T - Symbolic

T - Life events

T - Belonging

T - Last a lifetime

T - Personal meaning

T - Symbolic

T - Life stages

P - Sexual

T - Rebellious act

T & P - Right of independence once reached a certain age

P - Rebellious act

T - Self-soothing

T - Rebellious act

T - Disapproval

T - Independence

T - Second skin

• Personal meaning

• Dedication to person or event

• Spiritual meaning

• Representation of growth

• Coming of age

• Defiance

• Reminders to self (e.g. not to self-harm)

Reactions from parents:

• Disagreement and conflict with parents over body art

·        Meaning

·        Show dedication

·        How you want other people to perceive you

·        Celebrity influence

·        Like them

·        Spirituality

·        Expression

·        Sexual gratification

·        Free will/because you can

·        Tradition/ social norms

1. Brief Notes

• Tattoos are meaningful (children’s names, birthdays, spiritual stages).

• Wanting tattoos to represent something important or mark moments in life.

• Tattoos/piercings as a form of defiance, especially against parents.

• Parents’ disapproval appears frequently (arguments, disappointment, not speaking to them).

• Tattoos sometimes linked to emotional experiences (e.g., stopping self-harm, spiritual journey).

• Turning 16 or 18 is seen as a significant age for independence and body choices.

• Some tattoos chosen simply because they look good (aesthetic reasons).

• Celebrities mentioned as influences (e.g., Angelina Jolie).

2. Codes:

Meaning and Symbolism

• Representing life events

• Family symbolism (children, names, dates)

• Spiritual significance

Identity and Self-Expression

• Expressing individuality

• Marking personal growth

Autonomy

• Doing it “because I can”

• Gaining independence at 16/18

• Thrill of going against rules

Family Reactions

• Parental disapproval

• Arguments with parents

• Sibling influence

Emotional Aspects

• Tattoos as coping

• Tattoos helping prevent self-harm

• Emotional meaning

Aesthetic Factors

• Liking the appearance

• Showing tattoos to group

• Piercings vs tattoos differences

Social/Cultural Influences

• Celebrity influence

• Peer norms

Representation of yourself (e.g. name)

Tattoo are permanent

Like appearance

Spiritual representation

Sexual

'Because I can'

Against parents' will / rebellious

Getting used to tattoo / forgetting it

Personal expression

Sentimental meanings

Expression of significance

Deep forethought re: permanence

Artistic expression

Spiritual expression

Exploration of growth

Signify meaningful stages

Defined difference between tattoos (meaningful) and piercing (gratification)

Sexual gratification

Defiance

Oppressive parents

Show of independence

Body part selection

Functional barrier

Self help

Self harm distraction

Thrill of defiance

Parental disapproval

Hidden from parent

Fear of judgement by significant other

Represent something. Birthdays of children/family/dedication

Meaningful/name/identity

Meaningful/atheistic

Spiritual/path to follow/piercings for sexual gratification

Defiance from parents/ coming of age/ pushing boundaries

Defiance for parents/coming of age

Defiance from parents/ distraction from self-harm/ self-help/ mental health

Parents don’t seem to like tattoos

Defiance from parents/ parents don’t seem to like tattoos

I am Chinese, and in our culture tattoos are often viewed negatively, commonly associated with delinquency, street gangs, or social stigma. I have never considered getting a tattoo myself —partly because of these strong social norms, but more importantly because I believe tattoos may be harmful to health and involve unnecessary pain, which I prefer to avoid. As for people who do have tattoos, I hold no particular feelings toward them; it’s simply their personal choice and none of my concern.

Code labels

·       Tattoos can present significant personal contributions (Angelia gave birth to her children and chose to have their birthdates tattooed on her wrists.)

·       Tattoos can hold personal significance, such as representing names. However, using one’s native language may not always be preferred, as Japanese characters are often considered more aesthetically appealing than English. ( Mandy got a tattoo of her name in Japanese characters.)

·      Tattoo can represent something to aspire to spiritually, while a piercing is usually seen as only physical.

·      Tattoo can record spiritually self.

·       Tattoo can present free/separate or independent of/defiant from parents

·       Tattoo can present free from social restrictions

·       Social norms still expect children to obey their parents and follow the rules of society (lots of laughs in the transcripts evidence that)

·       Parents often see tattoos differently (negative) than the younger generation does.

·       Tattoo can represent something more positive than just the body we’re born with. (Thomas uses his tattoo to shift his focus and stop self-harming.)

·       Parents still think children’s bodies belong to them, even when the children are adults.

·       Tattoos can become part of one’s self-identity (Jo completely forgot his large tattoo)

- Personal meaning

- Own name

- Own designs

- Spirituality

- Rebellion against parents

- Self harm prevention

• tattoos as representative

• tattoos as meaningful

• permanence of tattoos

• tattoos linked to spirituality

• tattoos as visual reminder of intention

• tattoos as harm reduction

• piercings for sexual gratification

• distinction between meaningful tattoos and physical purpose of piercings

• tattoos as act of defiance

• tattoos as act of independence

• piercings as act of defiance

• piercings as act of independence

• thrilling nature/adrenaline of defiance

• shock factor of piercings/tattoos