Methodology
Before beginning my field research, I had to come up with a concept for my interviews. To begin with, I wasn't sure where I wanted to go with this report. I knew I wanted to talk about tattoos and incorporate differences between men and women concerning tattoos, but I wasn't sure what the angle would be. So I began with the interviews and figured I could take it from there. It was not difficult to find subjects for these interviews. Everyone I know with a tattoo is more than willing to talk about them. It is something they seem to be very proud of, so I was happy to give them an opportunity to share their thoughts.

The first person I interviewed was Brian Jones. I met him last year in a program called Conversations on Race. The title is pretty self explanatory. We discussed racial issues mostly, but gender issues worked their way in slightly, as they tend to do. Because I had already gotten the opportunity to talk to him about these issues, I knew he would make a good interviewee.

The second person I interviewed was my roommate, Jessica Atkins. I am quite familiar with her tattoos already as she has appointed me her lotion girl. I often apply lotion to Cornelius, the dragon tattoo on her shoulder. I also know that she is very proud of her tattoos, and like Brian, believes that they are a great form of self expression and encourages others to get one.

Once my interviewees were in line, I came up with a set of questions. I thought it would be interesting to see how a male and a female would answer the same questions, so I made that my control. There are, however, other factors.  Brian is a Black man with no ties to Harley Davidson.  Jessica is a White woman who was raised among bikers.  Their influence and background were very different, so their responses probably have to do with more than just gender.

Description
The first thing that I found very interesting about their interviews was that contrary to my original hypothesis, both Brian and Jessica had similar responses despite their differences in background. Among these similarities was the fact that although tattoos generally carry a negative stigma, both Brian and Jessica had nothing but positive things to say about their tattoos and tattoos in general. One stigma in particular is that tattoos are a form of rebellion. This is not the case for these two. Brian's mom took him to get his first tattoo on his 18th birthday, and Jessica's dad accompanied her as well on her first visit to the tattoo parlor.

Another similarity I found was in Brian and Jessica's responses to the idea of covering up their tattoos. Brian said he that he understands the fact that tattoos are not acceptable in every environment. Over the summer while working in a bank, he covered his tattoos knowing that in a business setting, tattoos are unacceptable. This is the reason that all his tattoos can be covered up wearing regular clothes. Jessica, too, understands that her tattoos are not accepted in every environment. She plans on covering her tattoos once she starts her professional career, but she clarifies that when she covers her tattoos, it is for others. comfort as opposed to her own.

As far as regretting their tattoos, Brian and Jessica assured me that it will not happen. Brian put it well when he said, "Even if when I'm 40 and I look at a tattoo and I don't like it, that's still a sign of what is as going through at that time in my life. Every tattoo that I have in one away or another reflects something that I was going through at that point in my life." He adds that when he's 80 and wrinkled, he probably won't be wearing tank tops and "trying to flex for the ladies" anymore, so it won't really matter.

Brian and Jessica are obviously not worried about regretting their tattoos in the future. They both have plans to get some more. What is interesting about their future tattoos is that they don't know what they will be of. They do, however, know where they want them to go. This shows that they not only have no reservations about getting tattoos, but also that they truly do see it as a form of body art. They consider the design itself, its significance to them, how big it will be, what color, ... etc., but apparently its placement is equally important.

I asked whether each of them felt they have more in common with people who also have tattoos. Brian said that it is certainly a conversation starter. Since they've shared the same experience, they have something in common right from the start. Jessica agrees that there is some degree of camaraderie when talking to people with tattoos. But she adds that in general people w/ tattoos tend to me more open-minded and that is the primarily why she feels comfortable around them. The tattoo itself isn't the draw, but what the tattoo says about the person that puts her in the same category.

On the gender issue, Brian believes that generally, men with tattoos aren't treated differently than they would be if they didn't have a tattoo. Women on the other hand are a different story. He says that this double standard could potentially change, but nothing is certain. He elaborates that the way this society is, a model could walk down the runway with a tattoo on her arm, and it could become the latest trend. I agree that it is typically the things that are looked down upon that become the most popular in the future.  Jessica agrees that there is a double standard. She says that even in the workplace she speculates that women with tattoos are treated differently than men with tattoos. She is aware of the double standard in a social setting as well. Guys with and without tattoos have told her that women with tattoos are sluts. She believes this has already begun to change with more and more females getting tattooed. This time it is without their boyfriends or fathers. Today, more and more females are going into tattoo parlors with their friends, which Jessica says, is a good step.

On the topic of feeling out of place, neither Brian nor Jessica have had any bad experiences with their tattoos. This is probably because they cover them up in the settings where they would be a problem. They have both had their tattoos for over 2 years and so the fact that no one has given them a hassle is very encouraging. Jessica said, "I'm sure if I walk through campus with a tank top on and nothing else they're all like, 'Oh my God, she's got a tattoo,' but I don't really ever feel it and if they have a problem, they can talk to me about it."

Analysis
A few things that they told me reminded me of some of the things Margo DeMello had to say in, Bodies of Inscription.  The first thing that struck me was when Brian was talking about covering up his tattoo to work in the bank. It is similar to Danny L.'s story about getting an air force tattoo and being asked to cover it up by his teacher (DeMello 61). One of Jessica's comments related back to the book as well.  She said that there are guys who view women with tattoos as sluts. This is the same principle that "nice girls" don't get tattooed (DeMello 61). It is also interesting that in the past, women often needed their husband or father's permission to get a tattoo, whereas in Jessica's case, she brought her father along for support, as opposed to for his permission.
The most interesting thing I've noticed through this experience, is how similar Brian and Jessica's answers were. There are the obvious differences between race and gender, but also in their exposure to tattoos. Brian had an idea to get a tattoo without any influence from family or friends. Jessica on the other hand, grew up with both parents tattooed. The "biker" crowd was her idea of the norm. Despite all these differences, Brian and Jessica both felt that tattoos are a wonderful form of self expression, and encourage others to use their bodies as a canvas. Tattoos have been changing dramatically in the last 30 years. Some of the old stigmas surrounding the industry have been eliminated, while some of them are still around. However, more and more people are seeing it as art as it continues to evolve. With this trend in mind, it is safe to say that the industry will continue to grow, and one day tattooed men and women alike will be accepted in any setting.

Reflection
In general, I think the interviews went well. I had a good list of questions and both participants were eager to answer. If I could go back and redo them, I would. I would ask some more follow-up questions once I had talked to both of them.  I would have liked to get Brian's opinion on some of the things that Jessica said and Jessica's opinion on some of Brian's ideas. I would eliminate using the word "Um" before every question. But overall I think I got some great responses and was able to put them together well, so despite some technicalities, I'm happy with the result.

References
Atkins, Jessica.  2001.  Interview by Megan Mahoney, 18 October, Bloomington, Indiana.  Tape recording.

DeMello, Margo.  2000.  Bodies of Inscription: A cultural History of the Modern Tattoo Community.  Durham, North Carolina and London: Duke University Press.

Jones, Brian.  2001.  Interview by Megan Mahoney, 17, October, Bloomington, Indiana.  Tape recording.

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