#MeToo And The Tattoo Industry: Think Before You Ink Talks To Tattoo Artists Bang And Debbi Snax On Their Truths Of Being Female Artists Within The Male Dominated Industry
By Sidra Lackey
The tattoo industry is having its own “Me Too” moment. Women’s magazine, Cosmopolitan UK recently ran an extensive piece on male misconduct in the tattoo industry by predatory tattoo artists in: “The Tattoo World is having A Me Too moment — and it’s long overdue.” Alice Snape foremost points out, “this feeling of unease – and power imbalance – is prevalent not only in tattoo shops, but throughout the industry at large.” She makes mention of a 1933 book by Albert Parry called Secrets of a Strange Art that “likened getting tattooed to sex – the needle, he wrote, was a penis. And tattooed women were sluts who couldn’t possibly be virgins.” Snape believes “those attitudes became so deeply ingrained that they still play out today.”
Last year, The New York Times published an investigative piece: “A Monster in Our Midst: How a #MeToo Case Collapsed in the Tattoo Industry” — on underground tattoo artist Isaiah “Toothtaker” Camacho who was initially jailed for countless criminal charges of misconduct against women. Unfortunately Camacho is presently a free man. Currently in the news, a lesser known tattoo artist, Miguel Deleon in the 6500-block of South Francisco Avenue in the South Side of Chicago, is accused of abusing three known female victims (one was underage) while working. He has been charged with: “two felony counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, two counts of unlawful restraint, one count of criminal sexual assault and one count of attempted criminal sexual assault.”
Think Before You You Ink wanted to dive a bit deeper into the murkier side of the tattoo industry that is taboo to talk about. It’s still gatekept by men and thus, misogyny still has room to thrive in it. Think Before You Ink wanted to hear from women tattoo artists who work with male artists and hear their stories of how it is to work within a male dominated industry — the good and the bad.
Think Before You Ink had the pleasure of interviewing two very talented female tattoo artists, Chavonna “Bang” Rhodes and Debra “Debbi Snax” Randolph and hear their truths.
Bang, is a tattoo artist in the Atlanta and Los Angeles areas, who was on season 9 of Ink Master: Shop Wars and has over a decade of experience tattooing. Debbi Snax, is a tattoo artist based in Atlanta, who has a decade of tattooing expertise and in 2021 was featured in the US version of Cosmopolitan magazine, giving tips for tattooing dark skin.
The two start Think Before You Ink’s interview by talking about the tattoo artists they look up to and who inspires them. Bang mentions, “Zero. He's such an amazing realism tattoo artist. I love the work he's done on brown skin. Another tattoo artist that inspires me is Justin aka crea8tivesoul on IG. His knowledge of tattooing and applying it to skin is always flawless! I follow a lot of artists and tattoo artists period that all inspire my work. I can't really pinpoint it to one, two or three specific people. But these were the top two that popped in my head.” Debbi shares, “I’m really inspired by so many but the top of my list has to be Valerie Vargas and Kandace Layne. I've only met Valerie once and she was an angel. Kandace is one of my closest and dearest friends in this industry and she’s been uplifting me and driving me to be better for the majority of my career.”
Think Before Ink asked the women where they got their start tattooing and if they had an apprenticeship. Bang begin: “I apprenticed for three years at West End Tattoo and then began tattooing full time as a paid artist. I walked into West End Tattoo with a portfolio in hand and the confidence out of this world lol. I was asked why I wanted to be a tattoo artist and my response was, “Well I want to be a well-rounded artist, and tattooing is just another medium.” It was that response, I'm sure, that put my apprenticeship on hold. I thought I'd never get a call back lol. I would say this was my only issue trying to obtain an apprenticeship.” She said that being a female, she didn’t encounter any issues in trying to obtain one. “Not that it had anything with me being a woman, but that maybe I needed to humble myself and wait it out. I did eventually get that call back a month later, and that's when my journey as an apprentice began, July 17, 2012.”
Debbi also had an apprenticeship. She told Think Before You Ink, “I think it’s important to have one. It’s a lot of little nuances about the tattoo culture that I would have never known if I didn’t apprentice.” Unlike Bang, Debbi reveals that she did encounter issues with men when trying to become an apprentice. “Before I met my mentor I did come across men trying to barter their time for intimacy with me. But I wasn’t going for any of it. It was important to me to keep business and pleasure separate.”
When Think Before You Ink asked the artists if they ever experienced sexism within the tattoo industry, Debbi said frankly, “Of course I experienced sexism. I’m not sure if there’s any woman in this industry that hasn’t.” She tells the story of her first and last sexist client: “The only time a client was sexist was in my first few years of tattooing out of my apprenticeship. I was next up for walk-ins and came down the stairs to greet the client and immediately he was like, “Oh no! Y’all don’t have any men in here that tattoo? I don’t want her.” He wouldn’t even address me. But that was the first and last time that happened that I know of at least.” She says that at another shop, “I remember not being able to get clients at this one shop after I turned the owner down. I eventually had to end up leaving.”
Debbi Snax and Bang Speak at the Black Tattoo Experience
Bang tells Think Before You Ink on her experience with sexism in the industry, “As an actual tattoo artist I have experienced sexism within the tattoo industry. I can recall times where I introduced myself to clients that were “walk-ins” and told them I would be tattooing them that day. The disbelief on their face or unwillingness to let a female tattoo them was disappointing. As if a female couldn’t perform or tattoo better or equal to a male. Having a client or customer question my proficiency is one way I've had to navigate in this male dominated profession.” Bang divulges about her time at a tattoo shop that was very unpleasant. “Recently my experience at Atlanta Ink where myself and a few other female artists were only hired for "clickbait." What I mean by that is, a lot of these male dominated tattoo shops love the idea of hiring dope female artists. Particularly ones that are easy on the eye or have a large following. I was hired not for my strength as an artist, but because I was a female that could attract clientele. I knew this to be true because of the treatment I received at that shop. Sexual harassment, pay withholding, and retaliation came shortly after. It was that experience that made me swear to never work in another tattoo shop again. I am still on my solo journey as a tattoo artist who works from a private studio, and I truly enjoy it.”
On the flip side, Think Before You Ink wanted to know if being a woman somehow benefited their careers as a tattoo artist. Bang believes it did. “I want to start by saying there is nothing that a man can do that a woman cannot. On the flipside I believe being a woman has benefited my career as a tattoo artist because women are known to create a more safe and comforting experience. I take pride in providing a safe and comforting experience for both male and female clients. I try to create a more personalized and meaningful bond with all my clients.”
Debbi however, told Think Before You Ink, “I’m not sure if or how being a woman has been beneficial for me. I think each artist has to work hard and make their own way through this craft. Male or female it’s a hard and stressful job.” Bang added when asked, are there some things a female tattoo artist can bring to the tattoo table over a male artist: “I have been told by a lot of my clients, both male and female, that have expressed their preference to be tattooed by a woman. It is because of this, that I believe that female tattoo artists often have a larger clientele and benefit their career.”
Bang shares advice for female tattoo artists in training or women just thinking about entering the tattoo industry as a tattoo artist: “One piece of advice that I'd give to up and coming tattoo artists in training is to take your time and take advice; be a sponge. One piece of advice that I'd give to a woman just thinking about entering the industry as a tattoo artist is to always remain true to yourself and stand firm on your beliefs. Don't ever let anyone run over you and stay focused on your goals. There will often be times when you are tested in the profession. But if you remember these tips, you'll push through.” Debbi’s advice: “To younger female tattooers and really to anyone is never mix business and pleasure. Keep that shit separate at all times if you can. Also, take yourself and this craft seriously. We are making lifelong artwork and it’s important for us to be on our p’s & q’s at all times.”
Think Before You Ink asked Bang and Debbi Snax for tips to give female clients in order to stay safe while getting tattooed —
Bang: “Safety is my number one priority with any tattoo session, and like I mentioned before; creating a more safe and comforting experience is something I take pride in. When it comes to the safety of female clients I will say:
-Choose your artists wisely.
-If something doesn't feel right, trust your instincts and say something.
-Speak up about anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, whether it be a situation that involves you or a situation you are witnessing.”
Debbi: “My tips for clients are:
-Wear layers and loose fitting clothing so you don’t have to get fully naked.
-Be prepared for your appointment: If you need nipple covers, bring them or if you want to bring a blanket to cover yourself, do so!
-Always make sure you do your research on your artist!”
Think Before You Ink’s suggestion is straightforward to stay safe: contact your local police if you believe you are or were a victim of criminal misconduct while getting tattooed.