Friday, February 3, 2012

Speaking on the Ferrari Bumper Sticker debate...


Ok, for the whole story you need to read this original article, this beautifully eloquent rebuttal, and this apology.

If you don't want to read all of that, here are the cliff notes;

Lisa, a journalist for the independent student publication based out of the University of Buffalo, wrote an anti-tattoo column. This, in and of itself, was not the problem. The problem was that she was trying make her argument with her own skewed view of Feminism. She stated that women who are not happy with their body should go to the gym, get their nails done, wear some heels....you know, typical girly stuff.  She promised that investing your energy, money, and time into things like this would be a much more rewarding experience than "getting ink." That is an awfully bold promise based on a widespread assumption that she knows what ALL women want! She also stated that, "an elegant woman does not vandalize the temple she has been blessed with as her body." In regards to the experience of getting a tattoo, she asked, "at the end of the day, are you really a happier person?"And made another widespread assumption that "nothing comes out of getting a tattoo."  
Seriously, she is gorgeous!


I have so many things to say about this presumptuous, judgmental, piece of "journalism," so very much!  The rebuttal I mentioned at the beginning (link again here, "Why yes, I will put a bumper sticker on this Ferrari!" ) basically summed up all of my thoughts in a much more eloquent way (seriously, go read it, Danielle is awesome!). 

Here though are some of my thoughts. First off, tattoos have nothing to do with not being happy with your body, in fact they are a way to adorn it! They are art, wonderfully meaningful and unique art that you get to display on your body! Secondly, in response to tattoos being completely unrewarding and doing nothing for a woman, that is ludicrous!! Ask tattooed person about one of their pieces and you will be met with a story. Whether it is the meaning behind it, the event that surrounded it, what they think of when they look at it, or whatever else they connect to it; it will almost always be met with a story that will tell you more about that person. What a beautiful way to share a piece of yourself, and to share in that with others! Lastly (but absolutely not least!), her attempt at a Feminist argument just went sadly astray. Its 2012, women can look, be, act, and think in any way that they damn well please! Please don't judge those of us who do not base our outer beauty on what men want!
Ganesh, you just know that one has meaning!
Ok, all of that said, the response she got from the internet was painfully insulting and immature!! People called her fat, ugly, stupid, and various swear words that I don't care to repeat. She actually got hate mail and threats! Really people, really? She wrote a response to all of this, but was obviously focused on the hurtful responses of others, and rightfully so in my mind. People don't seem to realize that going into nasty attack mode only causes the other side to retreat further into their beliefs. I mean really, who would think "oh, maybe tattooed women really are beautiful, eloquent people" when being bombarded with insults and hate mail?! Way to represent our wonderfully unique and expressive tattooed culture guys, thanks a lot for that!

Well anyways, did anyone else get caught up in this debate? What do you think on the issue?
cutest tattoo ever :)


4 comments:

Lisa from Lisa's Yarns said...

I hadn't heard about this. Her argument seems incredibly flawed. It is too bad that people responded hatefully, though!

I don't really have an opinion on tattoos - I personally don't want one, but have friends that have beautiful and meaningful tattoos, and they have nothing to do with their happiness with themselves!!

Solitary Diner (Also Known as The Frugalish Physician) said...

Hmmm...reading the article, it strikes me as something that was intended to be positive (a focus on women's innate beauty) but was really poorly thought out. The problem I have with the article isn't so much that the author chose to be critical of tattoos (she just as easily could've picked piercings or short hair or anything else that she didn't consider "classy"), but more that she felt that she has some unique insight into what a woman "should be". Everyone has different ideas of what constitutes beauty, and no 19-year-old college student should presume to define that for everyone.

Oh...there's so much more wrong with the article...but it's a Friday night and I can't even begin to think that deeply. I think it's time for ice cream instead.

rachelgab said...

I hadn't heard of the controversy...As a tattooed former journalist, I can tell you that the article is not journalism. It's an opinion, perhaps an editorial, but not journalism, which is supposed to be based in fact and not personal bias. Anyway, also as someone who regrets most of their tattoos I can see an argument for being anti-tattoo but that is a personal choice, not one I'd push on others. I'm just all for people who think things through, rationally, and I do believe that people should think long and hard about what they mark on their bodies for everyone else to see. It's like wearing a piece of jewelry you can never take off and so many people do it impulsively (me included) and will ultimately regret the decision. Also, did you know that tattoos used to be generally associated with borderline personality disorder?

crystal said...

Solitary ~ I completly agree, its not what she was against per se, but the way that she was against it. I enjoy listening to all viewpoints, either personally agreed with or not, as long as they are respectfully and responsibly stated.

Rachel ~ I was going to say something about regretted tattoos too, but it felt like too long of a post! :) I know many people regret them later on, but I don't think that negates the meaningfulness of tattoos in general. Sometimes meaning changes, I don't think that makes it a mistake, just something to fix, or not. Not even regretted tattoos make a woman less elegant, smart, beautiful, or worthwhile!