(no subject)
So this entry started life as a comment on someone's blog, but then I pulled it because it's a pregnant woman's blog and I was going to disagree with her about what is turning out to be a hot-button topic and that seems unfair on the knocked-up chick, who probably doesn't need any more stress in her life right now.
But seriously, there were dozens of women on this blog post all sharing their complex and convoluted ways of keeping their pubic hair "under control" during pregnancy. And by "under control" they mean "non-existent". And...just...wow. I don't get it. I like my Map of Tasmania, and my underarm hair, and my leg hair. I like the evidence that I am an adult woman who has gone through puberty, and getting rid of my hair makes me feel like a little girl.
Which is not to say that you shouldn't shave/wax/laser/etc if you want to. I like be au natural, but everyone's mileage varies. I just worry that so many women I know seem to be going to all this expense and trouble and pain all for someone else - a partner, society, even "because my beauty therapist will be ashamed of me otherwise".
I had a similar conversation with my 14-year-old cousin last summer. She was gobsmacked at my hairy armpits. Her exact words were "But we have to shave our armpits!" and when I asked her "Really? Why? Says who?"....she didn't have an answer. I told her that of course she should shave if she wants to, but that I wanted her to think about why she feels she has to.
I remember the lightbulb moment I had when I realised that I didn't have to shave. That it's not the law, and that I did actually have a choice. It was an awesome moment. 18 months later I have a) saved a fortune on razors, b) not once dripped blood from shaving cuts all over my nice new carpet, c) realised that Map/armpit/leg hair gets nice and soft and fluffy when it is left to grow out, and d) haven't had to deal with the disgusting and gross and painful shaving rashes that I used to get on my underarms no matter what and which had been the bane of my life for the last thirteen years.
I can't believe it took me so long to realise that shaving was something that I had a choice about doing. I'd never before thought of myself as particularly socially conditioned, but that little lightbulb moment put paid to that.
I might go to back to shaving one day. But I might not. Either is fine for me, and either is fine for you. Do what you want, girls, and do what makes you happy!
But seriously, there were dozens of women on this blog post all sharing their complex and convoluted ways of keeping their pubic hair "under control" during pregnancy. And by "under control" they mean "non-existent". And...just...wow. I don't get it. I like my Map of Tasmania, and my underarm hair, and my leg hair. I like the evidence that I am an adult woman who has gone through puberty, and getting rid of my hair makes me feel like a little girl.
Which is not to say that you shouldn't shave/wax/laser/etc if you want to. I like be au natural, but everyone's mileage varies. I just worry that so many women I know seem to be going to all this expense and trouble and pain all for someone else - a partner, society, even "because my beauty therapist will be ashamed of me otherwise".
I had a similar conversation with my 14-year-old cousin last summer. She was gobsmacked at my hairy armpits. Her exact words were "But we have to shave our armpits!" and when I asked her "Really? Why? Says who?"....she didn't have an answer. I told her that of course she should shave if she wants to, but that I wanted her to think about why she feels she has to.
I remember the lightbulb moment I had when I realised that I didn't have to shave. That it's not the law, and that I did actually have a choice. It was an awesome moment. 18 months later I have a) saved a fortune on razors, b) not once dripped blood from shaving cuts all over my nice new carpet, c) realised that Map/armpit/leg hair gets nice and soft and fluffy when it is left to grow out, and d) haven't had to deal with the disgusting and gross and painful shaving rashes that I used to get on my underarms no matter what and which had been the bane of my life for the last thirteen years.
I can't believe it took me so long to realise that shaving was something that I had a choice about doing. I'd never before thought of myself as particularly socially conditioned, but that little lightbulb moment put paid to that.
I might go to back to shaving one day. But I might not. Either is fine for me, and either is fine for you. Do what you want, girls, and do what makes you happy!