Lower back tattoo

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A lower back tattoo at an outdoor concert.

Beginning in the late 1990s^{[citation needed]}, the lower back tattoo became popular, especially among young women. Lower back tattoos are often oblong in shape, following the slope of the back on either side of the woman's spine. Worn almost exclusively by women^{[citation needed]}, the lower back tattoo functions as body decoration with the intent of emphasizing sexual attractiveness. Generally, a lower back tattoo will be designed to emphasize the shape and curvature of the female figure^{[citation needed]}. The placement of such tattoos on the lower back is more openly sexual than other common female tattoo locations such as the ankle or shoulderblade. While such tattoos have become increasingly popular and accepted in recent years, they remain controversial in some quarters. Wearers regard their tattoos as sexy and a way of empowering themselves as women by asserting their sexuality. However, opponents consider tattoos in this location as suggestive of promiscuity and an indication of Raunch Culture. Some slang terms for the tattoo are a tramp stamp, bull's eye, or bang marks.

There are several attributes of lower back tattoos that have made them popular. While the lower back is not the widest area of the human back, it has abundant space for a large design, and horizontal tattoo designs can be worked easily. Another advantage is that the lower back is less likely to stretch and distort due to minor weight fluctuations, thus avoiding the tattoo's shape becoming warped and faded as quickly. In addition, they can easily be concealed under business attire.

Lower back tattoos are also often displayed in conjunction with halfshirts and bellyshirts (also called crop tops) designed to expose the midriff, and low-rise jeans that are slung low around the hips.

In Germany the lower back tattoo is called an "Arschgeweih", which literally means "ass antlers". This term was created by comedian Michael Mittermeier, and since there is no other simple word in German this term prevailed. It is also sometimes called "Schlampenstempel", which means "bitch's stamp", and is more pejorative than "Arschgeweih". The lower back tattoo is considered to be a symbol of belonging to the underclass in Germany^{[citation needed]}.

[edit] Medical concerns

Within the past few years, tattoo artists and doctors have questioned the safety of administering epidurals to pregnant women who have lower back tattoos.[1] However, such concerns have largely been discredited,[2] since there are countless^{[citation needed]} women with lower back tattoos who have successfully undergone childbirth with epidurals and experienced no side effects. Currently, there is no consensus in the medical community as to the significance of the risk.[3] Most anesthesiologists will give an epidural block to a woman with a lower back tattoo. However, they may try to avoid placing the needle through the tattoo to avoid a small scar that may disfigure the tattoo. If possible, the anesthesiologist will choose nontattooed skin through which to insert the needle.

[edit] Pop culture references

In the film Wedding Crashers (2005), the character Jeremy Grey (Vince Vaughn) suggests that lower back tattoos are a mark of sexual promiscuity. Upon seeing a lower back tattoo, he remarks, "Tattoo on the lower back... might as well be a bullseye."

Comedian Bill Maher made the following comment about lower back tattoos in his "New Rules" section of the May 13, 2005 episode of his show Real Time with Bill Maher:

New Rule: Just because your tattoo has Chinese characters in it doesn't make you spiritual. It's right above the crack of your ass. And it translates to "beef with broccoli." The last time you did anything spiritual, you were praying to God you weren't pregnant. You're not spiritual. You're just high.

Celebrities such as Janet Jackson, Jessica Alba, Britney Spears, Celine Dion, Anna Kournikova, Angelina Jolie, and Anastacia have exposed their lower back tattoos in public.

An episode of Saturday Night Live that first aired May 1, 2004, featured a parody TV commercial for a product called Turlington's Lower Back Tattoo Remover

During a Late Night with Conan O'Brien episode broadcast on August 29, 2006, O'Brien noted to Donald Trump that seeing a lower back tattoo on a woman drives him "absolutely insane."

In an episode of How I Met Your Mother, Barney's brother James refers to a woman's tattoo as a 'tramp stamp' in an effort to offend her so that Barney can rush in and 'save her'.