TRAMP STAMP OF AMERICA
By Juli Anopol
Tomi Wheeler
ABSTRACT
My Partner and I began our study of the tattoo stigma in America as a
conversation. Why, we wondered are women viewed in a negative way if they are seen
with a lower back tattoo. In modern society, this is such a common tattoo, that a stigma
just did not make any sense. How could a woman be judged on a simple tattoo placed in
a popular spot, which can be easily covered by clothing?
Our question led us to random conversations with single men on the Los Angeles
Valley College Campus. The more we learned about the conflicting opinions of the
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social ramifications of the lower back tattoo; the tramp stamp, the more curious we
became as to why there even was a stigma behind it.
In April of 2012, we conducted a survey of about 50 men and women between the
ages of 18-35. They were asked to answer three questions in this survey and give their
honest opinion. These responses helped us prove the points covered in our thesis.
The essay that follows is a culmination of research collected from the survey and
professional resources. We are astounded that in our modern, progressive culture, that
women, are still seen negatively for having a lower back tattoo. They are often labeled as
sluts for having something so simple etched in to their skin.
TRAMP STAMP ACT OF AMERICA
As stated in the Webster’s dictionary, “A tattoo is a form of body modification,
made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment.”
Tattoos can be dated as far back as 5,000 years ago. Some of the first Ameicans found
with tattoos were circus people, sailors and criminals. American circuses would employ
about 300 people with full-body tattoos to use them as “freaks” in their circus acts. They
could earn an unprecedented $200 per week. Criminals and Sailors would get tattoos to
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represent experiences throughout their lives. They wanted to be depicted as strong, scary
people. In other words, they used tattoos to welcome social stigma.
We wanted to focus on the language and attitude towards a woman with a lower
back tattoo. This tattoo is commonly known as the “tramp stamp”. Most would agree
that it is a derogatory word to use for a tattoo and that it is offensive on many levels. Men
do not have any such words for tattoos placed on their bodies. We conducted a study in a
focus group of about 50 men and women who gave us different opinions about this label.
One of the young men described a woman with a tramp stamp as “easy” and “a party
girl”. A girl in our focus group got her lower back tattoo for personal reasons: it is easier
to hide and the design she picked out fits perfectly in this particular spot. Some women
have said they get their tattoo there, because it makes them feel young, hip and sexy, but
it seems like a woman is often automatically judged as soon as this tattoo in that certain
area is seen.
When we researched the word tramp stamp, the main and most common
definition is: “A lower back tattoo is a body decoration. Such tattoos have become
popular since the late 1990’s. They are commonly derided as suggestive of promiscuity
and often referred to as ‘tramp stamps’ or ‘slag tags’ due to being a target for a man to
finish his duty during a certain type of intercourse”. Promiscuity means, having casual
sexual relations frequently with different partners, indiscriminate in the choice of sexual
partners.
The stigma behind the whole sexual promiscuity of this tattoo is believed to have
started with early Indian tribes. The males would place their "branding mark" on their
partner’s backs to discourage other males from trying to take their mates. It was placed
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in an area that would be seen during sexual acts where the woman’s back is facing the
man. For men to place a brand there, on the back, rather than on the front, seems even
more dehumanizing and the personification of objectification of women. This gives us a
clue about how some men view women.
Women who have a lower back tattoo are often immediately judged as someone
who sleeps around. In our focus group, the answers came back even. Half believed the
woman was a slut for having a tattoo, and the other half felt that a woman with a lower
back tattoo was wholesome. The words slut and wholesome; are completely opposite in
meaning. Slut, as stated in the dictionary, means, “A dirty, slovenly woman, an immoral
or dissolute woman.” Wholesome, is defined as one who is, “Conducive to moral or
general well-being; salutary; beneficial.” Therefore, those men who deem a girl with a
tramp stamp a slut say the girl with a lower back tattoo is easy and willing to sleep
around. There is no basis for such a huge discrepancy between fact and judgment.
Thus far, we have addressed the misperception of the tramp stamp. Based on our
wide research, it seems that most of these derogatory misperceptions are based on strong
opinion, not actual social psychology studies. Even the websites that have a substantial
reference seem to have misconstrued facts. This is the definition of a “tramp stamp”
according to Urban Dictionary, a popular website that claims to classify street language:
“Tramp Stamp” is a derogatory term referring to a tattoo which a woman places
on her lower back. It is especially popular among women born in the late 70’s,
80‘s, and even early 90’s. Fair or unfair, these tattoos have a socially constructed
connotation associated with them. These women are labeled as tramps, whores, or
other derogatory sexually promiscuous terms. Although these are often bias
generalized claims, there have been sociological studies done by the American
Psychological Association, Federal Bureau of Prisons, and other demographic
researchers showing strong correlative evidence associating tattoos with high risk
behavior, illegal substance abuse and sexual promiscuity. These risk factors are
greatest in the age range which these types of tattoos are gaining main stream
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popularity. Some have also jokingly stated that by 2050, the “tramp stamp” will
be renamed the “gramp stamp”.
After doing some research of our own to read about the “sociological studies”
Urban Dictionary was referring to, we have discovered that there is no topic or study
regarding tramps stamps in any of the top three psychological websites, including the
American Psychological Association. The other popular psychiatric websites we
researched were Psych Central and the National Institute of Mental Health. This adds
more evidence to our theory that there is no social psychological correlation between
tramp stamps and promiscuity. This stereotype seems to originate from rumors that
eventually were perceived to be true. An article entitled The Infamous Tramp Stamp: Are
the Rumors True About Women and Lower Back Tattoos? made this interesting analogy:
a woman with a tramp stamp is automatically licentious is like saying that all dogs that
bite are rabid because all rabid dogs bite.
Although there seems to be evidence lacking in proving a correlation between a
tramp stamp and promiscuity, there have been studies conducted on how assumptions
lead to stereotypes. A feminist website, DisabledFeminist.com, describes a stereotype as
“…an unconscious cognitive shortcut.” The article goes on to explain the theory of how
some stereotypes are good and some are bad. The “good example” would be similar to
going to a fast food restaurant and ordering a meal. If a person were to visit a fast food
restaurant several times and understand the process of ordering a meal, he can assume to
repeat the same process if he visits a different fast food restaurant. One “bad example” of
a stereotype would be something similar to racial typecasting. Influences we have from
sources like the media, or even our upbringing will mold our expectations and
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understandings of people of a certain race. Those associations are then imprinted into our
subconscious. Voila! A stereotype is born.
The media specifically has a tremendous influence over the tramp stamp
stereotype. PsychologicalScience.org defines media psychology simply as “a specialized
field of psychology revolving around the scholarly research of media.” Based on this
theory, we can assume the influence of the media helped establish these rumors about the
tramp stamp. Such examples of this influence would be Vince Vaughn’s character in the
movie Wedding Crashers. He makes a remark alluding to the tramp stamp:
“Tattoo on her lower back? Might as well be a bull’s eye.”
The popularity of punch lines in movies like these contributes to the dissemination of this
stigma.
Another example of the media’s influence towards the tramp stamp is the airing
of a Saturday Night Live skit in 2004. The show hosted a commercial parody for a
pretend serum called “Turlington’s Tramp Stamp Remover” that removed tattooed words
like “Juicy” off a woman’s lower back. The punch line for the joke was how tramp
stamps will look in fifty years.
While the majority of America brews up judgment for the lower back tattoo, we
would like to propose a different perspective. We would also like to investigate the root
of this social stigma. Who are the types of people that gave this particular tattoo such a
derogatory title?
We have discovered that a lower back tattoo has been a branding of male property
since a very early time in history. Then over the years it appears to have evolved into a
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negative social stigma by misogynistic influence. Misogyny is defined as “hatred of
women”.
There are many reasons why men become misogynistic; one of the reasons is a
fear of rejection. A fascinating article entitled The Orgins and Causes of Misogyny
written by Charles Moffat says:
“This bitterness is the real source of misogyny. Men come up with excuses to
explain why they were rejected and rarely admit that it is their own fault. The
excuses are really based on their ignorance and their unwillingness to accept the
possibility that the women found something unattractive about them (whether it
be looks or personality or both).”
Based on this article, we can presume that some men are so sensitive; they would
gratefully jump at a chance to limit or avoid rejection. From our research, we have
discovered that men see a tramp stamp as a romantic shortcut. Thus, we can project that a
label for a lower back tattoo could bitterly emerge into existence because it is seen as a
golden shortcut that reduces the chances of dismissal. What if the perception changed and
women could benefit as much as misogynistic, fear-rejecting men from this stigma? Men
hope to bypass rejection and in return, women can avoid tongue-tied stammers and
cheesy pick up lines. Just like men are aiming for sexual success, women find relief from
the social convention of men who lack courting skills. Now this stigma serves both sexes
quid pro quo. A negative social connotation attached to the tramp stamp does not make
sense because if this hypothesis were true it would be beneficial to both sexes. This
stigma attached to the tramp stamp would be illogical and non-existent. It would be null
and void.
In conclusion, this research on the “tramp stamp” brings the awareness to us that
there does not seem to be a legitimate connection between the placement of a lower back
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tattoo and promiscuity. However, we have also been granted a chance to look at a
different perception on this stigmatic label. For many years, women have been subject to
scrutiny from misogynistic men whose judgments are based on social values that are
developed from a patriarchal culture. There are many factors of misogyny, one of them a
fear of female rejection. If lower back tattoos are to be labeled with negative social
connotation, who is to say that women cannot benefit too? Social enlightenment provides
us an opportunity to point this out to the misogynistic, branding male. Approached,
judged, pursued and courted from behind, women are saved the sorrow of awkward
social pursuit of a misogynistic Neanderthal. Imagine the relief for a woman who does
not have to engage in tireless conversations of football, car engines, and screwdrivers.
Days of awkward conversations are over. Let us all make men and women happy, avoid
scrutiny and rejection and cut to the chase. Society wins again.
Works Cited
Hudson, Karen L. "The Infamous Tramp Stamp." About.com. Web. 22 Mar. 2012.
<http://tattoo.about.com/od/tattoosgeneralinfo/a/tramp_stamp.htm>.
Marotta, Jenna. "Ladies and the Tramp Stamp." Journalism.nyu.edu. Web. 22 Mar. 2012.
<http://journalism.nyu.edu/publishing/archives/streetlevel/fall-2008/ladies-andthe-tramp-stamp/4/index.html>.
Rose, Lily. "Tramp Stamp Tattoos And Promiscuity: Are The Rumors True?"
Lookthatuponline.com. Web. 22 Mar. 2012.
<http://lookthatuponline.com/2010/06/tramp-stamp-tattoos-and-promiscuity-arethe-rumors-true/>.
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