Lingua Cultura, 15(2), December 2021, 155-165 P-ISSN: 1978-8118

DOI: 10.21512/lc.v15i2.7334 E-ISSN: 2460-710X

RETHINKING THE ART OF TATTOO: A PERSPECTIVE OF

INDONESIAN WOMEN TATTOO COMMUNITY

Lambok Hermanto Sihombing*

Communication Studies, Faculty of Humanities, President University
Jababeka Education Park, Jl. Ki Hajar Dewantara, Kota Jababeka, Cikarang Baru, Bekasi 17550, Indonesia
[email protected]

Received: 07th May 2021/Revised: 04th August 2021/Accepted: 11th August 2021

How to Cite: Sihombing, L. H. (2021). Rethinking the art of tattoo:

A perspective of indonesian women tattoo community. Lingua Cultura, 15(2), 155-165.
https://doi.org/10.21512/lc.v15i2.7334

ABSTRACT

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The research analyzed why women decided to get tattoos on their bodies and how Indonesian women interpreted tattoos.
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The tattoo was a kind of art and a symbol since centuries ago. In Indonesia, having a tattoo was no longer considered taboo
as it used to be seen as something that deviated from the norm in Indonesia, especially if it was possessed by women. The
tattoo was also identical with crime and thuggery, in which people who had tattoos would be respected or feared by people.
However, in recent years, there has been a phenomenon in the raising of female tattoo communities where tattooed women
gathered and supported each other. The researchers used the tattoo concept by Thompson and Feminist theory by Kristeva
to analyze it. This research used a qualitative method in which the dataset was taken from the interview with three women of
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the Perempuan Tattoo Indonesia (PTI) community. The result of the interview is various. It shows that tattoo in Indonesian
women’s perspective is not seen as only a trend, fashion, or art. However, it shows self-expression and freedom to fight
women’s rights and gender quality.

Keywords: community, philosophy, shifting perception, tattoo, women

In

INTRODUCTION Tattoos draw attention and make people

ponder the meanings behind tattoos (Naudé, Jordaan,
For years, tattoo has been a popular practice & Bergh, 2017). Tattooing in Indonesia has been
almost in every part of the world. It is an emerging practiced at least since prehistoric times 1500–500
body project in contemporary society (de Jong & BC, but tattoo culture in Indonesia is still taboo. It
Bruce, 2020). Across cultures and generations, people often challenges the social and religious traditions of
have tattooed their bodies (Gebska-Kuczerowska the country’s Muslim majority. According to Handoko
et al., 2020). Overall prevalence among adults in and Green (2020), urban tattoos initially appeared
industrialized countries is around 10–20% (Dieckmann in the Yogyakarta region in the 1950s. They were
et al., 2016). Most tattooed people can be seen in primarily worn by street criminals and former prison
western countries because the contemporary practice inmates. According to Marianto and Barry, as cited in
of tattooing emerged there (Santos & Villafranca, Handoko and Green (2020), have stated that in Jakarta
2019). The popularity of tattooing rises that one out during the 1960s and 1970s, tattooed people were often
of five persons in the United Kingdom has undergone former inmates. After the collapse of the New Order in
a tattoo session (Dann & Callaghan, 2017). A tattoo 1998, young people in the punk, rock, and black metal
is described in Merriam Webster’s Dictionary as music movements were the first to embrace individual
an indelible mark or figure fixed upon the body by freedom and more liberal speech through tattoos. At
the insertion of pigment under the skin or by the that time, tattoos and tattooing practices served various
production of scars. Tattoos are considered a work of purposes and connections, including amusement,
art, just like paintings hung in the museum (Ocampo & following emerging trends among young people,
Castronuevo, 2016). rebellion, and creative expression. However, tattoos

*Corresponding Author 155

still hold a negative stigma in society nowadays. Even seen negatively because tattoos may be correlated
though tattoos are widespread and growing in number, with destructive behaviors, such as violent behavior,
yet still controversial (Dillingh, Kooreman, & Potters, weapon carrying, drug use, increased drinking habits,
2020). and earlier sexual activity.
Creating a tattoo involves a painful sensation Furthermore, tattooed participants also tend to
of multiple skin punctures performed with a needle find difficulties in getting jobs. It is proven in Timming’s
(Roggenkamp, Nicholls, & Pierre, 2017). There is no study. He has stated that many tattooed individuals
difference between females and males in pain intensity believed that they could not find employment
during tattooing (Witkos & Hartman-Petrycka, 2020). because their tattoos are visible, suspicions that
Tattooing is among identified risk factors for blood- hiring managers confirm. Most hiring managers in
borne diseases (Jafari et al. 2020) that involves skin Timming’s study explicitly have stated they would
piercing and potential blood contact. Unsafe tattooing not hire a visibly tattooed candidate, both because it
carries an increased risk of poor health outcomes (Tran would mar the company’s image and because of their
et al., 2018). It means that medical complications and personal dislike of tattoos (Timming, 2015). It is in
health risks can occur when getting a tattoo (Rahimi, line with the research that has stated that stigmatizing
Eberhard, & Kasten, 2018). Some complications that and discriminating against people with visible tattoos
can occur are infections, allergic reactions, foreign and body piercings may lead to the termination of
body reactions, and autoimmune diseases (van der employment of talented employees, which could
Bent, Wolkerstorfer, & Rustemeyer, 2016). Brady et negatively affect organizational productivity and
al. (2015) have stated that some tattoo-related skin growth (Adisa, Adekoya, & Sani, 2021). The risky
problems can be treated with anti-inflammatory steroid behavior associated with tattoos is high amongst
drugs, while others might require surgery. Soran et al. tattooed adolescents that are associated with high drug
(2017) have stated that small amounts of ink particles and alcohol use, risky sexual activities, as well as

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always pass into the lymphatic system and accumulate illegal or violent behavior (Swami et al., 2016). Having
in lymph nodes. In addition, Sepehri et al. (2017) have tattoos also could lead to different psychological issues
explained that the ink does not ever really leave the like depression, inflated self-esteem, worthlessness,
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body, though possibly a portion is excreted via the and anxiety (Pedro, 2016).
liver. Deposited pigments and other components are This social stigma and discrimination lead
present lifelong in the human body (Laux et al., 2017). people to certain opinions about tattoos. People who
When people get tattooed and want to remove it do not have tattoos view tattooed people as more
due to the harmful effects, they will do tattoo removal. rebellious, less intelligent, less sexy, and less attractive
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Laser lights have been used by dermatologists for because it is deviant. This applies to both men and
tattoo removal through photothermal interactions women, but women are seen differently. If women
(Kim et al. 2020). The laser approach targets certain wear tattoos, they are seen even more negatively.
chromophores (D’Arienzo et al., 2018). Taken from Tattooed women are associated with less attractive,
the United States Food and Drug Administration promiscuous behaviors, and heavy drinkers (Vanston
(2016), laser treatment does not remove the tattoo ink & Scott in Dukes & Stein, 2014). Tattoos have been a
out of the body; instead, the relatively large pigments masculinity practice in men, making women question
In

of the ink are broken down into much smaller why they take part in the practice. It is also in line
particles, which are transported through the body and with Brown’s (2020) statement that women with
stored in the lymph nodes or other tissues. Infections visible tattoos and body modifications continue to face
may be due to incorrect procedures or not maintaining social and cultural stigma and discrimination because
aseptic techniques from the start of tattooing until of their physical appearance. It is because tattoos
wound healing (Liszewski, Jagdeo & Laumann, 2016; have historically been linked to criminal activity,
Serup, 2017). Even though the process of tattooing alcoholism, sexual promiscuity, and violence.
is generally linked with pain, it is not recommended Despite the negative stigma in society, tattoos
to take analgesics prior to the procedure. It has been have brought different meanings and ideologies in the
found that such medicines may increase bleeding past decades. Due to globalization and technology
during tattooing (Rodriguez et al., 2016). To prevent development, there is more variety of tattoos and
infections, the beauty services market requires detailed new tattoo techniques. Because of that, many people
analysis and recommendations to guarantee health support and enjoy the process of tattooing. They are
safety (Popalyar et al., 2019). interested in tattoos because of their interpretations,
It is proven that tattooing has been involved a and it has been correlated with art. Along with time,
painful sensation and also seen negative. In Indonesia, tattooing becomes a matter of fashion, and everyone
tattoos are seen as something ‘contrast’ with society starts to tattoo letters, sentences, figures, sceneries, and
norms (Rokib & Sodiq, 2017). Handoko and Along (as art objects. Furthermore, tattoos may have symbolic
cited in Handoko & Green, 2020) have explained that meaning or simply result from choices to become
tattoos still create negative feelings within a broader decorated (Tasha as cited in Rewathy & Linojah,
conservative Javanese society. Good people are those 2019). The interest in having tattoos does not only
who follow social norms, which are not wearing tattoos come from men but also women.
or piercings. That is why tattooed people are often Women are expected to follow beauty standards

156 LINGUA CULTURA, Vol. 15 No. 2, December 2021, 155-165

that have been set in society. Prianti (2013) has stated Tattoos are usually associated with masculinity
that the beauty standards for Indonesian women and criminality due to their ‘label’ as a popular
show physical appearance as the ultimate answer for practice with gangs and in male prisons (Thompson,
women to conquer the world. Women with big hips are 2015). Thompson (2015) has also argued that how
considered as the ideal woman. Having lighter skin, the criminality associated with tattooing historically
thinner body shape, and looking younger are seen as affects both men and women in different ways.
women’s power to succeed in life. Having a tattoo While tattooed men are seen as masculine, tough,
means that they do not conform to the standards. As and potentially criminals, tattooed women are treated
tattooing becomes even more popular, women want to as prostitutes or as sexually adventurous women by
obtain themselves by setting tattoos as the standard of society. For women, tattooing can be considered as an
beauty, especially young women (Farley, Hoover, & action in challenging the ideal of ‘beauty’. However, it
Rademeyer, 2019). is also an action to show and to proclaim the authority
There are some positive values for women with of their own body (Thompson, 2015).
tattoos. Some wear tattoos to hide their scars and In Indonesia, it can be found many tattoo
make their skin look prettier. As stated by Kertzman communities, especially in social media such as
et al. (2019) that have stated that tattooed women have Instagram and Facebook that have many members or
higher self-esteem than non-tattooed women. They followers. There are some tattoo communities such as
tend to be adventurous and creative. Having a tattoo Indonesian Subculture, Komunitas Tattoo Indonesia,
shows that someone wants to tell the story or message. Komunitas Masberto, Indonesian Professional
It is in line with Hill (2020) that stated the visual nature Tattoo Association (IPTA), and Indonesian Tattoo
of a tattoo invites telling a story. Foundation. They provide a platform for tattoo artists,
Tattooing has undergone remarkable growth in tattoo enthusiasts or collectors, or just tattoo lovers to
Indonesia since the early 2010s. Small, clean tattoo share, discuss, and even promote their tattoo-related

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studios can now be observed in the fashionable areas works. Then, the researcher finds an interesting tattoo
of small and large cities alike throughout the islands community called ‘Perempuan Tattoo Indonesia’.
of Java, Bali, and Sumatera (Hegarty, 2017). As stated Perempuan Tattoo Indonesia (PTI) is a tattoo
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in the Cambridge dictionary, in general, ‘community’ community that is pioneered by a mom who has four
refers to the people living in one particular area or children named Agustin Yustina. With her friend, Flo
people who are considered as a unit because of their Putri Arum as the admin, Agustin created Perempuan
common interests, social group, or nationality. To be Tattoo Indonesia on Facebook in 2017. In an interview,
more specific, in the internet and telecommunications she explains that the reason why she decided to create
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contexts, ‘community’ is defined as a group of people this tattoo community. It is because she sees that in
on social media who have similar interests or want to the tattoo industry, women have minimal access and
achieve something together. Like many other human limited platform, especially in social media, to show
interests, specifically in art and pop cultures, such as their tattooed bodies and express the authority of their
music, sport, and architecture, there are also some own bodies. The stigma created by society associating
communities that consist of tattoo enthusiasts. tattoos with criminality also becomes another reason
Tattoo communities are used to be known as why PTI is created. People’s motivations for getting
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‘tattoo conventions’. It has a role in providing a place tattooed vary; they are either having fun and admiring
or a platform for tattoo artists, collectors, and simply the artwork or having philosophy and meaning behind
tattoo lovers to interact and engage with each other. As it. Tattooed people wear it as an identity and their way
stated by Thompson (2015), tattoo conventions also of expressing themselves. While others write their
serve as a venue where tattoo artists can do networking, diaries, some people choose to tattoo their bodies to
get new insights, and see the development in this express their feelings and witness their journey in life.
industry, and it is possible for them to get new clients. Some people feel the need to get tattooed because they
Other than that, by joining this tattoo convention, want to ‘write’ messages and reminders permanently
tattoo artists have an opportunity to gain exposure. to anchor them in their bodies, leading to a form of
Due to the digitalization era, it can be said that expressing self-love (Buss, & Hodges, 2017). They are
there are no longer any communication and location aware that they own a special body that is why they
barriers. Through the development of the internet want to decorate it with tattoos.
and social media, many kinds of digital communities Not only being active in social media such as
around the world can be found that are easier to Facebook and Instagram, but the people in PTI also
create, choose, and join those communities related do a campaign to break society’s negative stereotypes
to someone’s interests. This is also applied to tattoo about tattooed people, especially women, by doing
communities that are no longer limited to studio-based some direct social activities. Their first social activity
interactions but expanded through the use of digital was held in the same year when PTI was created. They
platforms, so there is also virtual interaction. Barron held a charity event for children who have HIV/AIDS
(2020) has argued that using social media as the digital in Solo, where most of the committees are tattooed
tattoo studio can build a ‘digital’ relationship between people. PTI is created to support and appreciate female
the tattoo artists and their clients or their target market, tattoo artists and tattoo lovers. However, this online
enhancing trust between both parties. tattoo community is also open for male tattoo artists

Rethinking the Art of Tattoo .... (Lambok Hermanto Sihombing) 157

and tattoo lovers to join. In this research, the researcher Additionally, she argues that nowadays, women have
would like to elaborate on why women decided to get faced less resistance to getting tattooed and pursuing
tattoos on their bodies and how Indonesian women tattoo art since the 1980s. Women are able to find work
interpret tattoos. in new fields such as marketing, modeling, journalism,
Santos and Villafranca (2019) have argued that and social media management that are related to the
tattoos are also a form of non-verbal communication, tattoo industry.
in which people can wear tattoos that reflect their Embodiment practices were highlighted by
personalities and life experiences without having to feminist theorists in the 1990s and 2000s, who
explain the meaning behind them. These indicate the emphasized how the female body was not just an
public’s perceptions of who they are, which reveals object, but a ‘process of becoming’, a performance
their self-concept. The practice of tattooing has been created through regulated practices (Budgeon & Butler
amazingly successful and popular due to globalization as cited in Thompson, 2019). The feminist theory
and the modern mindset. Because of that, some people focuses to emphasizes issues of female embodiment
choose to get tattoos to mark themselves permanently. as an arena for both oppression and liberation, such as
As tattooing becomes even more popular, reproduction, sexuality, beauty practices, and violence.
women want to obtain themselves by setting tattoos According to Kristeva, as cited in Nasreen
as the standard of beauty, especially young women (2013), feminism is one kind of ideology that excludes
(Farley, Hoover, & Rademeyer 2019). Women are religion. Feminism should be understood through the
also interested in getting tattoos because they want individuality of women, as the empowerment of women
to challenge the dominant body culture. According depends on an individual’s writings, contributions, and
to Thompson (2015), tattoos symbolize regaining socialization. She rejects the idea of seeing women
women’s bodies as a form of confrontation for many from pluralism avoids the phrases such as ‘all women
women. are exploited’ or ‘women are exploited in all aspects’.

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It is common for society to see tattoo As cited in Nasreen (2013), Kristeva also argues that
communities that consist of males or men. However, there is a counterbalance in society, and it depends
as time goes by, there is a phenomenon in the raising on uniformity and accessibility of individuals in all
of female tattoo communities where tattooed women
es areas, including information through language. She
gather and support each other. DeMello in Thompson suggests that three matters are important for women’s
(2015) has stated in her study of the tattoo community individual development: internalization, exploitative
that women are much more apt to explain their understanding, and acknowledgement. This theory not
tattoos in terms of healing empowerment or control. only focuses on gender issues but also on general social
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Thompson has agreed and explained that tattooing change, breaking down the barriers, thereby gaining
can be considered an action in challenging the ideal the same point of view and removing the false stigma.
of ‘beauty’ for women. However, it is also an action Kristeva in Alaei and Barfi (2014) believes that people
to show and proclaim the authority of their own body, should accept the differences of the semiotic and the
which means tattooed women can freely and bravely symbolic mode and put these modes in parallel. These
express themselves for who they really are. modes relate to sex and gender. The distinction of sex
In line with that, Kertzman et al. (2019) have and gender is impossible. Men and women should be
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explained that tattooed women have higher self- aware that sex and gender are not independent. The
esteem than non-tattooed women. They tend to be conceptions of gender and sex are in this process are
adventurous and creative. Nourishing people are fold. Men and women are rational beings that are
positive, supportive, and optimistic people who are essentially the same, so that in their journey, they must
also capable of making a person feel good about be treated fairly and equally.
themselves (Devito, 2014). Nourishing people have Women see tattoos from various perspectives.
similarities in what they think, feel, and act and these Most of them see tattoos as a manifestation of
kinds of people can be found in a community. beautifying themselves and a means of self-expression.
Kruse (2012) has stated that people can grow However, there are social sanctions such as social
personally, socially, and independently in a community. rejection due to a modified body and others that they
Being a part of the tattoo community can help people will feel over time, especially when they dare to
have more courage to express who they are and expose challenge the standards of beauty that exist or grow in
their creations related to their interests. The previous social circles. In this research, the researcher analyzes
research done by Amos (2019) has explained that how these women in the PTI community are viewed
in the tattoo community, tattooed women feel more by society in terms of the theory of feminism.
comfortable and open to express themselves without
fear of judgment. Within a community, they also share
a common link. METHODS
Supporting the previous statement from
another perspective, women who achieved success In Indonesia, it can be found many tattoo
in the tattoo industry in the 1970s, regardless of their communities. The high number of tattoo communities
popularity, were trendsetters in fighting patriarchy and in Indonesia is also in line with the rise of female
popularizing femininity in the industry (Long, 2020). tattoo communities. In this research, the researcher

158 LINGUA CULTURA, Vol. 15 No. 2, December 2021, 155-165

analyzes why women decide to get tattoos on their The interview is addressed to Agustin by asking
bodies and how Indonesian women interpret tattoos. when she started to get tattoos on her body and why
The researcher has found many tattoo communities. she decided to get tattoos. She explains that it has
However, due to this research’s needs, the female been about eight years since she first got her tattoos.
tattoo community, which has 230.000 Facebook It was when she already had four children, and her
group members called Perempuan Tattoo Indonesia youngest child was in kindergarten. Then, Agustin
(PTI), has been chosen. The qualitative method was reveals the reason why she decided to get tattoos. Like
used in doing this analysis. The data of this research the majority of people who get tattoos, she used to
are collected by interviewing three informants that get tattoos because of fashion matters. She tended to
include the pioneer, the admin, and the member of the follow the trend and what other people did at that time.
PTI community. However, she also states that it is her way of
In the process of finding and selecting tattoo expressing her feelings about having authority or
communities, the researcher finds that PTI is suitable autonomy on her own body, and she has the right to
for this research because it is a tattoo community do anything to her body. This action is in line with
pioneered by a woman named Agustin Yustina. With what Thompson (2015) has explained that tattooing
her friend, Flo Putri Arum as the admin of PTI, Agustin is considered an action to show and to proclaim the
created PTI on Facebook in 2017. The relevant authority of their own body. She says that she feels that
questions have been formulated for three women in it is her own body. She deserves to do anything for her
PTI. There are a few steps that have been done in order body. In the end, she decides to get her body tattooed.
to collect and analyze the data.
First, the researcher contacts PTI’s pioneers “Aku merasa bahwa ya ini tubuhku, aku berhak
and members. After that, the researcher interviews melakukan apapun terhadap tubuhku. Akhirnya
three informants from the community through a video aku men-tato.”

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conference platform. The interview is recorded and
saved for transcription. The researcher asks several Other than that, she also has a reason why she
questions related to why those women join PTI, chose certain figures or designs to be tattooed on her
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why they decide to get tattooed, how society views body. She chooses tattoo designs that have meanings in
them, and the effects of getting tattooed. Second, the line and are suited to her character and life philosophy.
researcher makes the transcriptions of the recorded Additionally, she states that she chose Patrick, a
interview sessions’ videos that have been conducted. character from Spongebob, as her favorite tattoo
Third, after reading the videos’ transcriptions, the among the others. It is because Patrick’s character is in
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researcher chooses and collects the informants’ line with her personality and life that is full of freedom.
relevant answers to the research topic, to be classified He lives like there is no tomorrow and lives his life the
into several major categories. The categories include way he wants. Agustin can relate to this because she
why the community’s members wear tattoos and how is the only daughter in her family and the only one
they define tattoos. who has tattooed her body. She says that she is the
Last, the researcher analyzes and interprets only person who gets tattoed and tries smoking in her
the whole interview transcriptions about the living family. There are no other members that do something
In

condition of the community, members’ emotions and uncommon like her.

behaviors, decisions about getting tattoos, and the
meaning of their tattoos. In the process of analyzing “Saya satu-satunya keturunan dari orang tua
the data, the researcher uses an encoding-decoding saya yang perempuan yang tato, yang rokok
concept. The encoding process occurs when the online gitu-gitu. Sisanya ga ada gitu, jelas itu yang
interview happens and the researcher transcript the aneh pada saat itu ya”.
interview video. Then the decoding process occurs
when the researcher reads, understands, and interprets This is related to what Santos and Villafranca
the interview results. (2019) have argued that tattoos are also a form of
non-verbal communication, in which people can
wear tattoos that reflect their personalities and life
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS experience.
The next question is about how Agustin
In collecting data, the researcher has interviewed interprets a tattoo and its meaning. As stated earlier,
three women who are the stakeholders of the PTI she used to get tattoos because of trends and fashion
community. They are the pioneer, the admin, and the but now, she has concepts of her tattoos, mostly about
member of this tattoo community. Then, the interview gender equality. As Kristeva, cited in Nasreen (2013),
results are the data that are being analyzed. The first has said in feminist is actually screaming revolution in
data is the interview result from the interview session society, fighting for women’s freedom, revealing that
with Agustin Yustina through Zoom meeting. She is the main basis for women’s oppression is the current
the pioneer PTI who is also a mom with four children. gender system. This proves that Agustin wears tattoos
She currently lives in Yogyakarta, and she is working as symbols to fight for women’s freedom and equality,
in several places that she could not mention. which also proves that tattooing can be an action in

Rethinking the Art of Tattoo .... (Lambok Hermanto Sihombing) 159

supporting feminism. are and expose their creations related to their interests.
In terms of self-esteem, Agustien agrees that tattooing
“Kalo tato di awal-awal, saya ga mempunyai is a form of freedom in expressing the self when
arti sama sekali, tapi setelah ke sini-nya, saya people have good self-esteem. This is in line with the
sudah mulai tertarik dengan Patrick, tato saya argument by Kertzman et al. (2019) that states tattooed
kebanyakan Patrick, Tan Malaka, lebih ke women have higher self-esteem than non-tattooed
simbol-simbol kayak gini, ini kesetaraan ya, women.
perempuan dan laki-laki, ya kayak gitu.”
“Tato itu kan bentuk kemerdekaan diri. Dari
Agustin says that her first tattoo does not have situ kita sudah melihat kualitas diri kita. Ketika
any meaning, but as time goes by, she is interested in kita memutuskan bertato berarti kita sudah
Patrick, Tan Malaka that focused on symbols like this. sadar. Kita tahu kualitas diri kita.”
This is equality between men and women. Agustin
also says that every decision that people make has Besides that, she also explains that she is earnest
an impact on their lives, including the decision to get about running this community. It can be seen from how
tattoos. Based on her opinion, tattoos bring impact to she always monitors the group posts so that it is always
the society and people’s perspective of tattooed people. conductive and every member feels comfortable.

“Dampak yang paling kelihatan adalah “Orang-orang berpikir saya ga punya kerjaan
cara pandang, akhirnya kan, cara pandang karena saya berada di grup terus. Karena saya
masyarakat terhadap saya, cara pandang bisa memberantas ketika ada bully terhadap
masyarakat terhadap bertato secara general, perempuan, pelecehan secara verbal, saya
khususnya saya, mungkin.” keras banget di group itu, jadi bener-bener

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ya saya memantau group itu, bener-bener
Agustin also states the effect clearly seen is saya membuat nyaman member saya member
from the way citizens view people who get tattoed, perempuan saya bersosial media khususnya
es
especially like her. However, she personally never bagaimana dia mengekspresikan badanya
faces the negative impacts because of her decision dengan tato nya.”
to get tattoos. She also states that she has to respect
others’ rules and not force them to understand her Agustin also shares that her decision to have
choices of getting tattoos. tattoos is made when she already has a family. It is
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not an issue to those closest to her, such as family or
“... saya tidak pernah mendapatkan dampak friends.
negatif dari saya bertato, kecuali ketika saya
ingin bekerja di tempat yang formal. Sebenarnya “Kan ketika saya memutuskan tato saya sudah
itu juga bukan dampak negatif ya,... kan setiap berkeluarga sudah memiliki anak itu mungkin
perusahaan punya peraturan sendiri-sendiri. menjadi penilaian lain, ...gambarannya oh dia
Ketika dia tidak menerima orang yang bertato, sudah…berkeluarga sudah tidak membebani
In

ya kita hargai, gitu, bukan lantas kita langsung orang tua, sudah mempunyai kehidupannya
“oh kenapa sih orang-orang ga boleh kerja… sendiri kayak gitu, jadi itu mungkin tidak begitu
begini, begini”, tidak menuntut rulesnya orang dipermasalahkan. Kalau dari orang-orang
lain diterapkan pada apa yang kita pahami. terdekat saya nggak, karena memang saya ini
Karena apa yang kita pahami belum tentu orang cuman tatoan aja, kehidupan saya itu normal
juga akan memahami itu.” aja seperti orang-orang lainnya, ...normal-
normal aja sebenarnya.”
The question is continued by asking Agustin’s
view on women who have tattoos. She realizes that From the interview with Agustin, the researcher
tattoos are still dominated by men so that when she can conclude that she first gets tattooed because she
sees women who have tattoos, she is very sure that the thinks of it as a trend and fashion, but she starts to
person already has considerations. However, she also have concepts along the way. Her tattoos bring her to
states her pride when she sees women who have tattoos establish the PTI community as a safe place for women
because she believes that it is proof of independence. to ‘show off’ their tattoos on social media. Aside from
As a founder of PTI, she sees that Indonesian women that, Agustin also fights for women’s rights and gender
who have tattoos have a smaller scope than men. equality through tattoos and her community. For her,
This is also the reason why Agustin founded PTI to tattoos are a form of self-expression and freedom. She
provide a platform so that women who have tattoos also agrees that tattooed women will have higher self-
are not afraid to express themselves. This action is esteem than non-tattooed ones, which is in line with
in line with what Kruse (2012) has stated that people the argument by Kertzman et al. (2019).
can grow personally, socially, and independently in a The second data is the interview result from
community. Being a part of the tattoo community can the online interview session with Nurul Novikasari.
help people have more courage to express who they She is a member of PTI, who is also Agustin’s friend.

160 LINGUA CULTURA, Vol. 15 No. 2, December 2021, 155-165

Slightly different from Agustin’s story, Novi gets that as a tattooed woman, she is comfortable being
her first tattoo because she is ‘trapped’. In 2015, her a member of PTI, despite the fact that verbal sexual
friend from Lampung, a tattoo artist, stayed at Novi’s harassment does frequently happen at the beginning
place for more than a month. At that time, her friend of PTI since it is on social media and anybody can
suddenly had a desire to get Novi a tattoo. After a long join. However, she manages to handle that well to help
time to think about it, Novi then agreed to be tattooed. Agustin create a comfortable exposure platform for
tattooed women.
“Tatoku itu 2015, pertama. Itu terjebak. Jadi
ada temen tattoo artist dari Lampung terus “Dibilang nyaman ya aku nyaman. Tapi di PTI
dia (tiba-tiba) mau nato. Aku belum punya tato itu masih aja ada pelecehan-pelecehan yang
sama sekali kan…. Tapi itu butuh waktu yang buat cewe-cewe yang tato kan kebanyakan
lama juga buat aku, apa namanya, mengiyakan ada yang tato di dada... tugas ku di sosial
ajakan dia. Soalnya aku gak mau kayak nato medianya PTI itu adalah aku ngomel-ngomelin
asal-asalan.” yang melakukan pelecehan.… Waktu awal-
awal banyak banget pelecehan-pelecehan gitu,
She decides to get herself tattooed because of tapi sekarang-sekarang ini dikit lah ga terlalu
curiosity and her free spirit. Her first and favorite banyak kayak yang kemarin.”
tattoo is a Javanese alphabet which has a meaning
that she likes and is in line with her personality and Novi’s answer is in line with what Amos (2019)
life philosophy. It represents her personality which has explained that in the tattoo community, tattooed
is refusing to be ‘restrained’ in what she thinks and women feel more comfortable and open to express
does. Other than that, Novi also gets herself tattooed themselves without having a fear of judgment.
in Kalimantan. She loves the meaning behind one Novi also explains the reason why she is at

s
of her tattoos, which is the Engkabang flower from PTI; she admits that initially, because her friend is
Kalimantan. This tattoo becomes her life principle the founder of this community, so she automatically
and philosophy, which she wants to be helpful for her becomes a member of this community. She also adds
surrounding, both humans and animals.
es that being a tattooed person is not a barrier to doing
something good through social activities. This is related
“Kalo ada tatoku itu, tato Kalimantan, bunga to Kruse (2012) has stated that in a community, people
Engkabang. Bunga Engkabang itu tuh… bunga can grow personally, socially, and independently.
yang menghidupi semua makhluk hidup di hutan From the interview with Novi, the researcher
Pr
Kalimantan. Jadi tuh kayak aku tuh pengen... concludes that, different from Agustin, Novi gets her
kayak yaudah, aku bisa berguna buat hewan, first tattoo because she is trapped. However, it does not
bisa buat manusia juga, gitu loh, di hidup aku. make her stop getting tattoos. She chooses her tattoos
Dari Mentawai juga ada, dari Kalimantan carefully based on her personality and philosophy.
sampe Sumatra sih.” It is in line with what Santos and Villafranca (2019)
have argued that tattoos are also a form of non-verbal
Novi’s reason for choosing her tattoo design communication, in which people can wear tattoos that
In

is in line with what Santos and Villafranca (2019) reflect their personalities and life experience. With
have argued that tattoos are also a form of non-verbal Agustin, she is in charge of ‘kicking out’ people who
communication, in which people can wear tattoos that do harassment and making PTI a comfortable and safe
reflect their personalities and life experience. At first, place for women to express themselves freely. Aside
Novi says that her family has difficulties accepting from that, she also helps conduct social events. Not
her decision to get tattoos since her family is very only for doing good deeds but also as a way to prove
religious and she is the only daughter in the family. to people that tattooed people are not as bad as they
It makes Novi afraid of sharing her tattoos on social think. Unlike Agustin, Novi has difficulties getting
media. This is in line with what Foulke (2018) has support from her family at first. She also faces negative
argued that people do not reveal their tattoos because comments from her neighbors. It takes three years for
they fear being judged negatively. After three years, her family to accept her tattooed body.
her family eventually accepts her, especially her father. The third data is the interview result from the
Novi also argues that she is already grown up, and she online interview session with Angelina Manar. She is
has the right to do anything to her body. Novi’s father the co-pioneer of PTI, who is also a freelancer in the
lets her get tattoos because she is responsible for her art industry. She currently lives in Yogyakarta, and she
own body. This is related to what Thompson (2015) is also a traditional tattoo artist. In 2015, Angel got her
has stated that tattooing is also an action to show and first tattoo. Then, her love for tattoos led her to go even
proclaim women’s bodies’ authority. deeper in the tattoo industry until, in 2017, she became
In fact, Novi still gets negative comments from a traditional tattoo artist.
her neighbor. As Rokib and Sodiq (2017) state, tattoos
are seen as something in ‘contrast’ with social norms “Kalo aku tatoan 2015, tapi berkecimpung di
in Indonesia. It makes tattooed people catch more dunia tato, maksudnya bener-bener terjunnya
attention and often be ‘gossip’. However, she admits tuh 2016 terus mulai jadi tukang tato 2017.”

Rethinking the Art of Tattoo .... (Lambok Hermanto Sihombing) 161

 When it comes to her reason for getting tattoos, located. Lotus flower has a similar meaning as Kwan
she explains that the moment feels right, and the tattoo Im Goddess, which are purity and compassion. She
design philosophy is in line with hers. Because of that, places it on the center of the nerves as a life reminder
she decides to get tattoos. that she wants to be someone who is compassionate
and helps those in need.
“Momennya dapet, terus filosofi dari gambar
yang aku mau juga ternyata match di aku, “Bunga lotus itu bunga…filosofi gampangnya
makanya terus akhirnya aku mulai tatoan gitu.” kayak Dewi Kwan Im tuh, lho. Tapi aku kasih di
belakang, jadi bener-bener di tungkak, karena
The third data is from Angel. Angel agrees that buat aku kayak pusat saraf paling utama ya di
tattoos boost her self-esteem. This is related to what situ, gitu.”
Kertzman et al. (2019) have stated that tattooed women
have higher self-esteem than non-tattooed women. For Angel, tattoos also play a role as a reminder
of what she has been through in life. This proves what
“Cuma dampak positifnya adalah… Aku Buss & Hodges (2017) have argued some people feel
jadi makin pede, jelas, karena aku memilih the need to get tattooed because they want to ‘write’
untuk ‘Oke, aku punya tato, aku harus bisa messages and reminders permanently to anchor it in
menanggung semua resikonya.’ ” their bodies, which leads to expressing self-love.
Among her 12 tattoos, her favorite is the
Having a tattooed body makes her feel like a engkabang flower tattoo, which is the same tattoo that
unique piece of art that draws more attention. The more Novi has, as mentioned earlier. It becomes her favorite
people pay attention and are curious about her tattoos, because of the philosophy behind it that she keeps in
the more confident and content. This is connected to her life, and people will notice it when they look at her

s
Lucas, as cited in Santos and Villafranca (2019), that engkabang flower tattoo. The tattoo holds a meaning
positive attention from people brings contentment and that whether someone is on top and successful or the
empowers tattooed people to control their self-concept. other way around, he/she still can be kind and share
es happiness with the surroundings. This proves what
“... di saat aku punya tato, orang melihat tuh Santos and Villafranca (2019) have stated that tattoos
kayak karya seni…Karena orang pasti kan are also a form of non-verbal communication, in which
kadang ada yang kayak, ‘Itu gambar apa people can wear tattoos that reflect their personalities
ya, mbak?’…Nah, jadi itu sih yang bikin aku and life experiences without having to explain the
Pr
mungkin tambah pede. Sama...seneng aja sih.” meaning behind them.
Angel personally feels the comfort of not being
For Angel, tattoos are parts of herself. It is alone in what she has been doing, which is tattooing,
connected to what Sanders in Mun, Janigo, and as a part of the PTI community. Other than that,
Johnson (2012) have suggested that tattoos become a expanding networking is also one of the benefits that
part of a person because it is a form of self-expression. she gets because of joining the PTI community.
Angel shares her story about two memorable tattoos
In

that she had in Bali when doing campaigns about “Aku merasa oh ternyata banyak temen-
Orangutans. The tattoos are gifts from her tattoo artist temenku yang sama kayak aku segala macem.
friend, which are GWK (Garuda Wisnu Kencana) and Terus aku merasa lebih punya teman yang lebih
a baby Orangutan. She says that those two are very banyak lagi.”
precious because of her strong emotional attachment
to a memorable life event in Bali back in 2019. This It is also in line with what Thompson (2015)
is related to what Santos and Villafranca (2019) have has stated that tattoo conventions or communities are
stated that tattoos symbolize love and dedication to a place where tattoo artists can do networking, get
something people want to remember permanently new insights, and see the development in this industry,
until death, such as memorable events, significant and it is possible for them to get new clients. When
person, or things. The Orangutan campaign is Angel’s asked about the view of women with tattoos, Angel
dedication, and she wants the memory of it to remain shows admiration for the women who have tattoos in
in her life. Indonesia because she knows that it is not easy. She
Angel says that her first tattoo is Srikandi, a also realizes that they have their own principles of life.
Wayang character from Java. She decides to get this
tattoo because she feels that women are free to express “Pandangan aku melihat perempuan-
themselves and do whatever they want. This is in line perempuan yang bertato itu tuh bener-bener
with what Thompson (2015) has stated that tattooed kayak buat aku, aku menghargai apa yang
women can be freely and bravely express themselves sudah mereka pilih, emang pilihan hidup itu.
for who they really are. Here, Angel expresses her Apalagi perempuan kan masyarakat nomor 2 di
concern and thought about women. Indonesia, jadi kayak oh mereka mereka berani
Above the Srikandi tattoo, she has a lotus flower memilih apa yang menjadi prinsip mereka
on her nape, where the central nervous system is pasti jelas, maksudnya prinsip untuk okay aku

162 LINGUA CULTURA, Vol. 15 No. 2, December 2021, 155-165

 mau tatoan di tubuh yang kelihatan. Jadi aku creation. Theses or Dissertation. Ohio, USA:
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Barron, L. (2020). Social media and digital tattoo
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