The history of women and tattoos is rich, varied, and deeply cultural, spanning thousands of years and encompassing a wide range of meanings—from spiritual significance to rebellion and personal expression. Going back as far as ancient times, in fact the oldest known tattooed female mummy is that of Amunet, a priestess from ancient Egypt (~2000 BCE). Her tattoos were likely symbolic, linked to fertility and or ritual.
Tattoos: a deeply cultural tradition in indigenous societies
Many Indigenous societies (e.g., Inuit, Māori, Berber, Filipino) practiced tattooing on women as rites of passage, marital status markers, or spiritual protection. Indigenous tattooed women have a long and powerful legacy across cultures, where tattooing was (and often still is) deeply embedded in identity, spirituality, community, and womanhood for example:
Tunniit are facial tattoos traditionally worn by Inuit women to mark puberty, marriage, or spiritual status. They honoured womanhood, strength, and survival. Their Tattoos were also believed to help guide souls into the afterlife. Today Inuit women —like artist Alethea Arnaquq-Baril—are reclaiming these traditions after colonial bans.
Moko Kauae are chin tattoos Worn by Māori women as a sign of mana (spiritual power), genealogy, and social rank. A sacred art, the tattooing is performed through Ta Moko, a deeply ritualistic practice by Tohunga (experts). Today many Māori women are restoring Moko Kauae to honor ancestral lines and decolonize beauty standards.
Amazigh tattoos, mostly Facial and hand tattoos were often found on Berber women, especially in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. Its purpose is protection against evil spirits, fertility, tribal affiliation, and beautification. Once widespread, these tattoos declined due to Islamisation and colonisation. Recently, there’s been a cultural revival in some communities.
The Colonial impact of female tattoos
Across the world, Indigenous tattoo traditions on women were often outlawed or suppressed by colonisers and missionaries who deemed them “savage” or un-Christian. Today, many Indigenous women are reviving ancestral tattoo practices as acts of resilience, cultural preservation, and identity reclamation.
In western context during the 19th and Early 20th Century tattooed women began appearing in circuses and sideshows, often portrayed as exotic curiosities. They walked a line between taboo and fascination in the Victorian era.
Early female tattoo artists like Maud Wagner (America’s first known female tattooist) helped break gender barriers in the early 1900s. Despite growing curiosity, tattoos on women were often linked with deviance or low status—sailors, criminals, or sex workers. In the 19th and Early 20th Century
Tattoos as a vector of identity in subcultures in the post WWII
Mid-20th Century Tattoos and post WWII conservatism meant tattooing declined in popularity due to societal pressure to conform to ideals of femininity and domesticity. Some women still got tattooed, often in subcultures like biker or punk communities. But tattoos remained symbols of rebellion or identity.
Tattoos, a signal of emancipation during the feminist revolution
In the Late 20th Century 1970s–1990s: The feminist movement spurred a re-evaluation of body autonomy, and tattoos became tools of self-expression. Female tattoo artists like Kat Von D, Vyvyn Lazonga, and Jacci Gresham gained prominence. By the 2000s, tattooing became far more accepted, and gained mainstream acceptance with women leading in tattoo adoption rates. Styles diversified—from minimalist to hyperrealism—and many women choose tattoos for personal narratives, beauty, or healing.
Tattoos today: a symbol of empowerment, art, and self-expression
Tattoos for women today often intersect with themes of empowerment, trauma recovery (e.g. mastectomy tattoos), cultural heritage, and art.
Once considered taboo, tattoos are now widely accepted in most professional and social environments—especially among younger generations. In many countries (e.g. U.S., UK, Australia), women now outnumber men in getting tattoos, especially in younger age groups. Public figures like Rihanna, Angelina Jolie, Miley Cyrus, and Halsey have normalised and glamorised tattoos for women.
Modern women and tattoos reflect a broad cultural shift—from marginalisation and stigma to empowerment, art, and self-expression. Today, tattoos among women span all social classes, ages, and lifestyles. They offer empowerment and identity. Tattoos are often seen as a reclaiming of the body, many tattoos reflect personal strength, survivorship (e.g. over trauma, abuse, or illness), or feminist icons and quotes. Tattoos can also be part of post trauma healing after events like sexual assault, self-harm, or mastectomy (e.g. breast cancer survivors getting “scar cover” or commemorative tattoos). Or simply just because you can and you want to. Especially if you’re being tattooed at Outliers Ink.
Female Tattoo artists
Tattoo Artists and the industry are changing too. Women are increasingly becoming tattoo artists themselves, reshaping the industry with a focus on: Inclusive spaces, gentler techniques and hygiene and artistic collaboration. This new generation of women-owned studios offer alternative environments, more comfortable for many segments of the population just like our women owned tattoo studio in Birmingham, OUTLIERS INK.
Despite progress, women with tattoos still face sexualization or objectification based on where tattoos are placed, Cultural appropriation accusations if traditional designs are taken without context and ageism, especially for older women with tattoos. Ensure you get your tattoos at a safe and inclusive parlour like Outliers Ink.
Popular Tattoo Styles Among Women today include
- Fine-line and minimalist tattoos
- Botanical and natural motif tattoos
- Watercolor and abstract art tattoos
- Script and quote tattoos
- Portrait and realism tattoos
- Ornamental tattoos
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