The Power Of The Tramp Stamp – Woman’s Tattoo Double Chances Of Being Approached
Christopher Philip
French researcher Nicolas Guéguen, has conducted new research showing that a tattoo placed at the lower back of a women, produces significantly more approaches by men.
In his experiment published in the journal Archives of Sexual Behavior, Guéguen either placed a temporary 10 x 5 cm tattoo of a butterfly on the lower back of women or did not. He then had the women lay face-down while reading a book on a well-know local beach.
Interestingly, women who wore the tattoo were approached 24% of the time, but when they did not, they were only approached 10% of the time. Men also were much faster in their approach times. When women wore a tattoo, the time to approach was only 24 minutes versus 35 minutes in the no-tattoo condition.
In the second half of the study, men were asked about their judgments and perceptions of women with tattoos. Guéguen found that men both figured that women would be more likely to say yes to their advances if they had a tattoo and were also likely to be more promiscuous.
These results fall in line with previous research that has found that women with tattoos are rated as less physically attractive, but also more sexually promiscuous. However, in the current research it was the presence of a tattoo did not affect the judgment of attractiveness.
Previous studies also reported many negative impressions to women who bear tattoos from less athleticism, to lower attractiveness, motivation, honesty, generousness, religiousness, intelligence and artistic ability. Additionally, the sex of the rater didn’t seem to matter – both men and women perceive women with tattoos more poorly than women without.
Men’s and women’s ratings of tattoo bearing women’s promiscuity is not without support, however. Past research by Guéguen has found that women who have tattoos and pericings tend to have sex earlier than those who don’t.
That being said, a woman’s decision to have a tattoo or not, is not proof of her promiscuity, however, should women be contemplating a tattoo or already have one, they should be aware of the impressions they are making and how they are/will be perceived by others.
Image Credit: istolethetv
Resources
Guéguen Nicholas. Effects of a Tattoo on Men’s Behavior and Attitudes Towards Women: An Experimental Field Study. Arch Sex Behav. 2019. 42 (8):1517-1524. doi: 10.1007/s10508-013-0104-2. Epub 2019 May 9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23657810
Guéguen, Nicholas. Tattoos, piercings, and sexual activity. Social Behavior and Personality. 2019. 40: 1543-1547.
Swami, V., and Furnham, A. Unattractive, Promiscuous, and Heavy Drinkers: Perceptions of Women With Tattoos. Body Image. 2007. 4: 343–352.