This is personal.
Tattoos are art. They are a way for people to express their emotions, hobbies, loved ones, memories and symbols. It is a way for people to show their independence and give their body something permanent.
The truth is, I have a tattoo.
I decided to get this tattoo because I had thought about it for three years and had found a reason in my mind and heart for what it meant to me.
My past hasn’t been the easiest. I have been beaten and broken in past relationships, both emotionally and physically. My tattoo is of a black bird, a specific one which I believe is symbolized in the Beatles’ song Blackbird.
The lyrics are simple and short; however I embrace every word as a symbol of my personal independence. I once felt as though I was only singing to myself. I felt alone and as though even if I reached out for help, nobody would be there to lend me a hand. I felt as though my wings had been broken and there was no way for me to be able to leave. All of my life, I was only waiting for a moment to arise when I could become me. It took a long time for me to be able to see clearly again. I had held so much in for so long, that I felt as though I was at the point of no return. When the moment finally arose, I took it.
I discovered that although I can embrace that moment and fly, I cannot do it alone. The two birds I drew at the bottom of the page represent the importance of relationships in a person’s life. Although two people can be intensely unique, together they can come together and support one another. These relationships can be seen through friendships, family and significant others.
Sometimes it is okay to depend on someone else, so long as you are not dependent.
The ironic part of this post is that women are still ridiculed for the stigma of body art. The fact is, even now, women receive more negative reactions to their body art than men. Whether it is because of the historical connotations or the modern stigma that still remains attached to women with ink, the fact is it is yet another battle for free expression. Even in a world so vastly more conscious of equality, women must still fight for their rights in both overt and subtle ways. A woman’s right to ink remains one of the latter.
Tattoos are, in their own right, yet another way for women to assert independence and their right to equality. It is our right to express ourselves in any way we choose, in voice, in writing and in art, including body art. We can only hope that someday a woman can freely get a tattoo, anywhere she wants without fear of social repercussions. Perhaps, one day we will. Until then, remember to take these broken wings and learn to fly. As we have in the past, we will continue to fight for our rights.
-Kendall Bierer