Tattooing and Techniques of Cross-Cultural Research
Part II:  Frequency Distribution of Tattooing Measurements

by William Divale

 Department of Anthropology

York College (City University of New York), Jamaica, NY


TATTOOING ABSENT PRESENT
  10 (27%) 27 (73%)

 

SEX OF THE INDIVIDUALS MALES BOTH FEMALES
  4 (17.4%) 14 (60.9%) 5 (21.7%)

 

TATTOOED AT NO YES
Puberty or initiation 13 (54.2%) 11 (45.8%)
War or hunting success 21 (87.5%) 3 (12.5%)

 

 

RANK DIFFERENCE OF TATTOOED PERSONS NO DIFFERENCE HIGH RANK NO TATTOO HIGH RANK YES TATTOO
  22 (88%) 2 (8%) 1 (4%)

 

WHAT OBJECTS ARE TATTOOED  NO YES
Designs or Markings 4   (16.7%) 20 (83.3%)
Animals 21 (87.5%) 3 (12.5%)

 

LOCATION OF TATTOO NO YES
Face 7   (25.9%) 20 (74.1%)
Hands 20 (74.1%) 7   (25.9%)
Arms 15 (55.6%) 12 (44.4%)
Chest 14 (51.9%) 13 (48.1%)
Legs 20 (74.1%)  7  (25.9%)
Feet 23 (85.2%)  4  (14.8%)

 

EMIC SIGNIFICANCE OF TATTOOS RITE OF PASSAGE,  BIRTH, ETC. OTHER CEREMONY NOT ASSOCIATED W/ CEREMONY
  9   (56.3%) 2  (12.5%) 5  (31.3%)

 

PURPOSE OF TATTOOS NO YES
Decoration 14 (58.3%) 10 (41.7%)
Magical 15 (62.5%) 9   (37.5%)

 

INDEX
Part I: Syllabus

Part II: Outline of Basic Steps of a Cross-Cultural Study
(contains Proposition Inventories, Data Entry Sheet, etc.)

Part III: Outline of a Cross Cultural Study Paper

Part I V: Outline of a Conference Paper


William Divale is  Professor of Anthropology in the Department of  Social Sciences at York College, (CUNY),  Jamaica, NY