| For American women, tattoos are becoming powerful symbols of resilience, identity and joy. - Stat du jour: Tattooing was once a male-dominated practice. Today, 38% of U.S. women have at least one tattoo, compared with 27% of men, The Washington Post reports, citing the Pew Research Center.
- The majority of women between the ages of 18 and 29 (56%) and the ages of 30 and 49 (53%) are tattooed.
Why it matters: Tattoos are joining the ranks of other beauty practices — like fashion, hairstyling and makeup — that many women use to express their individuality. ✒️ Zoom in: One study of women who got tattooed after struggling with infertility or dealing with miscarriages found that the art provided catharsis and a sense of control over their bodies. - One woman chose to get a phoenix feather to mark "rising again" after a painful experience. Another woman honored lost pregnancies with a heart, and symbolized her bond with her adopted child with a jigsaw piece.
- Many who undergo surgery also get tattoos. "Women will tattoo the site of a mastectomy scar, sometimes with flowers and trees — things that represent life and renewal," Cheri Van Hoover, retired adjunct professor of midwifery and women's health at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, told The Washington Post.
Go deeper: Axios CEO Jim VandeHei wrote this year about getting his first tattoo and called it "wearing your heart on your body." - In response, Finish Line readers across the country told us the stories behind their tattoos. Read them.
📬 If you didn't get a chance to share your tattoo tale, send a couple of sentences, along with your name and hometown, to finishline@axios.com. Feel free to include a photo! | 
