A very interesting limited cultural history of tattooed and tattooing women in the US.
Good pics although I wish there were many more.

Rather than 'secret', this story is 'mostly unknown' and I think this book is quite informative although not very entertaining. In fact, despite my interest in the topic and a number of really good photographs, I found it very difficult to engage with the narration. There is also an attempt to relate the role of tattoed women in history with the role of women in genaral in the society but I found it very superficial, as in concerning only extremely mainstream phenomena such as Kat Von D and only as part of a state of art.

A really interesting book about the history of women's tattoos. Great writing, excellent photographs - thoroughly enjoyable.

Gave me the courage to get my second (first big) tattoo. Beautiful, just unlike anything else out there.

I loved reading this. I can now describe myself as a “heavily tattooed” woman, and the history of both tattooed and tattooist of the female variety was interesting and informative. The theories about why women might turn their bodies into canvases all felt on the mark. I took photos of some of the author’s thoughts and quotes from those interviewed to think about later.

Last year I heard Margot Mifflin talk about this book, and what she says in person is a little different from the overall tenor of this book. This book is likely to appeal to people already interested in tattoos rather than the history of female independence and Mifflin writes for that audience. This book has a beautiful collection of pictures but it is notable that that only "beautiful" tattoos are featured, which from an historical perspective leaves some noticeable gaps.

In the book Mifflin writes about circus performers of the late nineteenth century and the financial stability their career choice gave them. However, the economics falls out of narrative in the 21at century. Mifflin does not interview or feature one of the "skinny blondes" who tattoo themselves to become convention models. We have no idea if their choices are motivated by economics, aesthetics or need for attention. It would have been interesting to find out.

Mifflin also features the rare and unusual but again does discuss the economics differences that may or may not exist when a fine artist decides to pursue tattooing as an art form, versus the tattoo artist that works her way through an apprenticeship. Also would other mediums be as lucrative for the fine artists?

Mifflin adopts a quasi-feminist approach to the discussion of attitudes toward female tattoo artists and tattooed women, but again leaves questions. What do women who have a tattoo in the middle of the lower back think about their choice being derogatorily described as a "tramp stamp?" Another question, if it is socially acceptable to use this derogatory term why we would question any woman's choice to keep her tattoos covered? Also Mifflin does not delve into the issues surrounding tattoo removal or cover ups which for many women is also a form of self expression and independence. She does discuss the paradox of the pink ribbon tattoo which starts out for many women as a symbol of survivorship,and then becomes a regret tattoo because it constantly reminds them of a painful, difficult time in their life. Mifflin includes examples of women who get their breast augmentation tattooed but does not even mention women who choose to get their radiation tattoos removed.

This is a coffee table book so there is no discussion of the darker side of tattoos. Only one photograph of a tattoo associated with an abusive relationship is included, and it is only included because it is a cover up. For me a comprehensive account of tattooing women in Western society would include the dark side including prison tattoos, gang tattoos and concentration tattoos. Mifflin asks why Marina Vainshtein would have images of the holocaust tattooed on her body. I wonder does she portray these images as a form of artistic expression, because we are still afraid to express the experience of women any other way?

This was a really neat and beautifully illustrated history of tattooed women and women who tattoo. I can think of about three people I'd like to get this for.

A good cheat-sheet to the history of women and tattoo. Lots of pictorials, but a bit thin on academic theory.

I wish this book was longer. It has some awesome tattoo photos of both artists and their work, and is an interesting look at how women broke through this male dominated industry. It analyzes how gender plays a role in the industry. One thing that really stands out in my mind is how different women and men display themselves and their ink in industry events/contests, and how sexualized women continue to be, even in this "fringe" group.

Good book! Very interesting and I knocked it out in one two hour plane ride.

Well researched and vastly entertaining. Margot Mifflin unveils the history of tattooing among western women, from roughly 1860 to the 1990s. I'd expected this to be regular-sized, but it's actually large, kind of like a soft-bound coffee table book. There are lots of photos of tattooed women from all eras and walks of life; Mifflin examines the reasons that women have been drawn (heh) to tattoo through the ages, and the significance of body art within the feminist, Pagan, spiritual, punk, mainstream, and biker-chick communities. Fascinating content here about women tattoo artists (those who tattoo others), as well as "collectors" (those who receive tattoos).

I really enjoyed this book. It filled in the lady shaped gaps in the history of American tattooing. A lot of the literature on tattooing portrays women with tattoos as sluts, lesbians, or both. I don't mean in the good way either. In regard to other books, I kept thinking, "Hey, author, you really couldn't find any women to interview who weren't maybe drunk and getting a rose tattoo on their boob?" Oh no, they couldn't because all of those ladies were busy getting interviewed by Mifflin.

So, thank you, Margot Mifflin for writing a history of female tattoo artists and collectors. This book is both fierce and intelligent. It also has really amazing photographs.