Tattoos are becoming extremely popular among a much more diverse population than what wore them say even fifteen years ago. And while any single individual can get a tattoo, they are still frequently associated with particular social populations and communities. Many years ago they used to be the exclusive property of bikers, rock stars and outlaws, and while these populations still wear them, everyday people from mainstream society are also seeking their designs.
Meanwhile some of the tattoo designs and symbols mean specific things to certain populations. While this is well and good, it should also be acknowledged that certain tattoos can mean different things to different groups of people. A great example of this is the tear that is frequently seen tattooed below someone’s eye. Depending on the culture or social group in which the person wearing it belongs, the tattoo can mean a great number of things. In addition, the exact style of the tear can also mean different things within a given community. This has created a much more complicated tattoo social language and there are cultural scientists whose work is based on keeping up with the changing symbolic meanings of certain tattoos and what they mean to different populations of people.
A tear with an empty top and a filled in bottom indicates that the person wearing it has avenged the death of a loved one. An empty tear under the eye can mean that a loved one has died or that the barer has unsuccessfully attempted murder. A filled in tattoo is usually representative of a loved one who has committed suicide or has been killed in a tragic accident. The majority of tear tattoos that are seen in the United States today are indicative of gang membership and the fact that the wearer has murdered someone. An interesting cultural difference is seen in Australia’s prisons where inmates forcibly etch the tear tattoo into the face of convicted child molesters.