Sentidos e significados da tatuagem para os adultos jovens da cidade de Juiz de Fora/ Minas Gerais

Abstract

This research aims at identifying the various meanings of tattooing for young adults in the city of Juiz de Fora / Minas Gerais who have this bodily mark. It also has the following objectives: identifying the senses and meanings of the pictures chosen, relating gender to the choice of the pictures as well as the body parts to be tattooed and also the reasons why young people opt for tattoos. From such issues, we sought to understand the reason why young adults opt for a body change which will last a lifetime, in a world where everything seems so transitory and ephemeral. In order to achieve such goals, we used a qualitative methodology and semi-structured interviews to collect data, which were obtained from a sample of 46 participants. Based on recorded and transcribed interviews, we performed the interpretation strategy through content analysis. Reports were labeled into the following categories: "Body Territorialization", "Concerning", "Decision Making" and " Pride vs. Prejudice". Thus, a plurality of social and cultural perspectives influencing the construction of meanings regarding tattooing was observed. Specific features regarding gender are noticed in the results, where the choice of designs and body areas are based on socially and culturally constructed parameters, regarding the "feminine" and the "masculine". As to why the respondents have chosen a bodily mark, several responses were identified, such as: to honor someone important; to have a work of art on their body; to have a mark representing something they have an affinity for; to make the body a biography of past moments throughout life; to carry along the body a symbol of protection; to own a bodily symbol of desired characteristics and wishes, to mark the body with a trait of sensuality in order to draw the attention to a particular body part, or even to use the body to make a criticism concerning society. However, what most draws attention in the results are the subsisting social laws, limiting the use of tattoo and establishing standards of what is socially acceptable. Thus, this research shows that nowadays there are restrictions dictating rules in a subliminal fashion. We also observe that, in fact, stigma continues. It does not determine the tattoo should not be done, but dictates what, where and in what area of the body it should be done. Tattooing can indeed move among the bodies, since it follows the cultural laws set forth.