steen-+sociology+deviance

Tattoos have a curious history, in the 1850s to 1900 tattoos used to be the bastion of carnival freak shows, with people flocking to the circus to see the amazing tattooed Lady. From 1900 to 1950 tattoos in the early 20th century indicated a sailor or marine. In the 1960s tattoos were common on criminals, bikers, outcast and the mentally ill. Through the 1990s tattoos were used to show that u were tough, ignorant or a convicted felon.Today many young people are getting tattoos, wether its for a gang or just decorating themselves. Tattooing has been practiced for centuries worldwide. The Ainu, the indigenous people of Japan, traditionally wore facial tattoos. Today one can find Berbers of Tamazgha (North Africa), Maori of New Zealand, Arabic people in East-Turkey and Atayal of Taiwan with facial tattoos. Tattooing was widespread among Polynesian peoples and among certain tribal groups in the Taiwan, Philippines, Borneo, Mentawai Islands, Africa, North America, South America, Mesoamerica, Europe, Japan, Cambodia, New Zealand and Micronesia. Despite some taboos surrounding tattooing, the art continues to be popular in many parts of the world.