I don't want to scare you, but I have some startling news. Woman have body hair. I KNOW IT'S SHOCKING but it's true. We grow hair on our legs, in our armpits, and even in our nether regions...just like men do. So why is it that only women shave?
For as long as I can remember the whole shaving thing seemed normal. I remember the first time I shaved my legs and how grown up I felt. I never questioned why I did it and couldn’t comprehend why some people didn’t want to shave. When young girls have hair on their legs it is completely normal, but as soon as they reach a certain age their leg hair goes from harmless to socially unacceptable. BUT WHY?
I was curious how shaving came about in modern day society and I found that it dates back for thousands of years. Men and women would shave their bodies, so their rivals wouldn’t have anything to grab onto while in battle. It wasn’t until the 1920’s that women began shaving their legs and armpits. Dresses suddenly became shorter, pantyhose went out of style, and sleeveless dresses were introduced.
So, do I shave? Usually, sometimes, when I feel like it. I’m sure most gals can relate when I say that I get lazy…especially during those winter months when my legs never see the light of the sun. The more I thought about shaving the more I wondered why I was actually doing it. I’ve come to the conclusion that I shave my legs because I genuinely enjoy the way it feels to have smooth legs. I don’t do it because I feel I need to and I have no problem sporting legs that haven’t been shaved in a month. I’m thankful that I rarely experience razor burn so it is never painful for me to shave. When it comes to my armpits I rarely touch them. My hair doesn’t grow fast so I can go a week before it starts to grow back in. I think armpit hair is actually pretty cool. Here we have this tiny patch of hair that society tells us is gross, and women all over the world grow it out not giving a hoot about what others might think.
Nowadays women have a choice; one that should be entirely up to them. Society shouldn’t pressure us to shave our bodies when there is absolutely no reason to. If I choose to shave my legs it should be purely because I want to, NOT because I feel I need to. I find it truly absurd that there are people who find women with body hair disgusting. It’s as if we are all under the illusion that women just don’t grow hair in those areas. There is this weird connotation that women with body hair are somehow dirty or unclean. This logic is just flat out preposterous. Body hair is completely natural and not something that we should ever be ashamed of.
I find beauty in being my natural self; natural hair, no makeup, and the occasionally hairy leg or pit. I don’t need anything else to feel beautiful or worthy. I love and accept myself unconditionally just the way I am. I don’t think there is anything wrong with curling your hair, wearing makeup, or shaving. My only hope is that these acts are done to enhance your natural beauty, not cover it up. We have been led to believe that there is something wrong with our most pure and natural self. We have been told to feel embarrassed when we have hair growing in a place where EVERYONE grows hair. Beauty comes from within. When we truly love ourselves, our confidence radiates to all those we interact with. I ask you, what is more beautiful than that?