They may be designed for others to see, but they’re not always *worn *for others to see. Sometimes women wear sexy underwear under their everyday clothes - it’s even recommended by Cosmopolitan and therapists alike. Earrings often stay in the ears for weeks or months, and even people with long hair that obscures or covers their earrings wear them. People with depression are counseled to get dressed every day and style their hair whether anyone’s going to see them or not, because it helps to ease depression.
People feel better when they look better (as defined by their culture), even if they’re not being seen. So the fact that I rarely see the tattoo on my stomach doesn’t detract from the fact that it is beautiful and it makes me feel beautiful to know it’s there, even if eyes haven’t been laid on it in a while.
The other thing I think you miss is that for many tattoos, seeing them isn’t the point. Getting them is the point. They commemorate something, or signify something, and the planning of, design of and getting of the tattoo serves as a modern day secular (or sacred, in my subculture) ritual. The birth or death of a loved one, a bond of friendship, healing from a traumatic event, etc. It’s a meditative, creative process that people find value in independent of the final object. It’s the bodily equivalent of asand mandala, in that long term appreciation of it as art is of secondary importance to the process of creating it.
For example: I’ve got three tattoos. All are small and fairly boring to look at. The first, and most elaborate, is the one on my stomach. It’s two serpents entwined in a gordian knot. I got it when I was young and dealing with past sexual abuse. It was inspired by the AURYN in The Neverending Story (although it’s not the same design as the illustration in the book or the movie; it’s actually a replica of a pendant I used to wear.) It signifies protection to me. It is my shield, my protection against assault and my badge of bodily integrity and autonomy. It was also something beautiful I chose to have put on my ravaged, stretch marked, much hated post-pregnancy belly.
The second is an ankle bracelet style, and it was done by a shaman when I was in my 20’s. The reasons behind that one are private and spiritual, but very real and unrelated to anyone seeing it all the time, although I’m happy to display it when appropriate.
The third doesn’t really apply for this thread, because it is on my chest, right about where a necklace pendant usually falls. It’s a crescent moon and star. I got that one during an initiation rite when I became a priestess in my community. That one I actually have to plan clothing to cover up when needed, because it is generally visible. It’s designed that way, so that people ask me about it and I tell them who I am and make myself available in spiritual service.
But notice that, other than the last one, “So people see it” isn’t anywhere on my list of reasons why I got a tattoo. 