Love them or hate them, tattoos are really popular nowadays in the UK.

What do you think of

tattoos?
In Britain, tattoos used to be seen mainly on sailors, prisoners and bikers and were considered a sign of
being a rebel. However, now they are popular with all kinds of people and it’s pretty normal to have a
tattoo these days.
Which design?
Japanese and Chinese characters and loved ones’ names are among the most popular designs today.
Mario, who runs his own tattoo parlour, says ‘I have more women than men customers. Women often
prefer smaller designs like stars, flowers and cherubs and men are into much bigger images’. Many well-
known Brits have tattoos. Here are some of them:
* David Beckham has a crucifixion scene and his kids’ names on his back. He also has a tattoo of his wife’s
name in Hindi.
* Victoria Beckham has stars on her back to symbolise the members of her family.
* Robbie Williams has a lion on his right arm, Maori designs on his left arm, a French phrase on his collar
bone, the musical notes to All You Need is Love on his lower back, ‘I love you mother’ on his arms, two
birds on his stomach and many more!
* Kate Moss has a small crown on her shoulder.
* Samantha Cameron, businesswoman and wife of a former British Prime Minister, has a dolphin tattooed
on her ankle.
Tattoo events
There are annual tattoo events that attract thousands of visitors such as the International London Tattoo
Convention and the Brighton Tattoo Convention. At these events you can get a tattoo done or see human
bodies completely covered in tattoos.
Chris, 18, from Stratford attended the Brighton Tattoo Convention last year. What’s his advice for
someone thinking of having a tattoo done? ‘Fashions change but tattoos are forever. Make sure that you
choose a design that you like.’
Age
Tattoos are not just for the young. Many people are now going for their first tattoo in their 30s, 40s, 50s
or 60s.
‘My dad got a tattoo done for his 50th birthday. I thought it was going to look rubbish but it’s actually
pretty cool.’
Lewis, from Middlesbrough
History
A professor of sociology has studied the history of tattooing in the West. According to the professor, it
was fashionable for rich people to have small tattoos in 19th-century Europe. These tattoos were designs
which represented their families.
Then, tattoos became a symbol of working-class masculinity. Now they are being reinvented as a middle-
class symbol. As tattoos become popular with all kinds of people, the trend seems set to continue.
1. Match the vocabulary with the correct definition.
1. A tattoo parlor _b a. somebody who doesn’t follow society’s rules.
2. A love one _d__ b. a shop where you can get a tattoo.
3. A rebel __a_ c. to get a tattoo.
4. To have a tattoo done _c__ d. a close family member or friend.
5. Sociology __f_ e. a large meeting of people who share the
same interest or hobby.

6. A convention _e_ f. the study of human society and how it works.

2. Check your understanding: true or false.

Circle True or False for these sentences.
1. Tattoos were mainly popular with sailors, prisoners and bikers in the past.
True-False.
2. It’s common to have the name of someone you love tattooed in a different
language.
True-False
3. The British Prime Minister is famous for having many tattoos.
True-False.

4. Tattoo events are held every year in the UK.

True-False.

5. Hardly any people aged over 30 have tattoos done in Britain.

True-False.

6. Tattoos are becoming popular with different kinds of people.

True-False.

3. Match to make correct sentences about the text. Write a–h next to the
numbers 1–8.

1.__ David Beckham has a crucifixion scene tattoo-h a. on his arms.

2.__ David Beckham has a tattoo in Hindi-c b. on his collar bone.
3.__ Victoria Beckham has stars-f c. of his wife’s name.
4.__ Robbie Williams has a lion-e d. on her ankle.
5.__ Robbie Williams has ‘I love you mother’ tattooed-a e. on his right arm.
6.__ Robbie Williams has a French phrase-b f. on her back.
7.__ Kate Moss has a small crown-g g. on her shoulder.
8.__ Samantha Cameron has a dolphin tattooed-d h. on his back.