Are people shaving their arms now are they?!

[qwertyskirty]

Just seen the venus shaving advert. A woman was shaving her whole arm?! Why?!

I don’t think it should be shown on tv no. It’s just another stick to beat girls with

Only if you're looking to be offended... That's like saying men's shaving adverts are just another stick to beat them with. Ridiculous!

I have never shaved my arms, but I know women (and men) with arm tattoos do, which is what is being shown on the advert. I can’t see a problem, it’s just showing how people use their product. Maybe the intention is to say “gentle enough to use on arms” or something?

Blimey... I struggle to keep on top of armpits, legs and bikini line - please lord not another thing I have to shave!!

Is it me or has body maintenance got so much more difficult in the last 5 years?!

No hair (anywhere but on your head, it seems!)
Hair extensions
Eyebrow shenanigans
Nails
Eyelashes
Pedicures
Botox
Spray tans
Implants (lips, bums, everywhere!)

I can't keep up!

Fucking Hell - no, women do not need pressure to shave their arms. I despair...

I've been shaving mine since 1993. It's not a big deal. I doubt most people care about other people's arm hair, or the lack of.

Never even thought about it!
I've not seen the advert but it would probably pass me by.

But I'm very fair and don't have much body hair in the first place.

Is this another generational thing like pubes? As in the over fifties would never think about it and the under forties expect everyone to get rid of it all?

Or have hairy armed women been removing their hair for ever and I've just not noticed?

I'm amazed at how ignorant so many women are. Loads and loads of women shave their arms. I fail to understand why anyone would take offense. This is what they choose to do. Fuck off with your criticism.

It's just another body part they want us paranoid about so we buy their products.

I'm fair skinned with some light blonde hairs on my arms. I remember being all 'what silly woman shaves her forearms?', until I engaged my brain and realised that not all women have light blonde hairs on their arms. And if they want to remove forearm hair that's absolutely fine and absolutely none of my business.

Or have hairy armed women been removing their hair for ever and I've just not noticed?

Yes.

I shave my arms, I haven't always done it but recently started as I like the way they look when they are smooth. I get long, fine, blond and brown hair on them.

Now that I have my Lumea IPL I use it on my arms (and toes, feet, legs, bum, bikini line, arms, neck, and chin) and I feel so so so much more confident. I have PCOS and so am very hairy.

Look, if you want to shave your arms then fine.

But it is a fine line between “personal choice” slipping into societal expectations of women. At which point you become judged as a woman if you don’t conform. And to my mind there is more than enough in the way of bullshit expectations without adding more to the pile.

Well hairy armpits are having a comeback.

Shelbybear I shave my big toes, if the hair is too long it rubs on socks/tights and the friction is painful. Stupid hobbit toes! :o

Look, if you want to shave your arms then fine.

But it is a fine line between “personal choice” slipping into societal expectations of women. At which point you become judged as a woman if you don’t conform. And to my mind there is more than enough in the way of bullshit expectations without adding more to the pile.

Totally agree. I'm sure that most women who shave any part of their body do so, even subconsciously, because of the fear of being judged by others. I know I do. I barely touch any of my body hair during the winter because I know nobody will see it. As soon as summer comes around, I feel obliged to start shaving.

I can't understand the phenomenon whereby women are expected to be completely hairless everywhere except on their heads where they are expected to sport a full, glossy mane. It's bizarre if you think about it.

I’ve shaved mine for years, as I have fair skin and brown body hair. I thought it was common. It’s no big deal, I just swipe the razor over my arms in the shower a couple of times a week. It’s easier than most other forms of beauty maintenance, really.

It really isn’t a new thinf

Let’s try that again

It really isn’t a new thing

Or have hairy armed women been removing their hair for ever and I've just not noticed?
Pretty much ^

I have severe hirsutism, even my hands, knuckles, toes and back have thick dark hair. I’m much hairier than most men
I even grow hair on my ears and forehead too

If I had normal female hair growth then I wouldn’t bother at all. I don’t think anyone notices or cares if it’s fine arm hair

Nope, nope aaaaand nope!

Done it for around 30 years - since a teenager.

My best mate at school's parents were Northern Indian and I got the Talk from her Mum about getting eyebrows and stuff sorted out. She changed her mind about piercing my nose until I was 18, despite my enthusiasm for the idea --and settled for forcing a million little glass bangles over my giant hands until I bashed my wrist on a table corner and looked like I'd been self harming, when she replaced them with a big silver bangle and earrings instead.

Shave my arms? No way, the hairs are soft and gentle and go blonde in the summer. They look so good against a tan.

The disapproval displayed on this thread about women shaving their arms seems very anglocentric. If you've never noticed that arm shaving is a widespread thing well then it probably means that you don't grow abundant black hair on your arms. You may well argue that abundant black hair on one's forearms is nothing to be ashamed of, and you'd be right. But step outside of your own cultural hair removal norms and you might realise why shaving one's forearms is perfectly normal for other women.

@CleopatraComingAtcha

I agree! And I’m of Anglo descent, but I will continue to shave my arms because I prefer it that way. Others may feel I’m failing to follow their preferred version of feminism, but that’s not my problem.

There’s also the little matter of feminism being about women getting to choose for themselves.

I shave my arms for me and nobody else.

I am pale skinned with very dark hair. I've been shaving my arns for about 25 years since I was 16. Takes a couple of minutes.

I hate leg shaving more than anything though. Me and my fat legs.