Although these are the same people that buy into the cosmetic industry, jewelry including belly piercing, and breast implants as a normal part of women's lives. Many women are not comfortable or accepting of themselves and the cultures they come from. Most people say regret will come later in life when your older and you still have the tattoos you got when you were young. I myself have a very small tattoo in a place that only my husband see's. I didn't get this tattoo for the same reasons Silja did, I got it on a dare, but I love it and what it stands for, as I am sure that is what Silja feels also.
I found the stories on "Unwanted" much more of a concern then the "Marked for Life". I feel that cutting is an outward cry for help. In Precious Angel when someone finally noticed the pain this young girl was in no one could help her. Sure they tried to "fix her" through nurses, doctors, hospital, and counselors, yet at the end of her story she could only say she is better yet she did consider suicide. I know a girl that was a close friend of my son and his crew of high school friend. She is beautiful, intelligent, friendly, and what I thought was very confident. One day during a summer party at my home I noticed she wasn't in the pool, or not playing volleyball. After asking her if she was alright she stated that she didn't bring a suit. after offering her shorts and a tank top I walked in on her changing in my room to see cuts on her thighs. These were only a day or two old and I was shocked, I looked closer to see many scares from past cutting. I started to cry and so did she. we spent a couple of hours talking to find out that she was to horrified to speak to her very busy mother who she felt wouldn't care anyway. This girl was hurting in a way that I couldn't help other then letting her cry and talk with me. Finally I told her that I would go with her to speak to her mother, and if her mother couldn't give her the help she needed I would find someone that would.
It has been along battle for 'Amy' (not her real name) but today I get long emails and photos from her along with pictures of her beautiful twin daughters that inspire her everyday of her life to be a strong, empowered women, with her knowledge she has made a vow to never cut again and to be there for her daughter when the teenage world grabs a hold of them.
Both readings and my sons friend have a connection in the struggles young girls go through just to live life in what they believe to be an acceptable way of dealing with pain within themselves.
570 words
Talvi,
Silja J.A.. "Marked for Life: Tattoos and the Redefinition of Self." Body
Outlaws. Ed. Ophira Edut. 2nd ed., Expanded and Updated. Emeryville,
California: Seal Press, 2003. 211-218. Print.
Angel,
Precious. "Unwanted." My Sisters' Voices: Teenage Girls of Color
Speak Out. Ed. Iris Jacob. New York, New York: Holt Paperbacks, 2002.
201-203. Print.