By: Taylor Reed
During a casual group run with friends not long ago, we found ourselves chatting about various aspects of our lives—kids, relationships, and the usual gossip. As we jogged along the familiar paths of our neighborhood, we shared our frustrations about our bodies, lamenting how they felt different after motherhood. Joining us that day was my friend’s younger sister, Zoe, who was ten years our junior, single, and thriving in the dating scene.
Our discussions eventually turned to the topic of body hair, prompted by the arrival of warmer weather. We joked about the need to dust off our razors and prepare for shorts and bathing suit season, reminiscing about the time-consuming rituals of shaving legs and armpits. Zoe, however, expressed shock at our casual attitude towards hair removal. She stopped mid-run to declare that we had become “those women”—the ones who seemingly didn’t care about body hair anymore. When we asked how her peers managed their body hair, she informed us that her generation was all about being hairless, humorously dubbing themselves “Generation Pubeless.”
This revelation gave us pause, and we laughed together while sharing our own hair removal stories. Despite our differences, we all agreed that how one manages body hair is a personal choice. While I can appreciate the mission of Generation Pubeless, I’m not ready to sign up. Let’s be honest—Brazilian waxes are not for the faint of heart!
A few weeks later, I was reminded of our conversation when the new Wonder Woman film ignited a debate about body hair in the media. Viewers criticized Gal Gadot’s portrayal of Wonder Woman for having time to shave her armpits while fighting evil. The ensuing Twitter frenzy highlighted feminist arguments about double standards in how male and female characters are portrayed in action films.
I won’t engage in debates about individual grooming choices. Hair is a natural part of the human body, and if someone prefers to embrace their body hair, that’s their prerogative. It’s absurd that women feel pressured to conform to certain beauty ideals, especially when men can stroll down the beach without facing the same scrutiny.
The truth is that not every woman aspires to mimic the hairless aesthetic often glorified in popular culture. A woman’s choice to keep or remove body hair doesn’t diminish her attractiveness. Furthermore, the discomfort and expense associated with hair removal are real. Many of us can relate to those comedic moments in films like The 40-Year-Old Virgin, where waxing is portrayed humorously, while Wonder Woman faced criticism for her grooming choices.
Why is society so fixated on hair removal? Hair serves important biological functions, such as acting as a barrier against germs and assisting in temperature regulation. While the evolutionary purpose of pubic hair remains somewhat mysterious, it’s certainly nobody’s business how one chooses to maintain their body hair.
Ultimately, hair is an essential component of the human body, and it’s time we relax our attitudes surrounding hair removal. Wonder Woman has enough on her plate without us scrutinizing her grooming habits. Personally, my husband still finds me attractive even when I skip shaving, and whether a woman chooses to wax, shave, or leave her hair untouched should be far less concerning than pressing global issues like politics and economic instability.
Well, except for chin hairs. Those are fair game!
For more insights on related topics, check out this excellent resource on artificial insemination and explore this post on home insemination kits.
Summary
Women should have the autonomy to decide how they manage their body hair without facing societal pressure or judgment. Body hair serves natural functions, and personal grooming preferences should not be a topic of contention. It’s essential to respect individual choices in the context of broader societal issues.
Leave a Reply