Tattoo discrimination in UK?

So today, for the first time in ten years, I received a rude comment about my tattoos in UK.

A female came out of nowhere next to my face on the bus to say that my middle finger tattoo is satanic (pentagram). It took me some time to understand what she said because she had a thick Eastern European accent, but she repeated herself.

I was taken aback, because how the fuck did she even manage to see it from where she was originally sitting?
And also, who the fuck does that?

I responded that it's not satanic and then got off the bus. She kept on saying that's how she knows the symbol, as part of satanic imagery. As we were walking away from the bus I was telling my partner 'who the fuck does that!' -in regards to the rude woman, and then she approached me again, to say I should have had a cross (!) tattooed instead.

I told her that since I'm an Atheist there's no point in me getting a cross tattoo and kept on walking noticeably irritated.

Usually, I respond quite aggressively to these kind of unsolicited comments, but it's always in Greece this happens to me, so I was shocked to have someone make such an anachronistic and rude comment in London.
Even more surprising was that the woman was no more than 40/45, so a young person.

I get my tattoos for me, they're not public property to be commented on. People need to mind their own business.

Ink Master Angels

Today I found out about Angels, an Ink Master spin off starring the four badass female tattoo artists of the previous season (Ryan Ashley, Kelly Doty, Nikki Simpson, Gia Rose).

Many people reacted negatively to the show, saying they're not going to watch it, that none of these women are talented tattoo artists, etc.

Well, one of them is an Ink Master, the other one is one of the pioneers of New School, the other one has been highly praised by the judges for her black and grey, and the fourth one is exquisite in her own style.

Some tried to defend not watching the show anymore by saying that those women created a lot of drama on the show.
Did you forget how many male tattoo artists have created drama, have bullied others and intimidated them on the show? Christian, Sketchy Lawyer, Jason, Aaron, Chris, and Gentle Jay, to name a few, all "played the game" on their season and created drama on the show.
Yet I don't see anyone targeting them.

Why?

Because they're men.

It's no secret that there's still sexism in the tattoo community.

Ink Master has tried to be more inclusive over the past few seasons: They awarded the first black Ink Master and the first female Ink Master.

But the audience can't accept the latter. In a hypermasculine community, such as the tattoo community, anything remotely feminine is looked down on.

Last season's female Ink Master, Ryan, and her all-female alliance, were unapologetically femme, feminists, and brought sexism in the tattoo community to the audience's attention.
They were brave and badasses, and they worked their asses off to ensure one female would win. And she did.

Considering the females have always been a minority on Ink Master, and that male tattoo artists always assumed and expected the females to target each other, these ladies made a huge accomplishment. They won against all odds.

Their sisterhood was strong, and a bright example of how women can lift each other up and be allies, not enemies.

Watching them has been beyond inspiring. It has been comforting, it has given many of us hope for the future.

Seeing Ryan say "I tattoo like a girl" with pride, meaning she's got a soft hand, but produces amazing results, was so encouraging for all females out there who struggle to survive in a world filled with toxic masculinity. In a world where anything feminine is disregarded.

So, Thank You Ladies.

Thank you for being an inspiration of what female solidarity can look like, of what it can accomplish, and for giving us hope for the future.

The show will air on the 3rd of October, and I will definitely be tuning in.

ps. And to the 'haters': If you sincerely love good tattoos, the gender of the artist shouldn't matter. Don't try to mask your sexism by diminishing their talent, because we can see right through it.