BODY TRANSFORMATION PRACTICES: CASE OF TATTOOING IN YOUNG GIRLS WITH COCODY AND MARCORY (COTE D’IVOIRE)

ABSTRACT: This study examines the social logics related to the practice of tattooing among young girls. Thestudy was essentially qualitative with appropriate investigation tools in this case, documentary analysis andsemi-structured interviews administered to a category of actors1in Cocody and Marcory(Abidjan). Based on thismethodological approach, we arrived at the following result: the practice of tattooing was devolved to men, butthe observation is that this practice also affects women and more particularly young girls. However, the logicsare different. In young men, the logic is related to masculinity, social belonging and in young girls, the logicsare different from those of men (namely aesthetics, beauty and seduction).

Keywords: Body transformation, Tattooing, Social logics, Côte d’Ivoire