Cross-posted at Jezebel.
In 2009 R&B singer Chris Brown pled guilty to assaulting singer Rihanna. At the time of the incident, photographs of her bruised and swollen face were passed all over the internet. This week we learned that Brown has tattooed the face of a battered woman on a very public part of his body, his neck.
I was particularly impressed by Amanda Marcotte’s analysis of his decision, sent in by Tom Megginson. I encourage you to read it at Pandagon, but I’ll also summarize here.
People, Marcotte begins, are “… scrambling to claim that Brown’s tattoo is somehow not what it seems. But it is what it seems.”
What it is, she contends, is a way of bragging about the beating.
Men who beat and rape women want to feel powerful. They want to feel manly. And because hitting women and raping women makes them feel these things, they want to brag about it… A tattoo commemorating beating down your girlfriend is a trophy.
A desire to brag is the reaction of violent men — instead of, say, shame — because they don’t feel ashamed. Citing research by psychologist David Lisak, who found that certain men will happily tell stories about successful sexual assaults, Marcotte argues that batterers and rapists are proud of what they’ve done because they believe that they are right.
[Many perpetrators] are defiant. They believe they are entitled to dominate women, and they feel victimized by a world that doesn’t give them what they believe is theirs. They act out, looking for little ways to assert the right to dominate they believe is theirs.
Because they believe that they are in the right, they aren’t troubled by other people’s outrage. Marcotte again:
…telling others about it and watching them recoil basically means reliving the power trip… Not only did they dominate the victim, but they have provoked anger and disgust in you, and that makes them feel powerful all over again.
As a further example, she includes a two-minute clip of TV evangelist Pat Robertson recommending, gleefully, that a man beat his wife into submission:
Robertson’s advice here is plain: Women should be subordinate to their husbands and, if they are not, husbands have a right to beat them into subordination. Husbands can get together and chuckle about this; getting women into line is a good thing, not a bad thing. Actor Sean Connery — and many other people — agree that it’s “absolutely right” to slap a woman. It’s part of being a real man. Those men who might object to your treatment of women? They’re pathetic and weak and upsetting them makes us laugh.
In sum, while it might be hard to believe, I think Marcotte’s analysis here is right on. The tattoo — especially on such an exposed and public part of the body — is a giant “fuck you” to everyone who thinks he shouldn’t have beaten Rihanna. It seems that way and “it is what it seems.”
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Comments 183
pp — September 13, 2012
As many people have pointed out elsewhere, the tattoo is not a "battered woman" but a really poorly done dia de los muertos style piece. It's inspired by a sugar skull image (http://ll-media.tmz.com/2012/09/11/0911-chris-brown-tattoo-1.jpg).
nope — September 13, 2012
chris brown is a piece of shit and any man who beats a woman should go to jail for years/life. however, i feel that this is just a sugar skull tattoo. i agree with what you've said about chris brown, but i do agree that it's just a poorly done sugar skull tattoo.
Peter — September 13, 2012
I completely agree that it looks like a battered woman, I just find it mindboggling that he would do something as stupid and as harmful to his career as celebrating his violent crime with a tatoo on his neck.
WG — September 13, 2012
Did anyone really bother to ask Brown what the tattoo represents? Do we even bother with the scientific method on this site anymore?
schneitj23 — September 13, 2012
Let it go, Chris Brown is not the spokesperson for male aggression in domestic violence no matter how much you want him to be.
I don't particularly like him, but we don't need to harass him like this. People make mistakes... you don't have to forgive him, but you don't have to make him into a straw man either.
It's also possible he feels scarred or branded by this incident, and wanted to "own it" as a part of who he is now. That might be too charitable, but tattoos can have a lot of personal inner meaning.
... I'm just really not convinced he's "bragging" about beating Rihanna, she might have even made him do it so that he, and everyone in his life, never forgets. A lot of people have a partner's named tattooed on them for the symbolism and basic insecurity. People do weird things in relationships.
Peter — September 13, 2012
If we can apply Occam's razor to these things I think it's more likely that Brown got a crappy tattoo of a sugar skull than that he fiendishly asked for a potentially career-ending tattoo of his battered ex-girlfriend with the intention of explaining it away as a sugar skull.
Dwiko1 — September 13, 2012
The intentions and personal psychology of Chris Brown cannot be known to us...though I do find it likely that he did not intend to tattoo a picture of a "battered woman" on his neck. I do wonder--and wish that he might too--what it is about this image that drew him in, there is clearly at least an unconscious draw to violence and women. Speaking more Sociologically, Browns picture represents consistent themes in popular culture, his gold flashy sunglasses and necklace, the "beautiful"woman-taken from a MAC ad, and death/violence against her. It also begs the questions of how much of these themes we internalize--even unconsciously.
Chris Brown’s New Tattoo | Road to Counseling — September 13, 2012
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Khadijah Khan-Potter — September 13, 2012
I wondered what was Chris Brown's upbringing? Was he an abused child? Where there any other incident prior his relationship to Rhianna...and after? Did he ever admitted to DV? Felt remorse? Any course of action? What was the tattoo all about? Was it to show, he believed it was the right thing to do or it was a symbol of his mistake?
Anon. — September 13, 2012
I dont like Chris Brown. I think he's an asshole quite frankly. But that tattoo is NOT a battered woman. It's clearly a Dia De Los Muertos styled tattoo. Very popular right now. I see them all over the place!
Tusconian — September 13, 2012
Of course, Chris Brown MEANT to have a tattoo of a sugar skull, but at the very least, he should have realized that considering Rhianna's physical and public appearance and the way she looked after he beat her, the tattoo could and would be seen as a reference to that. And why on his neck, where everyone can see, instead of an arm or back or chest? Why a sugar skull? To my knowledge, he doesn't have any Mexican heritage. The choice is pretty sketchy, regardless of the intent.
CL — September 13, 2012
Tasteless as the tattoo is, and as reprehensible the crime, it is not possible to determine from a photograph, a crime, and anecdotes about other famous people why Mr. Brown got that particular tattoo.
Is it bragging? Is it remorse, as in a form of branding, as if to say "I beat women"? Is it some warped mixture of both? Was he abused or witness to abuse as a child? Something else entirely? There's simply not enough evidence to make the claims that Mr. Brown got this tattoo to feel powerful and celebrate his status as an abuser.
Without a thorough examination of the events and Mr. Brown's own life history and attitudes by trained professionals we only have idle speculation and conjecture. There's a great deal of social and psychological research on abuse and abusers, not to mention social trends like tattoos and celebrity, that could be used in a much more nuanced post and article.
Chris Brown Brags about Beating His Girlfriend in a Very Public Manner « The Journey of Powerful Voices — September 13, 2012
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Anne Soife — September 13, 2012
What on earth was he thinking?! I can't understand those who are dedicated fans to that little sh*thead. And Rihanna, who had a mother being beaten by her dad, who still defends him and are close to him. what message does that sends to her young fans? That a man is allowed to beat the crap out of you? and then to be forgiven, when he never asked for it or even felt remorse?Sickening.
MsNovember — September 13, 2012
I'm inclined to believe that yes, it looks like a battered woman, and I'm also inclined to believe that yes, abusive men love trophies, just like lots of criminals who are proud of what they do. There have been a few theories floated, like that this is a picture of Osiris, which it doesn't look like to me. And that Rihanna has one of Isis, making it a pair. Which is another disturbing connotation, but I'm not inclined to blame the victim as many are towards Rihanna. Abuse victims aren't stupid, they're abused into a compliant mindset, which is a different thing. As someone of latina heritage, living in a predominantly latino/a area where I see Dia de los Muertos skulls a lot, both in tattoo form and others, like folk art, clothing, paintings, etc, this is not a sugar skull. it doesn't look anything like sugar skull art. And going to almost any reputable tattoo artist, which Chris Brown has the money to do, would have resulted in a more recognizable design. I don't think this looks anything like that.
Mouse — September 13, 2012
Even if it is a sugar skulls, it's still culturally appropriative for him to put another culture's ethnic imagery on his neck, just like it would be if he had gotten a Native American headdress. So the choices are sexist asshole or racist asshole.
On another note, I see that people are still fond of using Chris Brown as the face of sexual violence. Not ya know, Mel Gibson, Alec Baldwin, Sean Bean, or any of those white dudes who didn't undergo any kind of social sanctioning or impact on their career at all.
WG — September 13, 2012
1- Is it an absolute fact that the image is of a woman?
2- Is it an absolute fact that the image is of a battered woman?
3- Is it an absolute fact the image is of Rhianna?
4- Is it an absolute fact Brown intended to have the image tatooed as it was?
5- Is it an absolute fact Brown's intentions were to mock/demean battering?
6- Is it an absolute fact that the only interpretation of the image is that of mockery/demeaning/ etc.?
Any speculation of the image without properly researching at least the above statements is just that, speculation. It is irresponsible for Soc Images to state otherwise. Shame on you Lisa and Gwen. That is not sociology, that is crap.
Patrick — September 13, 2012
I will now amaze my audience with my next impossible feat: Defending Pat Robertson. While he quite likely may support abusing women, what he actually said was Islam bashing, not encouraging wife beating. Sure, making a joke about beating a wife (and bashing another religion) aren't Nobel Prize qualifications, but he never actually encourages it. Beware the internet clip that cuts off right after someone says something shocking.
Erieco — September 13, 2012
OK, I watched the pat Robertson video and he was being sarcastic! The way it is presented I'm your piece makes it read that Pat Robertson said he should beat his wife. In fact, the man wrote in saying his wife hits him and that seems to fall flat on this author and the audience...we can't have it both ways men should not hit women and women should not hit men. Period.
PinkWithIndignation — September 13, 2012
I like Sean Connery a lot less now. As for Chris Brown? Tattoo, no tattoo, why anyone is still paying this pile of human garbage to sing is beyond me. I guess its because people will buy it, but there are plenty of successful young male singers who don't beat women who sound as good/better than him- Ne-Yo, Taio Cruz, Trey Songz, Miguel, Bruno Mars- take your pick! Chris is not the only game in town when it comes to R&B singing and instead of buying his music I wish people would choose one of these guys to support instead. I do! It's great music.
In-Africa — September 14, 2012
Actually, this tattoo is a not so subtle death threat against any woman that would attempt to hold jack-ass responsible for his actions.
Jen — September 14, 2012
in my 50 years , and a great deal of experience of domestic violence, personally and witness to others,I have never met a man who bragged about beating his wife, only shame. Ultimately these men pay the price, they lose the woman they love....
pduggie — September 14, 2012
Anybody notice that the question written to Robertson implied that the woman felt entitled to attempt to hit her husband?
(Robertson is a doddering fool in his answer, but I find it interesting that her raising her hand wasn't mentioned in any of the accounts I'd seen yet)
Jitwasreallynothing — September 14, 2012
Chris Brown's neck tattoo clearly is a portrait of another woman whom he also abused, but then murdered and buried in the desert in Mexico, and the tattoo is a way of bragging about it and also taunting the authorities by throwing out a solitary clue.
Come on, it's obvious.
gogobooty — September 14, 2012
It LOOKS like a bad jail tattoo. It's just too bad he didn't get it in jail.
Tic Toc — September 14, 2012
This is embarrassing. I generally respect the opinions and posts of the Soc Image crew and check the site often. However, this type of work makes me question previous claims I have taken at face value. Yes, Chris Brown deserves condemnation and his refusal to really apologize or admit wrong doing is despicable. That is what he should be criticized for. Not getting a bad tattoo on his neck (that is not a battered woman). Posts like this drift into reactionary territory....
mimimur — September 15, 2012
Just pointing out that even as a sugar skull, the transition to a skull from a woman's face is still pretty damn threatening.
alicep spaulding — September 15, 2012
Men like Chris Brown have objectified women long enough... Norma Kamali has a new project to STOP the objectification, it's pretty cool...she is encouraging us all to take the power back! http://www.womenyoushouldknow.net/norma-kamali-turning-objectification-into-empowerment/
Guest101 — September 17, 2012
Seems legit to me. Poor taste, yes definitely. But if you had looked at the Mac makeup picture they are talking about, it does look like it. Also, what's with that stupid clip of the preacher? He made a poor judgement by making that joke, but it was cut off before he said what he was really going to say.
I don't agree with this article, I think it's a bit far fetched!
Djinnyf — September 17, 2012
This old man makes me crazy! Judging the woman with a single paragraph written by a man who, with his wife, really need counselling!!!!!! Shish! Who are you to state on television that nothing else than a good slap would work? Where in the world does it say clearly that hitting has given any good results??
It is not a question of "if the man is scared it's not okay, but if the wife is, than all is fine"... The guy needs to stand up to her in a different way! Tell her: "what are you doing? You're gonna hit me, now?" tell her you're gonna leave if she doesn't change... I don't know... But standing up for yourself doesn't imply to hit someone before they hit you.
I'm totally creeped out that this old man is sharing advice on tv.
Jacqueline Gwynne — September 17, 2012
I don't get why a tattooist would put this on someone to begin with. You would not get away with something blatantly racist. Why is hatred towards women acceptable??
Old Fart — September 17, 2012
As guilty as Chris is.... This article lacks credibility.... & as ignorantly macho & violent many men are, this phycho-analysis offered here lacks credibility & is "reaching" at best... Personally, I can't stand Chris Brown... But neither can I stand activists who use falsehood to gain attention for there cause.
[link] Gender, Power, and Chris Brown’s Battered Woman Tattoo « slendermeans — September 17, 2012
[...] [Read more: sociologicalimages] [...]
grow the fuck up — September 17, 2012
it's not a tattoo of a "battered woman" it's a sugar skull.... god people are ridiculous
Guest — September 17, 2012
I'm no fan of Pat Robertson, but he is certainly not advocating beating women here. He is clearly being ironic when he says "move to Saudi Arabia, then you can beat her". Islamophobic he may be, but he specifically mitigates against violence in this clip.
I'm not defending him - he shows clear misogynistic tendencies when he talks of the woman's "refusal to submit to authority", by implying that the male has the authority.
"Michael" might have started this situation with his mistaken belief that he should be "head of the household", but listen up, people, the man's in real pain. His wife is insulting him and "... stretching out her hand to beat [him]".
So what if he's an incompetent buffoon? He doesn't deserve his wife's verbal and physical attacks.
Speaking as someone who has at times had to fend off full-force one-way punches from my drunken wife - and I mean real blows causing tissue damage - I kind of agree that a woman raising a hand to a man is unacceptable. It's no better than a man raising a hand to a woman.
Just because the man may be physically stronger (and sometimes a bit annoying, I will admit, in my case) does not mean that a woman has a right to use him as a punch-bag. Being punched full in the face hurts however much you weigh, and whatever your gender.
Should a man stand up to a violent woman? Easy way to answer this question - should a woman stand up to a violent man? In both cases, the answer is yes - domestic violence is not acceptable whatever the gender of the perpetrator.
Chris Brown's obviously an asshole, but these arguments are diminished with mis-quoted video clips and apparent implicit support for domestic violence against men.
The cause of equality between the sexes can only come about when all of us, men and women, reject all forms of violence, verbal and physical, and stand together to brand violence as being unacceptable as a means to resolve our differences.
Batterers Brag « BroadBlogs — October 12, 2012
[...] Chris Brown is not alone in feeling no shame. Sean Connery and others feel that it is “absolutely right” to slap a [...]
Danielle Lott — October 28, 2013
I am in no way defending Pat Robertson. However, in the interest of more accurate journalism, I would like to point out that while he clearly believes that wives should be subordinate to their husbands, we can't take a statement like "He should become a Muslim and beat her" as literal advice given by an evangelical Christian. Just as we know that he doesn't want the man to actually become a Muslim and move to Saudi Arabia, we know that he doesn't think a man should beat his wife into submission. He was making a dig at Islam, saying, "This is what Muslims do."
quick hit: Gender, Power, and Chris Brown’s Battered Woman Tattoo | feimineach — December 30, 2013
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