It's up to mums to teach their boys that pubic hair on women is normal!?

[Uppatreecuppatea]

I've read countless surveys and reports over the last few months that state that young men would be 'grossed out' if they went to bed with a woman and found that she had pubic hair.

They seem to think that all women either come hair free or should wax it all off.

I think a lot of this attitude comes down to them viewing porn where it's normal for a woman to have zero pubic hair and a neat little pudenda.

It's a worry. I quizzed the local boys who work in our pub and they all wax their chest and think pubic hair is disgusting on both men and women.

So glad I am married to a man who appreciates the 70's!

But what is in store for our young girls?

[CloudsAndTrees]

You said yourself that boys are waxing their chests. Why is it worse for girls who wax their pubes?

It's the same thing. All parents have a duty to teach their children that they don't have to conform, and to teach them that hair on anyone's body is normal.

This is something that works both ways, and boys and girls deserve equal consideration.

[Tortington]

yabu - its up to mums to teach their girls not to give a shit what boys think.

[PfftTheMagicDraco]

it's up to parents.

[WorraLiberty]

I'm not sure why you're slanting this towards boys and asking what's in store for 'our young girls' particularly?

I think you'll find that lack of pubic hair is very much a younger generational thing and is just as much a 'girl' thing as it is a 'boy' thing.

Lots of girls and boys don't like pubic hair on themselves or each other.

[PfftTheMagicDraco]

not just mums. but custy is right.

[JoanByers]

No it isn't.

[mrsbunnylove]

haha! whilst i fully endorse the sentiment, i'm glad i don't have a ds because i don't want to have that conversation!

however, i teach, and have taught sex ed many times. i think this is definitely the place for such a discussion. boys and girls need to know that if they aren't hairless for religious reasons (Muslim women remove pubic hair) then she should be as nature made them.

[WorriedMummy73]

I read about this kind of thing in Caitlin Moran's book and I was shocked at how prevalent this kind of attitude is among young men. I think a lot of the waxing chests and stuff comes from the bollocks such as TOWIE and the rest of that reality nonsense. Plus young footballers. But they don't ALL do it, or have that attitude. I personally can't stand these 'groomed' men - they're all shiny and look like dolls. I can't see all girls conforming either. I will certainly teach my daughter (already do, actually) that her body is HERS and only she has control over what she does with it.

[GailTheGoldfish]

I agree with the basis of what you're saying but am not sure adolescent boys would look to their mums to find out what was normal about women's bodies though. But as a mum to a girl I changed my mind about permanent hair removal because I feel it would be wrong to show her that pubic hair is something to get rid of. I hope that will go some way to helping her be comfortable with the natural state of her body and choose a partner who respects that.

[Icelollycraving]

What custardo said ^

[backwardpossom]

What about those of us who remove pubic hair because we prefer it that way?

[WorraLiberty]

Male models have been removing their hair for god knows how long...even pre David Beckham!

Hair removal is just a fad...a phase like all teenage phases.

So the older generation don't like it...but isn't that what teenage phases are all about?

Every generation has something about it that older/younger generations don't like.

[Uppatreecuppatea]

There's a huge difference between disgust and preference.

I read a lot about boys being 'disgusted' by pubic hair but I don't read the same about girls re chest hair. I think hair chest is a preference (depending on the chest hair, of course! - I don't know I'd go for the full Alec Baldwin) and not something that provokes disgust.

[beachyhead]

Love to have that discussion with my 11 year old DS, not

[WorriedMummy73]

Bit sad that everything's been taken now. My grandparents generation had Elvis and his pelvis, rock n roll, Satanic messages in playing records backwards, Hippies, drugs, etc. Today's generation have...pubic hair. I blame Justin Bieber. Just because it's another reason to have him killed.

[Uppatreecuppatea]

I don't think it's a fad at all. I think porn has changed young men's views of how women's bodies should look. Hair free and 'un-flappy'

[nailak]

erm when i was at school we were all disgusted by chest hair.

[KatoPotato]

Beertricks! you made me audibly 'hoot'

[amothersplaceisinthewrong]

Why is it up to Mums and not Dads.

I think it is a bit odd to be quizzing young barmen about pubic hair when ordering your glass of Pinot.

[FlouncingMintyy]

I think its up to parents to teach their children that pubic hair is normal on both sexes. Good luck with persuading them not to conform though!

[Uppatreecuppatea]

Disgusted or scared? Big difference?

[TheSmallerPenguin]

This is one life's great mysteries, all the hand wringing about other people choosing to remove some body hair. Really, what is the big deal? And what is the difference between pubic hair and armpit hair, or leg hair, or facial hair? Or head hair come to that?

Can't we all just do what the hell we want to with it and try to avoiding losing sleep over someone's choices?

Presumably you wouldn't sit up at night worrying about whether Josie down the road had her head hair trimmed and highlighted today? Or shaved her armpits this morning?

[Uppatreecuppatea]

Our local is 'very local' - nothing wrong with asking them if they wax their chests! They didn't mind a jot.

[Uppatreecuppatea]

Tiny Penguin- that's the whole point! Who wants their kids (specially DD's who think their pubic hair is 'wrong') to thing that way.

That's my whole point!