With tattoos becoming an appropriated cultural practice in the mainstream, research has shown a correlation between trauma and the prevalence of being tattooed. Victims of trauma have found strength in tattoos through the ritual of self-actualization. From sexual assault to gun violence, traumatic experiences can stunt the emotional growth of an individual, often leaving victims in a perpetual state of powerlessness, self-sabotage, and worthlessness. Tattoos can serve as a transformative testament to their survival and unofficial process of self-care, highlighting both individual memory and its social memory. As a form of empowerment and catharsis, it allows people to assert their autonomy over their “violated body.”