Over Thanksgiving Break I was listening to the radio and heard and advertisement for a new laser hair removal center opening. The ad stated that having a smooth, hairless body was sexy… implying that having natural hair on your legs and body is unattractive and unappealing.
In all honesty, I’ve never really thought about this issue seriously at all until now. I always thought that the classic feminist movement against shaving your legs and armpits (mainly) was sort of odd, and I didn’t really understand it.
I seem to tell myself, I shave for myself. I shave because it feels nice. I shave because I feel dirty when I don’t. I don’t shave for anyone else. But do I? Do you?
Its true, when I don’t shave for a few days, I start to feel dirty and prickly. And that’s just no fun! But, why did I start shaving in the first place?
I think back to when I was in middle school, when I first decided to pick up a razor… I was around the age of 12, and I remember seeing all the 8th graders who had started to shave, walking around with their popularity and such. And I remember seeing my sister’s razor in the shower being curious as to why I wasn’t shaving like “everyone” else. I’d see those Venus razor commercials with the smooth, slender women who were depicted as sexy and attractive. I wanted to be like that.
And now, so engrained in my life, I wonder why I am still shaving. Even after I have tried my best to shove patriarchy out of my life. Why do I do it? Yes, I like feeling smooth, but did I not like how having NATURAL hair felt when I was younger? I don’t think so.
This is a solid, concrete gender norm. Women shave, because they “should” be feminine, and men don’t, because they “should” be masculine. It honestly makes me wonder if I reify these norms by doing my daily routine of shaving in the shower.
What do you all think? I’m clearly struggling here!
ShoutOut! James Madison University 
I, for one, like hairy women.
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Hilarious topic, though I know there is concern in your voice about to shave or not to shave. When I studied in Italy, I learned a great deal about femininity and sexuality. And, the main consensus amongst European men that I met was- who cares? If you feel sexy in shaving, then you feel sexy! If you like to shave because you feel sexy, then shave! Honestly, from what I gathered, the more you feel sexy the more they were intrigued. So, the end goal was not to please men by shaving, it is, are you pleasing yourself? However, in the US compared to Europe, there is a stigma on not shaving, especially your underarms. Therefore, don’t be too concerned if you find out in the end you were indeed shaving because of others. It’s okay. It is too be expected and is normal in this society. I am not saying it is right or wrong, but its okay if you are doing it have others appreciate your external appearance- for it is a norm to have shaved legs.
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