BackStage

I’ve mentioned before that I have lost someone to suicide. To memorialize this person, I got a tattoo on my wrist. The spot? Well, I can cover it with a watch if must needs and, in the area of coverage, this is not my only tattoo… so I’m running out of hidden areas to tat. Also, I like to be able to see it all the time.

Who knew that this was a fairly common occurrence? Getting a memorial tattoo? Well, it turns out it is. As I turn everything into sociology, I began a qualitative study interviewing individuals with memorial tattoos. The following is a picture of a tattoo a Vietnam Vet got to memorialize a fallen friend (killed by the kind of tank pictured).

I have spoken to people who have gotten tattoos to memorialize their mothers, fathers, children, friends, several military buddies, those who died on 9/11, and even a roommate that the tattooed person barely knew.

I have done a total of 17 interviews, and have come up against the wall. I NEED MORE. I am asking you, oh kind readers, to ask anyone you know with memorial tattoos to email me at pitselehsbackstage@gmail.com. If they do, I will send them more information about the study and arrange to do an interview (can do them over the phone) and a way to fill out the IRB.