A growing collection of articles based on the Feminine Ink thesis, complemented by selected external readings. These works discuss the roles of tattoos in shaping personal identity, confronting gender norms, and redefining professionalism among Filipino women in today’s workplaces.
Tattoos are more than ink on skin, they are a form of expression, identity, and memory. For many, tattoos mark personal milestones, honor loved ones, or simply serve as art that one chooses to carry.
Tattooing has existed for over 5,000 years and involves inserting pigment into the skin to create permanent designs. The term “tattoo” comes from Polynesian and Tahitian words meaning “to strike” or “to mark.”
The meaning behind a tattoo varies from person to person. Some individuals use body art as a therapeutic response to navigating identity, social norms, loss, grief, trauma, and more.