<P> A lower - back tattoo (also known as a tramp stamp) is a tattoo that became popular among some women in the 2000s and gained a reputation for its feminine appeal . They are sometimes accentuated by low - rise jeans and crop tops, and are considered erotic by some . </P> <P> Although historically in the western world men have been the majority of tattoo recipients, in the early 1990s the practice gained popularity among women . Prior to the late twentieth century, women with tattoos were heavily stigmatized, and were rarely found in middle - class society . Lower - back tattoos were popularized in the early 2000s, in part owing to the influence of female celebrities, including Britney Spears, Christina Ricci and Pamela Anderson . The popularity of low - rise jeans and crop tops may have also spurred the increase in lower - back tattoos . Another appeal of tattooing the lower back is that there is little fat there, lessening the chance that images will become misshapen over time . Also, the lower back is often concealed, providing women the choice of when to reveal their tattoo . Although some males have lower - back tattoos, including some celebrities, they are generally not acquired by men . </P> <P> Women's lower backs are often viewed by people as an erotic body part, leading to the association of lower - back tattoos with sexuality . Lower - back tattoos are also perceived as an indication of promiscuity by some, possibly owing to media portrayals of women with tattoos . A 2011 study of media stereotypes criticized media portrayals of lower - back tattoos, arguing that they are unfairly cast as a symbol of promiscuity . There are a number of pejorative nicknames for lower - back tattoos, including "tramp stamp", "bulls - eye", and "target". A Saturday Night Live sketch satirized the practice, describing a "rub - on" tattoo remover marketed at middle - age women who received lower - back tattoos while young . </P> <P> Medical practitioners who administer anesthesia have questioned whether epidural analgesia should be provided to women with lower - back tattoos . Concerns have emerged that epidural catheters may cause tattoo pigment to enter interspinous ligaments and other areas, potentially leading to health problems . There is consensus that epidural catheters should not be placed through irritated or infected tattoos . However, harm has not been clearly documented when placing epidural catheters through healthy tattooed skin; a review in the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Journal concluded that "epidural catheter placement through lumbar tattoos is a practitioner's decision based on clinical judgment". In Current Opinion in Anesthesiology, Frédéric J. Mercier and Marie - Pierre Bonnet state that the evidence for complications when placing epidural catheters is unconvincing, but advocate avoiding the practice owing to the lack of long - term evidence . </P>

Where does the term tramp stamp come from