Support The Moscow Times!

Tattoos, Piercings Lose Favor in Russia

Russians are now more opposed to plastic surgery, tattoos and body piercings than they were eight years ago, a poll published Thursday revealed.

The percentage of Russians who view plastic surgery "negatively or very negatively" jumped from 45 to 68 percent between 2006 and 2014, according to the Levada Center, the independent research center in Moscow that conducted the poll. Russia ranked 23rd in the world in terms of turning to plastic surgery in 2012, according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Russians have also become more inimical to tattoos and piercings, albeit in a smaller measure than their skyrocketing dislike of plastic surgery. Since 2006, the percentage of Russians who view tattoos negatively has increased from 73 to 78 percent, while the percent of those who frown upon piercings has increased 5 percent, from 76 to 82 percent.

The survey, which was conducted in early August among 1,600 people in 46 Russian regions and had a 3.4 percent margin of error, also revealed that six percent of Russians have tattoos, and a mere one percent of the population have body piercings.

In comparison, one in five American adults has at least one tattoo, according to Harris, an American market research firm.

See also:

Russia Bans 'Nazi Kitten'

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more