It was just another day fueled by caffeine, getting ready for a late-night study session at my old college. Tattoos were the furthest thing from my mind as I stirred sugar into my coffee, but clearly, they were on the mind of the guy next to me in line. “Is that your only tattoo?” he asked, pointing towards my arm. Trying to convey my rush, I quickly said no. He immediately followed up with another question.
I started to realize he wasn’t actually interested in hearing about my tattoos, even though I had a practiced spiel for my seven pieces of ink. Still, the conversation seemed harmless enough. I gave a half-nod, already planning my escape to my quiet corner of the library. What happened next wasn’t a question at all, but a rambling, self-important monologue from this guy I vaguely knew from a class. He proceeded to share his profound “wisdom” about how women should “reclaim their bodies” in ways other than “ruining them with tattoos.” Unable to interrupt, my frustration grew as he went on to suggest that women with tattoos were often trauma victims.
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I stared at him, my grip tightening on my coffee cup. I finally asked him where the question was in his series of pronouncements and why he felt qualified to diagnose tattooed women. He mumbled, “Well, why do you have tattoos? You can’t tell me they all mean something.” While I eventually gave this guy-I-sort-of-knew a less-than-friendly explanation of the many reasons people get tattoos, what I really wanted to say was, “Why do you even care?”
You might be wondering what this story has to do with Tiny Tattoos, but it’s all connected. Maybe it’s not as obvious as the bold outline of the compass on my forearm, but the essence of tiny tattoos is relevant to this encounter. What I love most about the rising popularity of tiny tattoos – also known as micro tattoos, placed anywhere on the body – is how powerfully they answer the question, “What does your tattoo mean?” simply by existing.
The truth is, many tiny tattoos have no deep meaning at all. They exist purely for aesthetic pleasure, or even as a subtle act of defiance against anyone who uses misogyny or a superiority complex to question personal choices. While some tiny tattoos might represent a spiritual or political belief, often they are simply intentional, sometimes literal, specks of ink on these human bodies we inhabit for an unpredictable amount of time. Why get tiny tattoos, or tattoos in general? Why not? And more importantly, why do I owe anyone an explanation?
Tattoos have been around for millennia, and tiny tattoos are becoming increasingly popular for many reasons! Don’t have the budget for a full sleeve? No problem. You can start with a small design to satisfy that tattoo itch. Many tattoo studios even offer special days with discounted flash designs, where you can walk in, choose from dozens of options, and leave with a brand-new micro tattoo of an adorable Martian or another cute design. I encourage everyone, especially women who face more scrutiny and judgment about their bodies, to get a tiny tattoo every time someone judges any aspect of their appearance. If you’re into it, go for it! If not, that’s perfectly fine too! I hope you continue to enjoy the beautiful ink art around you.
