University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Display, Concealment, and Social Meaning of Body Ornamentation

Capraro, Vincent J.

This item is only available for download by members of the University of Illinois community. Students, faculty, and staff at the U of I may log in with your NetID and password to view the item. If you are trying to access an Illinois-restricted dissertation or thesis, you can request a copy through your library's Inter-Library Loan office or purchase a copy directly from ProQuest.

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/1807

Description

Title
Display, Concealment, and Social Meaning of Body Ornamentation
Author(s)
Capraro, Vincent J.
Issue Date
2007-05-15
Keyword(s)
  • Fashion
  • Tattoo/Body Ornamentation
  • Social Status
Abstract
This project aims to answer the following questions: Why do some people get tattoos? Why do some people conceal their tattoos? When does someone feel comfortable enough to wear tattoos out in the open? How does body ornamentation affect social acceptance, status, and hierarchy within the community? Based on four interviews, surveys, and participant observation, the study indicates that tattoo(s) can implicate social status and hierarchies. The results point to a stratification between people with tattoos and people without tattoos, but also to a stratification and hierarchal (or honor) system within the tattoo culture itself. People often conceal their tattoos in academic or professional context when they feel it would be perceived negatively.
Type of Resource
text
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/1807

Owning Collections

Student Communities and Culture
The university offers an extraordinary opportunity to study and document student communities, life, and culture. This collection includes research on the activities, clubs, and durable social networks that comprise sometimes the greater portion of the university experience for students.
Diversity on Campus/Equity and Access PRIMARY
This collection examines ways in which the U.S. university and the American college experience are affected by diversity, and difference. In particular, these student projects examine experiences of diversity on campus, including important contemporary social, cultural, and political debates on equity and access to university resources.