How Piercings and Tattoos Are Helping Women Reclaim Their Bodies

Tattoos and piercings have been around for a long time, helping people express themselves. For many women, body art is more than just decoration; it’s a way to take control of their bodies.

Society has often told women how they should look, dress, and present themselves. But today, many are using tattoos and piercings to challenge societal standards and expectations. These choices help women feel confident, powerful, and in charge of their own appearance.

Why Body Modification Matters to Women

Women’s bodies have long been controlled by traditions, beauty standards, and even personal relationships. Many have been told what is “acceptable” or “feminine.”

Tattoos and piercings offer a way to break free from these pressures. They let women decide how they want to look rather than following what society expects.

Getting a tattoo or piercing is a personal decision that can empower a woman. Unlike changing clothes or makeup, these forms of self-expression last much longer.

This makes them a bold statement of ownership over one’s body.

Tattoos As Personal Stories

Tattoos allow women to tell their own stories and mark important moments in their lives. Many get tattoos to celebrate victories, remember struggles, or honor loved ones.

Unlike piercings, tattoos are permanent and painful to remove, making them deeply personal. Some women use them to reclaim their bodies after experiences like illness, abuse, or self-doubt.

Choosing meaningful designs helps turn painful memories into something empowering. It’s a way to take control of one’s history and body.

As a personal example, I experienced the tragic loss of a friend. His death was something I wanted to get over, and I knew the only way I could would be to get a tattoo and experience the catharsis in the moment.

I picked a floral design I knew he’d find beautiful and placed it on my knee. After my first session, I felt a deep sense of relief. The pain of the tattoo helped me release the tension I was holding inside my body.

Tattoos can also help boost confidence by enhancing areas that women aren’t confident about. For example, before I got my sleeve, I always hid my arms because I was self-conscious of them.

Since I got my sleeve, I no longer wish to hide my arms because one is decorated with beautiful and colorful marine life. I now get compliments on how lovely my arm is and how vibrant the color is. Each time I’m complimented, I feel a sense of pride in how I’ve decorated my body and the fact that I no longer wish to hide part of it I was once ashamed of.

Navel Piercings: Embracing Confidence

Navel piercings became especially popular in the 1990s and early 2000s. They highlight the belly area, which has often been a source of insecurity for many women.

According to a 2022 study, navel piercings can significantly improve self-confidence and protect against self-harming thoughts. This same study also surveyed why women decided to get their belly buttons pierced. The most common motivation was to increase physical attractiveness. Other answers included control over their bodies and independence.

The study also asked how women felt after they picked out their navel piercing jewelry and got pierced. The responses included:

• More like themselves
• More in control of their bodies and actions
• More satisfied with the shape of their bodies
• More satisfied with the size of their bodies
• More satisfied with the site of their stomachs
• More attractive to others
• More successful
• More comfortable in their bodies
• More comfortable when others saw their bodies

As you can see from these responses, navel piercings helped give women confidence, thus helping them reclaim their bodies.

Septum Piercings: An Edgy Choice

Although septum piercings are becoming more widely accepted as more people start getting them, they can still help women reclaim their bodies.

The septum piercing goes through the soft tissue in the center of the nose. Because of its prominent placement on the center of the face, it’s a bold piercing. Getting a septum piercing is an act of taking control of one’s appearance for a woman.

The septum piercing can also instill confidence in a woman who may be insecure about her nose. Because of its central placement on the face, it can help a nose look more balanced and symmetrical.

Even if a woman decides to flip the septum piercing jewelry up and hide the piercing, she knows it is there and is just for her.

Tattoos and piercings are more than trends; they are ways for women to regain control of their bodies. Septum piercings make bold statements, while navel piercings celebrate confidence. Tattoos serve as reminders of strength, survival, and self-love. Together, they create a movement of self-empowerment.

Women are proving that their bodies are their own, and no one else gets to decide how they should look.