Why do we get tattoos?

Tattoos can mark a memory, honor someone we love, express something about who we are — or simply be a piece of art we like enough to put on our bodies. But choosing something permanent can bring up questions about meaning, regret and how others might see us.

Coming up at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a sociologist who studies tattoo culture and a St. Paul tattoo artist about why people get tattoos, what they mean to us and how attitudes towards tattoos are changing.

And we want to hear from you, too.

Do you have a tattoo? What’s the story behind it? And, if you’ve thought about getting one, what’s holding you back?

Call us during the 9 a.m. hour at 651-227-6000 or 800-242-2828. 

Guests:

• Jordanne Le Fae is a tattoo artist and co-owner of Weird Ink Society, a tattoo shop in St. Paul that focuses on creating a welcoming environment for clients.

• David Lane is a criminal justice professor and sociologist at Illinois State University. Part of his research focuses on tattooing, tattoo culture and the social world of tattoo artists. He is also the author of “The Other End of the Needle: Continuity and Change among Tattoo Workers.”

Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.