Tribal Tattoos
In the past, getting a tattoo was seen as a transition into adulthood - a rite of passage. In some cultures, it was thought that if a girl could not endure the pain of tattooing, then marriage would become difficult because she was viewed as too weak to deal with the pain of giving birth. Boys who could not withstand the pain of a tattoo were deemed unworthy to become a suitable warrior, which often meant tribal exile.