When we look back at the most ancient traditions of tattooing, women were very involved as both recipients and artists. In many ancient cultures, tattooing was in fact a women’s only art.
That’s right, just for the ladies!
Tattooing the body was a way to secure a seat with the ancestors in the afterlife, prepare and announce that a young girl was now a woman ready to marry and bear children, and often it was deeply linked with ideals of feminine beauty held.
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In this lecture students will be led on a journey through women’s tattoo herstory, looking at traditions from Ancient Egypt and Nubia, the Ainu, Atayal, Maori, and then the indigenous tribes of North America. We will also discuss the intersections of colonialism, patriarchy, and Western beauty myths that attempted to erase these practices.

This ‘herstory’ needs to be shared and engaged, since it helps put to bed the old perception that tattoos are for men … for those sailors, criminals, and bikers! Sorry fellas!

We are committed to making our sessions as accessible as possible. If you are unable to pay the full amount for this class, please reach out to us via email at [email protected] and we will provide you with a discount code.