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At One of Philly’s Oldest Tattoo Parlors, Women are Inking the Art

Carli Chesney receives a frog tattoo from artist Brianna Ballinghoof at Eddie’s Tattoo in Philadelphia’s Chinatown.
Kimberly Paynter
/
WHYY
Carli Chesney receives a frog tattoo from artist Brianna Ballinghoof at Eddie’s Tattoo in Philadelphia’s Chinatown.

The male-dominated tattoo industry is starting to change. A 2010 study found just one of every six tattoo artists in the United States is a woman, but as permanent ink explodes in popularity, more women are picking up the needle.

Eddie’s Chinatown Tattoo in Philadelphia is a perfect example. Michaela Winberg of WHYY’s Billy Penn reports that except for the owner, the storied shop has an all-woman staff – for the first time.

(Original air-date: 9/22/21)

Michaela Winberg is a general assignment reporter at Billy Penn. She covers LGBTQ people and culture, public spaces, and transportation and mobility. She also sometimes produces radio and web features for NPR.