why do people hate tramp stamps?!

     so yes.. i do have a tramp stamp (don't tell my dad), but when i told several people i wanted it, i got sooo many mixed reactions. "why would you ever want that?" or "that's ugly," which yeah i guess personal preference but HAVE YOU SEEN A GOOD TRAMP STAMP?! they are so GORGEOUS and sexy and cunty! so today i'll be touching on the brief history of tramp stamps and my personal opinion on them. 

    let's start at the beginning, the tramp stamp is formally known as a "lower back tattoo" but garnered the nickname throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s (Edens 2019). sources say the popularization of tramp stamps started in California after multiple tattoo studios saw a spike in popularity (Edens 2019). while the exact origin of the term is unclear and can be credited to different people, its meaning was always meant to be derogatory and demeaning to women (wow, so everything is really rooted in racism and/or misogyny, surprising). women who had these tattoos were seen as "trashy" or "promiscuous" (Downey 2023). in a time where women's sexuality was always being exploited, judged, and criticized, the tramp stamp was seen as an act of rebellion. getting a tattoo in this specific area meant challenging the norm and being comfortable in your sexuality. you can even see it in today's culture; tattoos are often demonized and linked to hypersexuality or maturity (especially on women). i will say the times have certainly changed, and acceptance of tattoos has increased globally. 

    growing up, my dad told me that i shouldn't get tattoos (despite him having them himself), and that it is "mutating my body." clearly i didn't listen, and when i got my tramp stamp i couldn't help but think of why he told me that and not my brother. this type of thinking is exactly why tramp stamps are so important, they're a way to regain our autonomy and feel like we're in control. i didn't get my tramp stamp because i wanted to please whoever was gonna be behind me (wink), i got it for ME so i can feel more confident in my body, and i can look at it in the mirror and remind myself that my body is MY OWN and my sexuality is nothing to be afraid of or hide. i can't explain how happy i was to hear that tramp stamps are becoming popular again! even if they're still frowned upon, they are more normalized than they used to be, and i think that's beautiful. anyways thanks for coming to my ted talk, and if you're on the fence about getting a tramp stamp... 

GET THE DANG TRAMP STAMP 

WEAR LOW-RISE JEANS 

LET THE BELLY HANG 

FREE THE NIP 

thanks for reading :) 

sources: 

https://thewhiterabbits.org/culture/misogyny-and-tattoos-the-history-of-the-tramp-stamp/

https://freshlyinkedmag.com/ink-origins-the-tramp-stamp/