Three in ten Argentines now have tattoo – and more women are getting inked

Until a few decades ago, tattoos were considered a mark of marginality and/or rebellion. Those indelible marks on the skin were more commonly associated with, for example, prisoners or sailors. Today, the reality is totally different: tattoos are an accepted expression of identity and personal tastes.

Moreover, they are becoming more and more common, as a recent study by the Voices! consultancy firm testifies. According to Constanza Cilley, the executive in charge of this social enquiry, "almost a third of the more than 1,000 Argentines we consulted told us that they already have a tattoo.” What’s more, a considerable percentage added that “they intend to add a new design to their skin in the near future.”

Specifically, 31 percent of survey respondents said they had at least one tattoo. The groups that stand out are women and people under the age of 50, in addition to people of lower socio-economic status, who are also among the most tattooed groups. Moreover, it is a phenomenon that sees many not satisfied with one – in fact, seven out of ten people who already had a tattoo reported having more than one tattoo on their skin.

At what age do people usually get their first tattoo? On average, the answer was that they got their first tattoo at the age of 24.

Gender generates certain distinctions. Although from the age of 50 onwards the likelihood of getting tattoos is similar in both genders, among people who are in the first five decades of their lives, the trend is clearly led by women. And if we analyse the female population aged 25 to 49, this number increases: up to 44 percent said they already have tattoos on their bodies.

This phenomenon is not only local. For example, in Spain, the percentage of tattooed people is between 15percent and 20 percent. And women lead these segments too.

It is not only common, it is a growing social phenomenon. The Voices! study found that 27 percent of Argentines “plan to get a tattoo in the next 12 months.” In addition, another 18 percent responded that “they haven't decided yet, but don't rule it out.” Among this group of interested people, women between 18 and 24 years old stand out, leading this trend, with up to 50 percent saying they intend to get a tattoo in the future.

The survey fieldwork was carried out in January using an online form, to which 1,027 people over the age of 18 responded, using a representative sample of the population.

Reasons for getting a tattoo

The study asked people with tattoos what were their reasons for having one. In descending order, the reasons were as follows:

– Homage to loved ones such as family, friends, pets (26 percent)
– Affective ties: Shared designs with partners, friends or family (25 percent)
​– Aesthetics (22 percent)
​– Impulses, important memories and overcoming difficult moments (21 percent)
​– Support for the art of tattooing (20 percent)
​– Inspiration and motivation, including phrases or symbols (15 percent).

Lesser but also present motivations included curiosity, a desire to join in with fashion, the influence of friends and a desire to perpetuate religious or spiritual beliefs.

One interesting aspect of the study was its attempt to investigate the current social perception of tattoos. Analysts note that the majority believe that having a tattoo does not affect the view that others may have of him/her, with only 17 percent feeling that a visible tattoo has a negative impact. This was felt most keenly among those without tattoos and within higher socio-economic groups.

‘My body is a canvas’

By Trinidad Romano*

I got my first tattoo when I was 17. I always liked them, but I saw the opportunity to get one when kids my age started getting tattoos. Two days after my birthday, I invited my mum to my dad's house to talk to both of them. I sat them down on the couch in the living room and said, ‘I want you to give me free rein to get whatever I want whenever I want. Trust me.’ Luckily, they said no, but they gave me permission to get one.

It had to be perfect and exactly where I wanted it to be. It had to be a specific design and no major changes had to be made. It had to be in a place where I wouldn't be able to see it often: I had been told that having it in plain sight would bore me.

I was nervous, but happy, leaving me wanting more. However, I felt limited, as I needed to give each tattoo an explanation to ‘justify’ it when I was asked why. My naivety made me believe that they required a meaning behind them, striving for perfection.

Over the years and with more maturity, I came to perceive it as what I am passionate about today: art. I visualise my body as a canvas, where each tattoo is a work of different artists. Each style and each stroke portrays moments in my history, creating a personal gallery that I will carry with me forever. I have adopted the idea that tattoos decorate my body; the only meaning I need is the moment they represented when I got them.

However, the designs made on the perfectionist Trini of that time do not generate any regrets, as they are part of my personal journey. In fact, that 17-year-old me would be proud to know that I removed the barrier that prevented me from fully enjoying the tattooing process. I still cherish the designs dedicated to family members, the dates and words that remind me of them.

My worries about how they will look in years, the why and the connotations of the outside fade more and more as I go through my tattoos, recalling the experiences that accompanied them. They represent joy, independence, freedom and sometimes nostalgia. I managed to put aside the need to justify why and learned that the only explanation I need is that they make me happy.

* Editor of Proyecto Inked (Project Inked)