How an all-female environment can encourage productivity and provide safety
A Columbia University study found that one in six tattoo artists are women. Tattoo artist Roxy Velvet feels that the environment in a mixed studio is less than positive for women: “I don’t have a bad word to say about anyone singularly, but I was aware that as a woman you weren’t supposed to be earning as much as the men.” She recalls instances where male customers made sexist comments to male artists about her, in front of her.
Artists Vivi Swain and Theresa Vendetta share their personal negative experiences working in mixed studios. Namely, unhealthy competition and “chauvinistic attitudes”, as Swain puts it. They add that some men were great to work with.
When Roxy Velvet had the idea to open an all-female studio — in both the creative space and administration — she wasn’t completely convinced it was going to work, but she wanted to try.
Velvet Underground Tattoo opened in 2017, and since then has received more backlash as the studio grows. She believes it’s because there has been a rise in female-owned businesses.
Although figures show that a female-targeted business support choice is extremely favourable to women, Velvet Underground’s customers are equal in gender.
So far, all-female spaces prove to be a solution. When asked why, the words “safe space” are used by all of them; words that lend themselves as a starting point for improving any workplace.
Cover photo credits: Bella Cavalcanti
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