This is an interesting look at western tattoo culture and how women interact with it. This book is predominantly about cis white women, although it does make an effort to include women of color and queer women. Over all I liked the book although I was very put off by the fact that it gets some historical facts about clothing wrong, but that’s sort of a personal interest of mine so it’s something I notice in books. The only thing I found stylistically odd was that this book was written in the 90s and then updated in the 00s but it uses present tense, which causes it to read as very dated and out of touch because it’s talking about the difficulties for women tattoo artists to find and support each other as if it’s happening in the now and social media doesn’t exist, when what it really means is that before social media it was hard for artists to find each other.

I was expecting to learn something new from this book, but it was a lot of baseline information on tattoos in America through the early 20th century to today. It was pretty dry, and I thought it would be more in-depth and cover more around the world since there is much more to the history of tattoos and women - outside of America and before the 1900s.

Absolutely fascinating. Learned a lot (history of tatooing, why women got tattoos, what it meant), and the discussion around whether tattoos should be treated as art or a sociological/cultural phenomenon was really interesting. Rather inspiring...

An amazing look at the often undiscussed subject of women's tattoo history. Definitely an interesting read!

I have never really had the urge to actually get a tattoo, but I am fascinated by them. Excellent book.

The stories of female tattoo artists are interesting, but the overall history of tattooed women--from circus acts to today--is kind of slight. It almost comes across as more of a picture book of tattooed ladies.

There were some really cool older photos in this book. Tattooed ladies, I love them.

At its best in the later sections where there is more analysis and interrogation of tattoo culture, but the history of 19th/early 20th century tattooed women is interesting too.

Bodies of Subversion is a feminist tract, a recent history of women and tattooing, and a picture book all rolled into one. It succeeds in various ways in all three.

First, as a woman I support many feminist ideals, but the language of feminism (patriarchy exploiting women, etc) in this book gets old. Sorry folks. Just the way I feel. Maybe my consciousness needs raising. But, the feminist focus does help one understand the struggles many female artists faced, and still face, in the industry.

Second, it is a recent history meaning that it starts with the late 19th Century and runs up to the present day (I read the third edition which is pretty up to date). As such, it is a fascinating look at art women want on their skin, societal images of tattooed women, women artists, and more. It is probably the best history of its kind.

Finally, it is a picture book. And, what glorious pictures. Those pictures show the development of the art (and it is an art). Tattooing has moved from flash on the shop wall that any scratcher with a needle could do, to art in its own right.

Now, here's the full disclosure part. I am not young, but not old either. I grew up when tattooed women were only found clinging to bikers. Still, I really liked the look of ink on (in) skin. I am allergic to nickel and I thought of getting a small tattoo until I found out that many colors of ink contained nickel. I could not imagine what having an allergen injected into my skin would be like. Not good. Not good at all.

Recently, I found out that inks have greatly improved. Some companies use no metals at all and even offer vegan inks. I found a shop that features no metal inks and got my first tattoo. I have an appointment for another one. Although I will never go full body suit, who knows I may be in the fourth edition of Bodies of Subversion.

interesting content but poor picture reproduction in many places. from the turn of the century tattooed gentry to the pin ups of pre war america to the female artist revival of the seventies to the psychology of tattoos on women and women in the modern tattoo world.

The history of women and tattoos is interesting and copiously illustrated. While many of the tattoos are amateurish, some are amazingly beautiful.

This was good, and I enjoyed hearing about the history of women and tattoos. But the feminist tone of the book was a little annoying...not all women get tattoos as a feminist gesture. I know I didn't. But I do thank my brave predecessors of years past for paving the way for me to get my ink and not be ostracized as a freak or a fallen woman.