The razor was "of dainty size" (because women are dainty) and plated in 14K gold. Prior to 1915, for the most part, women's fashion kept armpits covered. "Underarm" was not a word used in polite or mixed company. Later, as hemlines inched up, leg shaving followed. Removing body hair became a standard of beauty for western women that didn't exist prior. Men had hair. Women did not. You could not be properly feminine with body hair.
It's March. Over here on the west coast, it never gets that cold to begin with. This year has been unseasonably warm. A few days ago I wore a dress. I didn't shave. The world did not end. But social media has been telling me there are rules I'm supposed to follow.
First World Problems lady and I are great friends, but I'm not with her on this one. It's quite easy to not shave your legs. Simply don't pick up the razor.
Mayim Bialik, formerly of Blossom and currently of Big Bang Theory, has never shaved her legs. She writes of her son finding a bottle of pink shaving cream (a piece of swag she was given at an event) and asking why it was pink (because pink=girls, if you weren't following along). When she told him that some women shave, he was aghast and could only picture them shaving their face like men. When she explained that, no, some shave their legs and armpits, he asked "Why?"
My son knows I have body hair just like he knows my husband does. It’s normal and natural to have body hair.
Yeah, my kids too. A child's standard of beauty starts with their mother. Leg shaving is not a standard they are growing up with as a given. Their dad has leg hair. Their mom has leg hair. Humans have hair on their legs. Some humans shave it. My children can shave their body hair if they want to (later, when they're old enough to not cut themselves), and it is my hope that they will do so (or not do so) because they WANT to, not because society tells them they must (or must not).
I have fought the hairy leg stigma for some time. Friends have expressed horror at my unshaven legs. I believe one said it was gross. Another has felt the need to defend her desire to shave her legs. Let me set the record straight: if you want to shave your legs, go ahead and shave them. I will not judge you, so long as you extend the same courtesy to those who make a different choice - and in many cases it is the more difficult choice. Sure, leg shaving takes time, effort, and money. But leaving your legs natural often takes courage and the mental ability to withstand pressure, taunts, and judgement from those close to you and society at large. You tell me - which is harder?
Here is a handy flow chart from AK Tettenborn to help you decide whether or not to shave your legs.
Except I would modify the one on the end to say "Go ahead and shave." Period. It doesn't matter why you want to shave. If you want to shave, do it. Here are some more memes that do not imply a culture imperative, created by yours truly.
I will continue to shave my armpits. If I stopped, my shower routine would be thrown off and I'd probably forget something important, like rinsing shampoo out of my hair. I will not look down on women who choose not to. I'll probably continue tugging on my husband's gorilla pits, because that's my job as his wife. I might shave my legs, but here is a list of reasons why I won't:
- because summer
- because shorts
- because skirts
- because my husband wants me to (I want him to shave his nipples, but we don't get everything we want)
- because someone taunted me
- because Gillette told me to
Here is a list of reasons why I might:
- because I want to
You'll notice it's a pretty short list. I have a number of new dresses I'm excited to wear this year. The hem sits around my knees. I will attempt to document the responses I get as I go about my business with visible leg hair. There may be selfies. Like this one.
My name is Val and hair grows on my legs.
I love it! Thank you for making it clear that you don't condemn other people's choices, and that you hope everyone is making their choices for their own reasons instead of social pressure.
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