# Q about tattoo placement **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 10, 2002, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-tattoo-placement/118163 "2002-07-10T02:27:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2002, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-tattoo-placement/118163/1 "2002-07-10T02:27:39Z")
On many, uh, adult websites (šŸ˜ƒ ) I have seen women with tattoos (some quite elaborate) on their lower back, a few inches above their butts. Is there any signifigance to this location? ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2002, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-tattoo-placement/118163/2 "2002-07-10T11:19:29Z")
I dunnoā€¦coordinates to improve aim? ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2002, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-tattoo-placement/118163/3 "2002-07-10T14:29:11Z")
Canā€™t speak for others, but I chose that exact place for two reasons: one, itā€™s easily hidden so you donā€™t have to deal with annoying questions in polite company, and two: itā€™sā€¦ uhhhā€¦ [sub]itā€™s a happy spot for me.[/sub] But I like **Dave** ā€™s suggestion better. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2002, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-tattoo-placement/118163/4 "2002-07-10T22:55:39Z")
ā€œitā€™s easily hidden so you donā€™t have to deal with annoying questions in polite companyā€ Lol. yeah thats why I see them almost every day in that location. The lady bends over & there it is or she sits forward & there it is. I just asked my friend the other day I wonder why they have it there? ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-tattoo-placement/118163/5 "2002-07-11T00:08:12Z")
Basically what **Bobkitty** said. I would imagine its more ladylike then on their arms, as far as society thinks. I of course donā€™t hold that view, and think they look sexy anywhere cept the forehead. ---
**Author:** ![Tortuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@Tortuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tortuga)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-tattoo-placement/118163/6 "2002-07-11T00:57:58Z")
Plus, itā€™s not an area likely to stretch, or sag, get so much sun it fadesā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-tattoo-placement/118163/7 "2002-07-11T03:08:42Z")
If I may stereotype for a momentā€¦ Men and women get tattoos for different reasons. Men usually think of them as something to show off, so they get them in a location where they can show them off easily. This usually means the arms. Women get tattoos for ā€œbeautifyingā€ reasons: they think theyā€™re pretty. But, they donā€™t necessarily want to show them off to everyone. So, women tend to get tattoos not on their arms but on their backs or hips. Now, like I said, Iā€™m radically generalizing here, but Iā€™d say that a tattoo in the location you describe accentuates a womanā€™s curves and draws the eyes; itā€™s pretty. And, unless someoneā€™s keeping a close eye on her backside while sheā€™s wearing an untucked shirt, no oneā€™s gonna see it unless she wants them to see it. ---
**Author:** ![DAVEW0071](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@DAVEW0071](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DAVEW0071)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/q-about-tattoo-placement/118163/8 "2002-07-11T11:14:45Z")
In addition, if the woman in question bends forward or reaches up, and the aforementioned tattoo is then visible, it sorta has the same effect as a flash of leg or a glimpse of cleavage. Not like sheā€™s _flaunting_ it, butā€¦whoah! sure caught my eye!