Tattoo artist from Salzburg campaigns against sexual harassment
Most of the customers have repeatedly reported unpleasant experiences with other tattooists, says Ronja Plasser, tattoo artist at the Moksha Tattoo Gallery in Hallein (Tennengau). “I then talked to colleagues about it and mostly it was dismissed by saying that these were the older colleagues and that they wouldn’t mean it,” she says. In general, it is a problem that boundaries can quickly become blurred in the tattoo scene. “You often spend a lot of hours, very close to this person, chatting, maybe getting along well. Some see signals in this that are actually none, ”she explains.
Lack of advice centers
She noticed the problem particularly clearly when she wanted to help a customer after an attack. “As an individual you feel absolutely helpless in a situation and I thought hearing from someone from the industry that this type of behavior was not okay might be more popular.” But she fell on deaf ears with the tattoo artist. The search for advice centers or the like was also unsuccessful. “Even I was overwhelmed and had no idea who to turn to in such a case,” she says.
Instagram page offers victims a platform
She then found a profile on Instagram that was named TRASH (@Garbage__) names. That stands for Tattoers Rage Against Sexual Harassment, also tattooists against sexual harassment. The main aim of the site is to draw attention to the problem. “Presence is the most important thing. Then customers can better assess which behavior crosses borders and perpetrators are more likely to shy away ”, as Silke H. (name changed by the editorial team) explains to us. Together with two other tattoo artists, she launched Die Seite. Affected people can describe their experiences on the profile in order to save others from having experiences. The creators of the site help the victims to report criminally relevant assaults.
Victims overrecognize late
According to Plasser, however, it can be difficult for customers to assess which point limits are being exceeded. As an artist, on the other hand, you know exactly how to behave, emphasizes the artist. “I was really shocked by a lot of things that customers told me and often they didn’t understand what I found so bad about it. This realization that something has happened that shouldn’t have happened comes late for many. “
Joy of the new tattoo
If you find yourself in a situation that is uncomfortable or excessive, it makes sense to break off the appointment and leave. But that’s not always easy, as Plasser explains: “Usually you wait six months or more for an appointment, maybe pay a deposit and of course look forward to the new tattoo.” Therefore, she advises you to go straight to the point say when something is wrong and not respond in the least to attempts to flirt.
Accompanied to the tattoo appointment
So that such situations do not arise in the first place, it can be helpful to bring someone with you to the appointment, says Plasser. “That should always be possible on the part of the tattoo artist. If someone says that you are only allowed to come to the appointment, you definitely have to question that. ”Exceptions are to be ruled out due to the corona situation, but in any case it should not be possible for the escort to wait in the anteroom.
Keep your eyes open when choosing a tattoo artist
Even with the choice of the studio, according to the tattoo artist, there are signs of whether serious. “It should always be offered to set up partition walls to shield or mask intimate areas. In addition, you should never be asked to remove unnecessary clothing. If you have a tattoo on your arm, you certainly don’t need to take your top off, ”she explains.
Hallein tattoo artist repairs other people’s works
But even after the appointment is over, you may have to contact the tattoo artist again. Often when & tattoos are re-engraved or small things are repaired. “There are a lot of tattooists who practically do not finish or touch up any work by other artists. Simply because it is relatively difficult and not the most pleasant work. ”However, in order to save customers from finding themselves again in an encroaching situation, the Hallein tattoo artist also accepts such assignments. “Nobody should have to go back to where such unpleasant experiences were made.”
(Source: SALZBURG24)