Women in the M-18 street gangs of Central America: Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador serve a dual role. They take on “male” traits in perpetrating and withstanding violence, while performing in the stereotypical “female” roles of cooking, caring for the men, children and the sick.
The gang tattoos identify gang members, symbolizes commitment and allegiance to one’s gang, and can also identify a particular crime, threat or other gang related event.
Tattoos are also often used to send a message of intimidation and ownership to other gangs. The symbols are exclusive and only gang members are permitted to wear the group’s mark.
Russia. ach tattoo symbol has a long-storied gang history. For instance, stars on the knees means, “the bearer will bow down to no man.”
If you see someone with a tat that reads: MS13, MS or just 13, you’re likely facing a member of the La Mara Salvatrucha gang. Some of the members originated in Los Angeles as El Salvadoran immigrants who had associations to guerrilla fighters in the El Salvadoran civil war.
This guy is loaded with white nationalist supremacist philosophy. Here’s a few representations of these symbols: Swastikas are a WWII Nazis emblem, adopted by most white supremacists today. The #14 is a rally slogan, “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children”. The word, “Hatebreed” is the name of a heavy metal band, whose albums are, ‘Supremacy and ‘The Rise of Brutality’.
Yakuza tattoos were first placed on criminals as a punishment. The extensive size of the tattoos not only show the wearers’ affiliation, but also their ability to endure pain.
Via Memolition.