Episode
Why do we get tattoos?
- Podcast
- MPR News with Angela Davis
- Published
- Sep 22, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2808
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2026/09/22/why-do-we-get-tattoos
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Summary
Tattoos can mark a memory, honor someone we love, express something about who we are — or simply be a piece of art we like enough to put on our bodies. But choosing something permanent can bring up questions about meaning, regret and how others might see us. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a sociologist who studies tattoo culture and a St. Paul tattoo artist about why people get tattoos, what they mean to us and how attitudes towards tattoos are changing. Guests: Jordanne Le Fae is a tattoo artist and co-owner of Weird Ink Society , a tattoo shop in St. Paul that focuses on creating a welcoming environment for clients. David Lane is a criminal justice professor and sociologist at Illinois State University. Part of his research focuses on tattooing, tattoo culture and the social world of tattoo artists. He is also the author of “ The Other End of the Needle: Continuity and Change among Tattoo Workers. ”