In sixth grade, changing in the locker room before swim class, a classmate asked to borrow a hair tie. I was reaching up into my locker to grab one for her, when she laughed and said, "never mind, you'll need that for your armpit hair." I will testify that it's hard to swim while trying to keep your armpits from showing.
I went home that night and asked my mom if I could start shaving, and I shaved fairly religiously throughout middle school. Since then I've gone through waves of shaving and not shaving. "Many women and girls grow up believing that body hair is unattractive and gross and should be removed from as many places as humanly possible at the first sign of its existence". And regardless of whether you shave or not, this stigma is only causing harm.
I don't believe the only solution is for everyone to stop shaving. Shaving is certainly an option, one which I choose from time to time, but I do like to ask myself why I am shaving when I do, and I often I find it is because sometimes it's easier to conform to certain social expectations about appearance than to fight them. (An important side note: for me, not shaving does not pose any major threat, but for people who are already marginalized (say for their race or class), the possibility of being further marginalized by an action that deviates from the norm is an ever-present risk).
"If you have ever winced at the sight of a woman’s hairy legs, unshaven armpits, or even the hint of a mustache, it’s time to ask yourself just what about it you find so offensive. Or why it makes you so uncomfortable. Or what aspect seems unattractive — and why".
I wasn't allowed to shave until 7th grade and I got made fun of bunches in 6th. I'm darkhaired like you and fairly hairy for a girl. I remember being called wolf legs. Me, I shave now...never looked back. My sister went through a no shave faze and I used to sing Paula Cole songs to her to tease her. Great shots and thoughts.
It is one of the first signs of spring. When the wife shaves her legs. If she was shaving them for me she would do it all year round. So she must be doing it for someone else?
@wildernesswillie In the winter - you wear trousers or long skirts, William! Why indulge in that tiresome activity when you don't need to! Someone's got some gorgous legs here and has delicately positioned the camera!
Guess I kind of have the same thoughts. Shave if and when YOU want to. (Personally, I'm going backpacking for a week soon and I'm not going to shave, shower, apply makeup, or even use deodorant! Bah ha ha ha ha ha! Can't wait!) ;) Sorry, that was a little off-subject. Ha ha!
i don't understand it, i grew up with lotsa hair on my legs and arms and now i don't have hair on my legs and could hardly see those in my arms. well, i do have one and a half hair on my right leg, but i don't shave it. i just pull it out, only to show my friends i need not shave.
growing up in manila, the boys/men were agog over girls who have hair on their legs! i don't know about today's generation though. however, most filipino girls don't have hairy legs or if they do, it's so fine you hardly notice it. thus, shaving one's legs wasn't one of the beauty regimen. different story with armpit hairs though.
I've never understood this ritual, as @brigette said above, surely it's about personal choice.
As a man I've never been told where I should or should not have hair, why should a woman?
@amandal Thanks for the response. I'm not sure what I prefer, hair or no hair, but it's a thought-provoking topic nevertheless. @wildernesswillie Great thought. I wonder who she is doing it for then? I wonder if she even knows. @maggiemae Haha. Thank you. I did carefully position the camera. @cocobella I'm glad you do it for you! :) That's what I would like to see happen for everyone, regardless if they are shaving or not. @juliedduncan Haha. Perfectly on topic! I love backpacking. ;) @summerfield armpit hair... another whole topic in itself. Thanks for the comment and for sharing your experience. @kerosene Thanks Caroline. @vignouse Thanks for understanding. :) @brigette I agree wholeheartedly. I just took more than 2 words to say it. Haha. ;) @semjaja Yes, personal choice is key. Thanks for the comment! @annied Yup. Pretty much how I feel. I only shave my legs for the sake of art. ^ Haha.
August 3rd, 2015
Leave a Comment
Sign up for a free account or Sign in to post a comment.
growing up in manila, the boys/men were agog over girls who have hair on their legs! i don't know about today's generation though. however, most filipino girls don't have hairy legs or if they do, it's so fine you hardly notice it. thus, shaving one's legs wasn't one of the beauty regimen. different story with armpit hairs though.
As a man I've never been told where I should or should not have hair, why should a woman?
@wildernesswillie Great thought. I wonder who she is doing it for then? I wonder if she even knows.
@maggiemae Haha. Thank you. I did carefully position the camera.
@cocobella I'm glad you do it for you! :) That's what I would like to see happen for everyone, regardless if they are shaving or not.
@juliedduncan Haha. Perfectly on topic! I love backpacking. ;)
@summerfield armpit hair... another whole topic in itself. Thanks for the comment and for sharing your experience.
@kerosene Thanks Caroline.
@vignouse Thanks for understanding. :)
@brigette I agree wholeheartedly. I just took more than 2 words to say it. Haha. ;)
@semjaja Yes, personal choice is key. Thanks for the comment!
@annied Yup. Pretty much how I feel. I only shave my legs for the sake of art. ^ Haha.