Jessica Valenti of Feministing posts about a new term in the misogynist lexicon: tramp stamp. This is apparently a term for lower-back tattoos. I have a “tramp stamp”, although it’s not my favourite tattoo and will soon be transformed into something else:

The term is being bandied about by Debbie Schlussel, who illustrates her post with a photo of a lower-back tattoo tagged: “Easy and now at risk to her baby”. Because Schlussel is going for the double whammy: promoting sexist terms like “tramp” and “easy” that are used to try and make women feel shame about sex, and promoting the myth that lower-back tattoos make it dangerous to get an epidural during childbirth.

Meanwhile, in other tattoo-related news, the Discovery Channel is launching London Ink, a reality TV show about a London tattoo shop. Unlike the LA-based version of the show, the London programme features only one woman. So, unfortunately, there will probably be less musings on being a woman in a male-dominated industry. There’s also still time to make an appointment with one of the artists at the London Tattoo Convention in October.

Posted by Jess McCabe on 23 September 2007, at 9:46 PM