Role and significance of tattoos among underage girls in Juvenile Correctional Facility in Zawiercie

Abstract

The article presents a study of the phenomenon of subculture tattoo among underage girls, in the environment of the Juvenile Correctional Facility in Zawiercie. The goal of the research is to focus on the analysis of body alteration among juveniles, the meaning behind their symbols and patterns, their origin and the  procedures regarding eventual tattoos removal. However, the key element is to determine whether these symbols may be classified as the prison tattoos or the artistic tattoos. Although the respondents asses their tattoos as the symbol of love or commemoration of events, more than half of the tattoos contain elements of prison subculture, which surely plays a significant role in their juveniles’ lives.