Teardrop tattoo

The teardrop tattoo or tear tattoo is a symbolic tattoo that is placed underneath the eye. It has no fixed meaning[1][2] but almost all meanings have some connection to prison.

In the United States, it can mean the wearer has killed someone [3] and the number of teardrops may indicate the number of killings.[1] It can also indicate the number of years served in prison or the loss of a loved one or fellow gang member.[1]

In at least one prison, (Oaxaca State) it indicates that the wearer was raped in prison.[4]

It is sometimes worn by the female companions of prisoners in solidarity with their loved ones.[5] Though typically a practice among American Latinas, English singer Amy Winehouse got a teardrop tattoo when her husband went to prison.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Poljac, Bakir; Burke, Tod (August 2008). "Erasing the Past: Tattoo-Removal Programs for Former Gang Members". FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin 77 (8): pp. 13–18. 
  2. ^ WOLF, SONJA; Logan, Samuel (August 2010). "This is for the Mara Salvatrucha: Inside the MS-13, America's Most Violent Gang". Journal of Latin American Studies 42 (3): 627–629. 
  3. ^ a b Smith, Brendan (April 25, 2008). "Tattoo Regret". Washington City Paper. http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/35479/tattoo-regret. Retrieved 2010-09-20. 
  4. ^ McClelland, John (April 12, 2010). "Four Days in the Oaxaca State Prison". Mexconnect. http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/3624-four-days-in-the-oaxaca-state-prison. Retrieved 2010-02-03. 
  5. ^ Santos, Xuan (Fall 2009). "The Chicana Canvas: Doing Class, Gender, Race, and Sexuality through Tattooing in East Los Angeles". Feminist Formations 21 (3): 91–120.