Hair's the problem

Having grown up in Europe, I’ve seen many unshaven women.

I remember the horror the first time I saw such an illustrious dame arch her arms behind her head at a public pool in total relaxation, revealing a patch of pit hair.

I didn’t share her comfort. I was appalled. I don’t even skip shaving in the winter when I could easily hide my femur fur with leggings.

But my response was not a disgust I was born with. Actually, it’s kind of ridiculous.

In honor of No Shave November, I’m going to explain why women forgoing hair removal is a totally respectable, equalizing gesture both men and — especially — women shouldn’t fear.

Let’s talk about why people shave in the first place.

Those familiar with the Biblical tale of Samson and Delilah can infer that hair has historically and religiously been a symbol of power. Hair on men, from beards to chest hair and the invention of Rogaine, has been encouraged, whereas it’s been predominantly reviled on women.

Both sexes grow the same thing from the same follicles for the same purpose — it grows out and above their eyes, head and forearms.

It’s a completely arbitrary restriction to say where something as simple as hair should be. To chastise only one sex based on those rules is even more nonsensical.
Patriarchy is a cloying feminist buzzword, but a real pervasion of our
culture.

Women’s hair removal is a testament only to how their bodies have always been viewed as property. Those without hair are held in higher esteem because they are sometimes perceived as “meeker” and more liable to subjugation.

Conversely, men are taunted if they can’t grow hair for the same reasons.

Ultimately, shaving is just a surrender to and reinforcement of the heterosexual male gaze.

Particularly as American culture has endorsed the shaving of legs and underarms only since 1915, when razors’ marketing campaigns began targeting both sexes in a pure effort to double sales.

This means shaving is the result of advertising. It’s the result of commercialism. It’s not a biological need or a beauty one because hair is not sexually dimorphic.
Anyone who’s seen porn from the 1970s can attest it wasn’t even always considered unsexy.

And it serves a cleansing purpose. Hair exists to rid the body of sweat and bacteria. It keeps you cleaner.

Pubic and armpit hair aid the release of pheromones, which are literally what makes you attractive to a mate.

There’s no real valid reason to shave hair except the only one of importance: what feels appropriate and comfortable.

Even if the decision to shave is culturally induced as a money pit, it is completely up to each individual whether or not they partake, and both sides of that decision should be treated with respect.

­— ashhendr@indiana.edu