At some point since then, things changed. Now, a recent study reports that 49% of women shave or wax to be completely... um... hairless. 51% don't do that. Studies also show that men are starting to follow women's lead and shave their private areas.
What are your thoughts on this? I apologize if the subject is too private, but I admit I'm clueless on why people do what they do. Your thoughts might help me understand.
lol! I think this is great. I have been really obsessed with 70's fashion this week (all that Doctor Who I guess?) and so I have came across everything from hair styles and clothes, to facial hair from the late 60's up until now. Growing up, I had one friend who never really shaved under her arms and it didn't really bother any of us girls, but the guys used to mock her about it (she didn't care, which is badass). Anyway, it often brought up the discussion of shaving other areas. I always shaved my legs and under my arms, but not my actual arms. I still don't, and to be honest, I don't shave my legs very often because for some reason it comes in blonde. When it comes to THAT area, it seemed to be always 50/50 in our girl group. I remember one girl saying that she felt like a "plucked chicken" with it all gone. I honestly think it might be easier to shave it all and just keep shaving it every week or whatever than to go about trimming? Maybe it is the way bodies are seen now? Maybe it is a sex appeal thing? Look how hair was seen: If you Google women's hair in the 70's, you get Farrah Faucet hair. In the 80's, it was big & curly, in the 90's, it was straight. So maybe that is something that also happens with the rest of the body? Great post!
ReplyDeleteI think its funny how its all just trends... even hair!
ReplyDeleteI've heard the theory that the trend started in pornography, leading to a male aversion to intimate hair, leading to women getting rid of it...
ReplyDeleteOr blame string bikinis.
I totally agree with Aya. The first time I saw it was in a porno. I was so shocked. I couldn't get over the fact that she was totally bare. It was weird. Men like it. Now I just consider it another one of those things to look after.
ReplyDeleteI love that you brought this up! : ) Saves me from doing it! ha ha!
bisous
Suzanne
Oh my god, this post totally took me back to high school and one of the most awkward conversations of my life, with my then-best friend, as I asked her about her grooming habits to determine what mine should be. But I think Aya has it right; it started as a porn thing and kind of migrated to mainstream from there as guys asked their S/Os to mimic what they saw in movies.
ReplyDeleteThe first time I groomed, I was kind of horrified at the result. It looked and felt weird. Now I just see it as another one of those things to maintain. Legs, pits and "there," haha.
(Also, I've dated guys who groomed. I never had a complaint, but it's not something I'd ever ask a guy to do for me either.)
Wow that got so personal. Sorry if it's too much...feel free to delete, I won't be offended, haha.
DeleteNo, no Emma! I asked and your answer helps me understand. This is a confusing subject.
DeleteI dunno, I think it started out as purely a visual thing, but like with all of my hair (including my head hair), I go with what feels comfortable. Sometimes I shave, sometimes I don't. It depends on season/mood/comfort level.
ReplyDeleteThe DH has never been remotely interested in whether I shave *anywhere* or not. It's never been an issue. It's just part of our bodies.
This is really interesting. Like many other commenters, I agree that it's become kind of a trend to "go bare", just like chopping off all your hair has become super trendy lately.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know what the percentages were...I'm actually surprised it's almost 50/50. I thought more would go bare! Most of the girls I've talked to completely shave. Personally, I feel cleaner. It might sound weird to say...because I'm a very clean person as is, but it just makes me feel more so.
Make sense?
Sure. Thanks for sharing.
DeletePersonally, ever since puberty struck, I have opted to go hairless south of the border. It never had anything to do with my partners or what other people might think, I just (massively!!!) prefer to not have any hair in that particular region of my body. I've been shaving for over half my life now and plan to continue to for the rest of my days.
ReplyDelete♥ Jessica
*PS* You can file that under the "gee, I don't think I've ever said that publicly in a blog comment before" heading. :)
Ha! I'm honored that people feel comfortable sharing their personal lives here. I want my blog to be a safe place where we can talk about private stuff. Besides, it's just us girls...
DeleteGreat subject Ally! I believe it bothers everybody secretly. It all comes down to money baby (as usual). It started with the porn industry in the early '80's. Porn movies and especially watching it in a small screen (VHS) - you had to "see the details" you know - so they went all bald. So I agree with the rest of the girls. Btw, I shave my legs and armpits (mostly during summer months and when I feel like it). I think it's totally unhealthy to shave down there, esp. if you have a sensitive skin. Because it opens up the pores to any kind of infections. (yikes) - hugs :)
ReplyDeleteGood info, dimi. You've given me lots to think about.
Deleteit's winter! I don't even shave my legs haha! and as for my pubic area, I never touch it apart from a trim, its how I like it - I also like my Mr hairy, he's quite hirsute, I think it's very masculine x x x
ReplyDeleteTechnically it only started in the west with pornos. In the east, hair removal was invented thousands of years ago. The Ancient Egyptians removed every bit of hair including from their heads and wore wigs, men and women. It's even in Islamic sharia law; a virgin to epilate once and month, a widow twice a month and a wife once a week I think. Sugaring, waxing and threading was invented in the Middle East and Asia. It's only become fashionable in the west in the past few decades. I'm Middle Eastern origin and have a lot of hair but I refuse to shave or wax. One of the rare times I gave in to peer pressure when I was 14 and shaved. It was disgustingly itchy, completely horrible and I got an infected follicle years later. Very painful and needed antibiotics. Never again. I can't stand the plucked chicken look. I prefer beavers with hair on them. Not bothered if others prefer to go bare anymore (used to bother me more) but for people to tell me that pubic hair is dirty really annoys me. It's there for a reason, it protects your vulva and isn't dirty or unfeminine at all. I trim once a week with a pair of long bladed nail scissors or when I can't bothered, a couple of times a month. Inbetween that, its natural and I don't make it a secret if asked. I've heard that some men have never seen pubic hair on a woman. That is pathetic and hilarious at the same time because it only reinforces the myth that only a certain way is ordinary. There's a difference between being groomed and being bare. It seems like a lot of people don't realise there's a happy medium and equate those 2 things together. I'm all about the moderation and trimming but if I had to choose between bare and bush, I choose the bush. It works for me, much more comfortable than nothing there at all
ReplyDeleteBrilliant comment! Informative, entertaining and personal. Thank you, buddy. If there was an award for Best Comment, you'd win it!
DeleteIt creeps me out. For me, it seems to be a way to infantilize women. It seems to be one more thing that you have to change about your body in order for it to be okay. So no, I don't trim the hedges. Although, to throw all my credibility out the window, there is a very funny scene towards the end of "Scary Movie" about this.
ReplyDeleteYes, I see the babyishness of being bare. And wondered about that. I've seen that movie scene, too. :-)
DeleteThe first time I heard about it was on Sex and the City when Carrie gets a Brazilian. The second time was on one of the first season's of America's Next Top Model when ALL of the girls got a Brazilian. Personally, I think it looks better Brazilian style, and gives you one less thing to worry about during bikini season.
ReplyDeletexx
Fantastic responses to a great post Ally. I love Selina's explanation. I just wonder what our grans would think of all this hair removal!!! LOL!!!! I also think that if God expected us to have no hair then he would have created us as such. I certainly love to go for a wax but just underarms, bikini line (although it is 40 years since I last wore a bikini!!!) and my upper lip ~ I don't do it myself as this is my pampering!!! I don't think I could manage a Brazilian though!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree, Lynn. Nature made us with hair and it serves a purpose. Removing it is a cultural choice and different societies had different attitudes. Since there is no natural or universal reason for keeping or removing it, I'm sometimes perplexed at why people do what they do, especially women since I wasn't raised with them. I feel like the middle-school girl asking her girlfriends what the right thing to do is.
DeleteAnd this is a safe forum to ask those questions and I love the variety of answers. In my scrapbooking group we actually had the same discussion! You certainly make us think about things!
DeleteOh, gosh, good prompt! For my self, I think that particular grooming issue mostly came up during bathing suit season. The extent of the grooming depended on the extent, or lack thereof, of the bathing suit. I admit once to a complete shave at the request of a significant other, but oh my gosh, the growing back phase was pretty much unbearable. And the advent of boy briefs for bathing suit bottoms has made summers so much more carefree lol.
ReplyDeleteI do get a little freaked out by women (and men) wanting to be completely hairless down there- it's just odd to me to want to look like a prepubescent seven year old. But I can understand how some could want "trim the hedges or simply mow the grass" for a neater appearance, but "scorching the earth" is a little too extreme for my taste. Plus, I've tried it myself out of sheer curiosity. The second day itching was unbearable...
ReplyDeleteGreat post Ally!! I've loved reading the responses!
ReplyDeleteFor me, my skin is crazy sensitive and I would be completely and utterly uncomfortable, itchy, and generally miserable if I had to shave down there. I have enough trouble with my underarm skin! I just trim a bit on the bikini line if I have to wear a swimsuit, etc. but otherwise I'm au natural. My hubby could care less, which is wonderful!
-Jamie
ChatterBlossom