Since the beginning of humankind women, along with men, have been using their bodies as a canvas of expression through tattoo. The meaning of humanities oldest art varied from a rite of passage, fertility and spiritual practices to tribal affiliations. One of the earliest known discovery of tattooing on women is the Egyptian mummies, one in particular Amunet, whose body adorn patterns of lines and dots that symbolized her status as a high ranking priestess, dates back between 2160 BC to 1994 BC. In ancient Nubian cultures women decorated their pregnant bellies and thighs with tattoos of protection from demonic forces to ensure a successful birth. While some tribal customs used tattoo as a form of ornamentation, others incorporated the practice in rituals of their daily lives. For example, some communities’ elder matrons would tap ink into the hands and feet of girls starting about age six; then progressively tattoo their body completely until the girl reached maturity for marriage. During the Victorian Era, western-influenced socialites thought delicate designs around their wrists were a risqué fashion statement and easily disguised with a bracelet if necessary. When this fad seemed to wane, US carnivals and circus shows of the late 1800s took advantage of the sideshow attraction of fully tattooed ladies. These ladies were displayed as freaks or oddities that would tell tall tales of being captured by savages and forcibly tattooed. Soon this to died out as tattooing once again became an underground taboo catering to those of discriminating values, military men and criminals. It wasn’t until the late 1950s to 1960s that women started to reclaim their bodies and their rights, that tattooing resurged as an art form. Today, tattooing has blossomed into a dignified profession where people rekindle their inner tribalism to express feelings, thoughts, ideas, religion, or memories much like early man long ago. All throughout this colorful inked past, women have remained a constant thread, a lineage sewn from generations, allowing our ancestral instincts to transcend time.

“Female Tattooist on Staff” a few ads read while I was investigating the feminine tattoo phenom. My curiosity piqued by the need for such a label. Why would this have to be specified? These days 1 out of 20 tattooist are women who have chosen the profession and are gaining notoriety in a male dominated field. TV shows like “LA Ink” even cater to the renewal of the woman and tattoo culture. According to the 2008 Harris Poll, over 40 million people have at least one tattoo, 13% of which are female. Much like the women’s motorcycle movement, these two facets seem to run in cadence with one another. More well-educated, dynamic women are displaying striking new attitudes of empowerment on the road and on their skin. Artistic, articulate and passionately devoted to her craft, Christy Brooker of ArtCore Studios in Seattle, WA, is a testament to this fact. She has been placing ink to skin since 1999, and also riding - her current ride is a rowdy 1986 Honda Rebel 450. She shares why being a “female tattooist on staff” is more an indicator of a broader balance, the yin and yang of tattoo-ism. She also explains the close connection to her bike, a bond grown stronger even after a bad spill.

~In your experience, what do others think about women tattooist?
CB: I don't really think there is any generalization of what people think of us. Some people think that it's important for their particular tattoo to be done by a woman. If female energy is a large part of the meaning behind the tattoo they think having a woman do the piece will increase that energy. Some people just simply think it's cool to get tattooed by a woman because it's not as common.  I suppose it's similar to having a woman do the pluming in your house. You just don't see it as much. Some people think I'll pay more attention to detail or be gentler when I do the tattoo. I do pay attention to detail and I have a light hand but it's not because I'm a woman. I know plenty of women in the industry that don't do either of those things. Personally I think it should be a non-issue.   I can tattoo better than some guys and worse than others. It has nothing to do with me being a woman. It has everything to do with talent, hard work, and education.

~Are you treated differently because of your gender? Helped or hinder?
CB: Sometimes I'm treated differently. I've been flat out told that a guy didn't want me to tattoo him because I'm a woman. I've been treated like the counter help by countless people, including other tattoo artists. I don't put up with it, but it happens. I've been asked by too many people to count if they can talk to the guy who's portfolio they are looking at even though it has my name and my picture in it. I've done consultations, done the drawing, set up my station, put the stencil on them and when I pick up the machine they get wide eyes and say "Oh! You're going to do it?!" That's happened more than once. If I was a guy they would never have assumed that I wasn't the tattoo artist. When I was apprenticing most of my friends and people that met me thought that I had slept my way into the shop. That was far from the truth. These are all extremes though. Being a woman has helped set me apart from other artists. Most of the time I'm the only girl in the shop so all people have to do is ask for the girl and everyone knows who they're talking about. At the shop that I'm at now I'm treated like a tattoo artist. Period. That's how I like it.

~Some say that women tattooist have more of an ego, is that true?
CB: I have never heard that before. Like I said, it has nothing to do with being a woman. Tattoo artist generally have big egos. Not all of us but the majority that I've met do. There's that rock star cockiness that's, frankly, embarrassing to me. People may say that because your a woman and you've been working in tattoo shops for a while you have to grow a thick skin. It's the same as a woman working in any industry that's male dominated. When I started working in a tattoo shop there where days that I would go home and cry because I didn't know how to stand up for myself. There's none of that now. The boys know better as soon as they meet me that I won't put up with their shit. That may be perceived as ego. When I look at woman tattoo artists I see strength and confidence. There is the occasional uppity bitch but isn't that how it always is? We're glorified graphic artists. Our clients just happen to want the design on their skin. There's no reason for us to think we're any better than any other kind of artist.

~Is there a difference between trendy and traditional tattoos these days?
CB: American traditional tattoos are trendy right now. Just look around you anywhere. I was at a large chain discount store the other day and I saw Sailor Jerry shot glasses stuffed between the wine glasses and the festive pastel bunny dishes. The clothes at the mall have Ed Hardy and Sailor Jerry designs all over them. It's a little bit sad to me. I feel that they are being commercialized to the point of exhaustion. On the other hand I'm glad that people have some idea who these men where, are and what they did. They deserve the recognition.

~What do you think about the reality shows on TV, such as LA Ink and Miami Ink?
CB: Oh yes! We do have to have this question these days I suppose. I think it's putting money in my pocket. I think people are getting the wrong idea of how things are done at tattoo shops. I think they should follow the rules that their state health departments have put in place for peoples safety. They should at least follow the generally accepted rules of the industry. Smoking in the shop and having pets inside is like having those things in a hospital. It's not ok and their clients could be affected by that. The drama and fighting is ridiculous and overboard, but I guess they have to do something for ratings. All of that being said though, Hannah Aitchison is awesome.

~Motorcycles and tattoos have deep roots together, how do you think they have grown/changed in the biker community?
CB: I think that they have both changed dramatically in the past ten to fifteen years. I feel like I sort of missed out. I can't ride my bike with my tattoos on my neck and have people fear me.  I don't actually want people to be afraid of me but I do want that old school feeling. I never got to experience it and I want to. I'm glad it's more acceptable to ride and have visible tattoos. I'm glad I can talk to almost anyone about my passion for those things and they can relate on some level. I'm glad that people don't grab their children and protect them when I walk by, well, most of the time they don't. It would sure be an experience to live that lifestyle that we're all trying to recapture when we pull on our leather, straddle that machine and pull the throttle. It's like trying to feel like an assassin when you take a day trip to the shooting range. You may be holding the same weapon but you’re a far cry from the real thing. I'm a biker, but I'm not like they used to be.

~What does being a motorcyclist mean to you?
CB: I love the camaraderie that motorcycling has brought to me. After riding for countless miles with my friends, camping out, and working on our bikes together, I feel a special bond with them. We watch each other’s backs and we know what to expect from our individual riding styles. There's also the friendship that I have with my bike. He's been with me through a whole lot. It's really like a relationship. Most of the time he makes me feel like a million bucks. We have unspoken trust for each other. As long as I ride safe and conscientious he's not going to let me fall down. We've had quite a few spats because I do all my maintenance and repairs myself.      I feel like I'm cheating on him because I'm building an old Triumph chopper basket case. I absolutely love working on them. Getting greasy and smelling like my dad used to when he got home from working as a mechanic. That has to be the best smell in the world. I have a great respect for my machine. I was in a horrible accident recently that sent me to the hospital for seven weeks. I feel closer to my bike than ever after that. I guess what it really means to me is freedom. As cliché as it sounds it's just spot on. I can jump on that bike, take a deep breath, hit the road and it makes everything all better.