The story behind my tattoo

I have several tattoos (surprised, aren’t you?) but my favorite, and by far the smallest, is my wrist tattoo. A small equal sign that lives on the middle of my right wrist. I was inspired by an older girl at my university. She was the coordinator for the Sexual Assault Peer Education Team at PLU and I thought she was the coolest. I was just getting into social justice when I met her and I thought the tattoo was a perfect way to represent my belief in equality.

I waited a year before getting it done so I could really think about it. I decided one day in-between classes that I wanted it. I walked down the street to the tattoo parlor and made the commitment. I had just enough time to run back to campus for my Women’s Literature class.

My small equal sign is the perfect conversation starter. People usually ask if I enjoy math, which I don’t, and I explain that it is an equal sign for equality. People then either tell me that it is awesome and we talk about social justice OR they say oh and change the subject.

Either way it tells them my beliefs without having to get into an intense conversation.

I love all of my tattoos but as I said, this is by far my favorite. When I throw up my right hand in solidarity, whether at a march or a concert, it demonstrates who I am and what I am about. I love it and it has become a part of my identity.

Do you have any tattoos?