The Tradition of Bikers and Tattoos

When most people think of bikers, a picture comes to mind of a rebellious group of people sporting lots of tattoos. Tattoos have long been a sign of unruliness, defiance, and insubordinate behavior. Tattooing for bikers began in the 1940’s as a way of marking the club they belonged to. It was more of a sign of what they stood for and where their loyalty was, rather than body art. Today, bikers will decorate themselves with tattoos to express themselves in an artistic manner, while using their bodies as a way to show who they are with the signs and symbols they display.

Tattooing has gained a lot of recognition with bikers over the years. The need for bikers to establish status in the biker world has always been a factor of tattooing. The biker may choose the toughest looking tattoo at the parlor to signify their pecking order in the gang, or they may choose a symbol to make a different statement. Whatever it is that the biker is trying to get across to the public or fellow bikers, more often than not, a tattoo is chosen for a reason. Although there are some people who choose a tattoo just because they like the way it looks, most tattoos, especially those belonging to a group such as a motorcycle club, choose a sign or symbol that has meaning to themselves, or to the whole group.

Tattooing has become more acceptable over the years, and it is very common to see people with many tattoos on their bodies. Television shows even portray tattooing as an art and a way of life.