Bodies of Subversion: A Secret History of Women and Tattoo (Paperback)

by Margot Mifflin (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
An indelible account of an indelible piece of cultural history. -- Barbara Kruger, artist

An outstanding read, and long-overdue addition to the growing body of literature on tattooing -- Intertnational Tattooing

Bodies of Subversion is a comprehensive and clear-eyed account of tattooing and women in Western society over the past century. Margot Mifflinfurthers understanding of this complex art as it exists among women. It is essential reading for anyone interested in the subject. -- Don E. Hardy, renowned tattooist and historian

In this provocative work full of intriguing female characters from tattoo history, Margot Mifflin makes a persuasive case for the tattooed woman as an emblem of female self-expression. -- Susan Faludi, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Backlash

Product Description
A fascinating excursion into a thriving subculture, this book explores the feminist significance of tattoos, noting that women's involvement with tattoo accelerated in both the suffragist '20s and the feminist '70s. Author Margot Mifflin uncovers the subversive relationship between women and tattoo, from society ladies who want to sever their identification with "natural" beauty, to the healing powers that tattoo's color and symbolism can provide for a mastectomy survivor. 100 photos, some in color.

Product Details

• Paperback: 183 pages
• Publisher: Juno Books (October 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1890451002
• ISBN-13: 978-1890451004
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,054,832 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An important history of a secret enthusiasm, March 16, 1999

By	Pat Fish of Tattoo Santa Barbara "patfish" (Santa Barbara, Southern California) - See all my reviews

Margot Mifflin's book is an amazingly well-documented and thoroughly acurate telling of the secret history of tattooed women and women tattoo artists in America. I was interviewed extensively for this subject, and throughout the year she was gathering material I watched as Mifflin's knowledge and understanding of her subject matter grew.

Contrary to another UNSIGNED review posted here, I believe the women quoted are proud to have been included and I have not heard ONE of my peers complain about it.

Many people feel that tattooing has experienced a huge upsurgence of popularity in the last decade, but until this book most will not have had the perspective to realise just how common it was for your Grandma to have slipped off to get a wicked little something, possibly a secret only she and her husband shared. It is women's willingness to boldly display their tattoos, NOT their enthuisiasm for body art, that has changed.

Margot Mifflin brought her experience as an investigator with a feminist perspective to the organization of a vast wealth of material, helped by many of the important members of the tattoo community. We knew that this was unlikely to be a book one of us would write, and it most definately needed to be written.

From the circus ladies who chose to exhibit themselves as art to the educated graphic artists of today who choose tattooing as their art medium, the women of ink are grateful.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A DEFINITE MUST-HAVE!, August 3, 2000

By	tat2dbroad (Milford, Connecticut) - See all my reviews

As a heavily tattooed woman, I am constantly searching out the archives for great books regarding the subject. I've read some pathetically boooooring books in my day, but not only was this book exciting, but incredibly accurate as well. I particularly enjoyed the vintage photos of the earliest women to experience the needle...I am a first-hand example of familiarity with the stigma attached to beautiful women with beautiful tats, I can't even imagine the stigma held in the early 1900's...A great read for females AS WELL AS MALES just looking to brush up on some inkin' history or seeking out a career in the industry...

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Tattoo Book For Women, June 27, 2002

By	TexasGirl (Central Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bodies of Subversion, Second Edition: A Secret History of Women and Tattoo (Paperback)

As a relatively newly tattooed woman, I have embraced the culture and am looking to learn more about it. This book showed me what it was like for women with tattoos through the ages. The book is extremely well written and researched and the photos are fabulous. If you are a woman who has tattoos or is thinking about getting one, I highly recommend this book. I work in an extremely conservative environment and was brought up to believe tattoos are evil and dirty, so I struggled with my decision to get my tattoos, but this book not only made me feel more comfortable with my decision, it helped me with new ideas for my backpiece :)