainstream beauty culture. They will use it as an expression of a rebellious spirit and a way of confronting mainstream aesthetics. Additionally, they recast tattooing as alternative forms of beauty and self-expression.
On the other hand I think for some women, tattoos can be an alternative to problem solving to help them find solace. Tattoos are actually a way of remembering or memorialising, a personal hobby or a way of expressing oneself. By this way, tattoos can make women think about who controls our bodies.
But through my interviews with a number of people, it appears that human emotions and the purpose of doing things are very complex. Both of the reasons I have categorised above may be present in their heads. This means that she can express rebellious emotions and fight against mainstream aesthetics while also using the tattoo as a psychological comfort and using it as a reminder and a memento of herself.