Tramp Stamp Age Limit: Do Lower Back Tattoos Need Expiration Dates?
What exactly is a tramp stamp?
According to Wikipedia, an American woman's lower back tattoo is commonly referred to as a tramp stamp. This object of personal expression and wearable art became popular in the late 1990's among young women. The lower back tattoo is often showcased by women wearing midriff's, low rise jeans and belly chains.
It's my lower body. And I can tattoo it if I want to.
I've witnessed a few older women, proudly showing off their lower back tattoos. I imagine the pain acquiring body art is excruciating, but to some women well worth the price of admission to the "I'm so sexy club." As a femme fatale approaching the big 4-0, I know that an older sexy woman is not an oxymoron. But I have to wonder whether there should be a tramp-stamp-age-citation issued by the fashion police, to older back tattoo offenders.
Women have the right to express their individuality or sexuality without fear of persecution.
Some old school etiquette purists and tattoo perverts consider the display of back ink an indicator of sexual promiscuity. I strongly disagree. Sexual proclivity is not determined solely by fashion choices or tattoos. Whether the tramp stamp wearer personifies the hidden meaning or not, you must admire a woman with enough confidence to proudly wear what some consider taboo and controversial.
Is there some aging tramp stamp sorority that I am unaware of?
Sorry to burst your fashion bubble, but am I the only conservative sex kitten left who believes that suggestive symbols of sensuality- lacy lingerie, tummy piercings and belly chains - belong under clothes? If you are a fashionable tramp stamped woman approaching 60, no one wants to see your wrinkly flowered back or muffin-top-skinny-jean-spillage. The 20 something girl within you has grown up...and left the building. Find her and tell her I said to cover up!
Just like freedom of speech, fashion is ruled by the owner. Despite my questions as to whether the tramp stamp or lower back tattoo should ever expire - and in my opinion it should - I leave the decision to the fearless woman who decides to wear one. The choice is ultimately hers when to retire the tramp stamp...and hers alone.
Published by MiMi Abney
Mimi Abney crafts keyword rich content for fashion, career and small business publications. View profile
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- Lower back tattoo history and origin - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower_back_tattoo
- It's my lower body. And I can add a tramp stamp if I want to.
- Do tramp stamps need an expiration date for women over 50?
- Can you proudly show your lower back tattoo until the day you die?
14 Comments
Post a CommentSo that's what it's called! Thank God, I haven't seen the tramp stamp of a dried-out cougar, it'll give me nightmares for sure. Great article, by the way.
This tramp stamp stuff - it's ridiculous. A tattoo is forever. Here's an article on judging women for having a tattoo supposedly put there to be sexy. Well, it's not for that - that's just a side-effect on younger women.
Do you realize how disgusting men look every day in America with their gigantic beer bellies and shirts tucked into their pants, thinking it's okay looking to go out like that? It's gross! Watching football you get hot cheerleaders and ugly, fat men as referees. Who doesn't work in an office where men tuck in over their fat rolls thinking they look hot? How about we expire the thinking that men can look like total slobs and not be objectified like women?
I've never had a tattoo, and really have a hard time understanding why someone would want one. Love and appreciate the skill and talent it takes to do one, and the beauty of many tattoos, but I don't want one.
However, I don't see why anyone else feels they have to right to be the taste police for anyone else. Yes we all have our moments when we are weak and find ourselves commenting in a petty way about what someone else looks like or what they are wearing, but I feel ashamed that I would treat anyone (even if they don't know it) as a thing to be judged by me or anyone else.
I just recently learned about the term "tramp stamp" for the lower back tattoo and think that is terribly unfair and narrow minded. If I ever did decide to get a tattoo, I would get it across my lower back, because I think it is a beautiful place to display one. And I would do it for me, and not for everyone else to judge. So there.
I AM 45 I JUST GOT MY TRAMP STAMP FINISHED LAST NIGHT IT IS A DOUBLE HEART, WITH THE WORD AMAZED OVER THE TOP OF IT. THE DOUBLE HEARTS ARE FOR FOR MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF, THE WORD AMAZED IS FOR OUR LOVE SONG, BY LONE STAR. SO I NOW HAVE OUR MEMORIES TO SHARE WITH OTHERS UNTILL I DIE. I FEEL PROUD TO HAVE MY TRAMP STAMP, AND HONORED TO SHOW OFF MY LOVE STORY. I HOPE AT 60 I STILL LOOK GOOD ENOUGH TO SHOW IT OFF.MY HUSBAND IS IN HEAVEN AND I KNOW HE IS PROUD OF ME...I ALSO GOT MY BELLY BUTTON PIERCED, THAT WAS HIS IDEA BEFORE HE DIED I JUST GOT IT DONE TOO. SO LOVE AND BLESSINGS TO ALL YOU LADIES WHO CARRY A TRAMP STAMP, JUST CARRY IT PROUD. MOMMA KATHEY/ KATHEY G.
Excellent article. Your diction is superb.
I guess I'm just old fashioned, but tatoos on women are just not attractive. Put a little rose of butterfly on your boob and be done with it.
Excellent article! I never knew it was called a tramp stamp. I personally wouldn't display my (if I had one) tramp stamp even if I was in shape. I've always been the cover up type.
Now THIS is a terrific article. When I read the title for this one, I hollered! I think the "Tramp Stamp" was featured on SNL at some point in a sketch, and it was hilarious! I never knew it was called this. Thanks for another innovative piece!
Good job, Mechelle! I tend to agree, people need to think about the signals they're sending.
Eclectic Muse beat me to the punch- I was going to say if I had a body like Demi Moore or Madonna heck yea I would proudly show off any tattoo I decided to get no matter the age! I think the problem is in the unfirt body being shown and not so much the tattoo. When I am 80 I will wear my tattoos proudly!