Thug Tattoos – Not just for tough guys!
Society in general considers all tattoos to be thug tattoos and worn mainly by gangsters, criminals, addicts, and bad boys. Of course, that is not the case. People from all walks of life enjoy wearing tattoos that have personal meaning or connects them to another person, place, or event. It would probably be safe to say that only about ten percent of tattooed people are in any way associated with the underground world of crime.
In fact it is becoming a status symbol to sport a spiffy tattoo that sparks conversation and tells a story about the individual wearing the tattoo. In part this new trend has been popularized by Hip-Hop artists, professional sports icons, and movie stars that have made it OK to wear a tattoo. Even a thug tattoo.
Photo Thug Tattoo
The connection of thug tattoos to the music industry originated with heavy metal bands and rappers that wore and still wear expensive body jewelry known as “Bling” and display gangsta tattoos, ghetto tattoos, or thug tattoos on there upper body so their fans can identify with their lifestyle.
Tattoos are becoming mainstream and can be an important fashion accessory when attending music events or insider celebrity parties. Showing off your latest gangsta tattoo might get you a date or a business deal with your host. In other circles a thug tattoos could get you in big trouble. If the symbols, words, or images of your tattoo are gang related and you are wearing them without gang approval you might want to get out of town quickly.
Police officers love tattoos because they are one of the main sources of identifying criminals. When a suspect is arrested all his/her tattoos are photographed and fed into a national database to be used in future investigations. All the better if the criminal gets more thug tattoos in prison because they will also be cataloged and used as evidence in future crimes.
What is a thug?
A thug is an individual (usually a male) who is tough or likes to act tough and uses physical force or threats to control other people. The thug wants undeserved respect and will go to any lengths to get it. His/her weapon of choice is fear but a real thug will also use violence to get what he wants.
In many cultures young men have thug tattoos etched on their bodies for two reasons. Firstly to convince themselves they are tough guys and secondly to make other people fear them. On the other hand many young men (who are not thugs) wear thug tattoos simply as a fashion statement.
In North America the number of people getting tattoos is increasing every year and the social stigma associated with gangsta tattoos, ghetto tattoos, prison tattoos, and thug tattoos is slowly giving way to social acceptance of tats. The change in attitude can be credited primarily to Hip-Hop artists, rappers, entertainers, movie stars, and sport personalities all wearing tattoos to express their lifestyles and personal views.
