Prof. Viren Swami

Being tattooed or being able to get a tattoo is a small marker of agency.

It says, I am allowed to own my own body and do what I want with my body.

Historically, essentially, tattoos were the preserve of what psychologists have called outgroups.

And outgroups simply mean marginalized communities.

I think any community that has a history of marginalization will try and reclaim the body in some way.

It's also the same reason why some researchers have talked about how women who have had a history of sexual or physical abuse tend to get tattooed.

Again, it's a way of reclaiming the body and saying, this body is mine.

People reported being happier with their bodies, appreciating their bodies more, feeling like they were more unique as a result of getting tattoos and feeling lower anxiety about their appearance.