191. Cross-Gender Practices; Tattooing

Avodas Kochavim 12:10

A woman may not adorn herself in the style of men. This includes, but is not limited to, headwear, armor, hairstyles, etc. Similarly, a man may not adorn himself in the style of women, such as by wearing colorful clothes or gold bracelets in a place where such things are only worn by women. This does, however, follow the local practice.

If a man or a woman adorns his or her self in the style of the opposite gender, that person would be liable for the penalty of lashes. If a man removes white hairs from among the dark hair of his head or beard, he would be liable as soon as he removes the first hair because he has beautified himself in the fashion of a woman. Similarly, if he dyes his hair, he is liable for lashes as soon as he dyes a single hair.

A tumtum and an androgynous, whose genders are indeterminate (see 12:4), may neither wrap their heads in the style of women nor cut their hair in the style of men. However, if they do either of these things, they would not be liable for the penalty of lashes.

Avodas Kochavim 12:11

The Torah prohibits tattooing, which entails making a cut in a person’s flesh and filling it with any dye. This was the practice of idolators, who would make marks on their bodies in the service of their idols. If a man or a woman marks his or her body in this way, he is liable for the penalty of lashes. If one wrote on his flesh but did not dye it, or if he dyed without cutting his flesh, he would not be liable. One is only liable when he both writes and dyes as per Leviticus 19:28, “You shall not make a dyed inscription.…” The prohibition applies to the one doing the tattooing. The one being tattooed would not be liable unless he assisted the tattooer enough that he could be considered to have performed an act. If he did not perform an act, he would not be liable.