Tramp stamp meaning

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission, tramp stamp meaning. In the last few decades, tattoos have become a mainstay in pop culture. As parlors around the tramp stamp meaning get ready to celebrate Friday the 13th with flashes galore, our Pop-ink package examines how these skin markings have evolved beyond their traditional roots — from fandoms to family.

Accessed 18 Mar. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! See Definitions and Examples ». Cite this Entry Citation Share. Log In.

Tramp stamp meaning

No matter what you call it, the lower back tattoo has earned its place in the halls of fashion history. Arguably, no other tattoo placement is as culturally divisive as a lower back tattoo on a woman. But why? And how did the association between lower back tattoos and sexual activity become so culturally ubiquitous? I had to know, so I did a little digging. Here is what I discovered. Tattoos on women were taboo in Western culture for most of the 20th century, and, as we all know, social expectations for women take a long time to adjust. As ink on chicks gradually became more acceptable in the s, tattoo placements that could easily be concealed were popular, according to tattoo historian Dr. Anna Felicity Friedman. Thus, the phenomenon of the lower back tattoo was born in Western culture. Biases against women with tattoos continued to lower throughout the s. Also lowering: waistlines. This was the era of exposed lower backs — prime real estate for a cute flower or butterfly.

Macmillan Publishers.

We use the term tramp stamp to humorously label a lower back tattoo, but this phrase is also a way to drag down the reputation of women who receive it; illustrating even though tattoos have become more socially accepted, they still hold some negative stereotypes. Where "tramp stamp" came from is still a bit of a mystery. What is known is the popular references we've seen in comedy platforms. The expression boomed in popularity after a "Saturday Night Live" skit. From there, audiences saw, in reality, tv shows, such as Rock of Love , tramp stamps linked to a particular kind of woman; linked to being promiscuous. Research indicates the phrase was hatched between the mid-nineties and early s, quickly gaining an erotic undertone.

The most personal tattoo on my body is a shadow of Peter Pan and the second star to the right, surrounded by the text, To live will be an awfully big adventure. For this tattoo, I spent two hours bent over the artist's chair at a small shop in Baltimore, squeezing my best friend's hand during the worst of those white-hot bursts of pain from the needle. But I worried that if he stopped, I would lose my nerve and be left with a half-finished tattoo, only to force myself back in the chair weeks or months down the line. When my editor asked about my new ink, I explained that it was in memory of my brother, who shared my love of Peter Pan and had passed away the month before. She rubbed my shoulder and nodded. Thankfully, I didn't need to elaborate. It isn't my most recent tattoo — I got it five years ago, four years before the one on my left foot — but it's the one people seem to comment on the most. All four of my tattoos are etched in spots on my body that I must deliberately expose: a lift of my shirt, a slight lowering of my jeans. I never seriously considered that anyone close to me would reduce the work put into my back tattoo to a term like "tramp stamp. When I showed off the tattoo, I wasn't trying to be seductive.

Tramp stamp meaning

Karen L. Hudson is a tattoo artist and contributing writer. She has been an amateur artist as a hobby since grade school, and served a 12 month tattoo apprenticeship in a tattoo studio. Lower-back tattoos tend to conjure up a lot of assumptions about the women who wear them. It all starts with the slang terms: "back bait," "California license plate," "handlebars," "spank button," and so many more. Of course, the infamous "tramp stamp" is the most common of these.

Alex coal blake blossom

I spent 2 years cleaning houses. Also, men waited for an average of 11 minutes less to approach the women with tattoos than those without. But I worried that if he stopped, I would lose my nerve and be left with a half-finished tattoo, only to force myself back in the chair weeks or months down the line. The design: Two sweet pea flowers. And how did the association between lower back tattoos and sexual activity become so culturally ubiquitous? The path of the tramp stamp over the past three-ish decades is an example of shifting perceptions of female sexuality. Share the Definition of tramp stamp on Twitter Twitter. The design: A cherub. I thought my friends and family would understand this — and yet they still made jokes:. Popular in Wordplay See All. All four of my tattoos are etched in spots on my body that I must deliberately expose: a lift of my shirt, a slight lowering of my jeans.

By signing in, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. We'll see you in your inbox soon. There's a lot of talk about tramp stamp tattoos, some of it good and some of it bad.

The hardest part is not drinking at work. I got sober a year and a half ago. Paul Lester and Susan Ross ed. Illustrations by Skyli Alvarez. I borrowed imagery, misunderstood its symbolism, and then put my own spin on it. Concerns have emerged that epidural catheters may cause tattoo pigment to enter interspinous ligaments and other areas, potentially leading to health problems. To test this, he designed an experiment where a bikini-clad woman would lie face down on a towel at a beach. I thought my friends and family would understand this — and yet they still made jokes: "Pretty sexy, eh? Keywords tattoo tattoos pop ink Y2K. Support our mission and help keep Vox free for all by making a financial contribution to Vox today.