In thinking people that don't keep their body hair under control are weird ?

[luvvinlife]

I've seen topics on here about it and really have trouble understanding why anyone would want hairy legs or even worse hairy armpits and a crotch like a badly kept privet ?

Cant be arsed ro shave away natural hair

luvvinlife - I don't agree with labels. Far too limiting. It's like the "what social class are you?" question. I'm just me - weird or not.

MooMooFarm - I find Amy strangely endearing. I don't like any of the others. I stumbled upon TOWIE whilst drinking alone and was hooked. Her "hairy growler" comment will live with me forever.

Downton Abbey should have got the BAFTA though. Classy drama. TOWIE is car-crash tv.

No carbs before Marbs!

how are women being pressured? some examples:

1. advertising
2. social pressure (such as people going around saying you are weird if you wouldn't do them)
3. pressure at work (eg see a post from just a few minutes ago on this very thread, BOMgoneoff Wed 25-May-11 14:07:50 'In my industry I simply couldn't turn up at a client mieeting with hairy legs and arm pits... that's quite sad.')

I look at it the same way as hairstyles. Everyone likes to wear their hair differently. Some like short, pixie cuts, others layered and wavy, some like to have a fringe, some prefer to wear it all the way down to their waist.

Individual style and the way you groom yourself is such a personal thing. I don't think anyone can reasonably impose their values on others.

It's like saying you think everyone should dye their grey hair, or something.

my body hair is perfectly controlled, thank you very much. just not in the way you would like it :o

plaits in the lady garden are rather pretty

I disagree that it is a feminist issue. Its an issue they have hijacked and labelled as a feminist issue and I object to that strongly as I consider myself a feminist in that I believe many of the unequal opportunities in many male domnated areas in life need fixing.

Its about personal choice, nothing at all to do with feminism.

I find it genuinely weird that anyone would spend their time thinking about how another person chooses to have their pubic hair. Totally baffles me.

Really, really I don't care what people do. It's just disingenuous to say "Oh, I just like it like that" - as if it was something you thought of yourself. How many women would think, "Oh, my pubic hair is a bit uncomfortable. I'll shave it off" without getting the idea from somewhere?

I shave my legs and my armpits. I conform to social expectations. But I realise that I'm not doing it because I just like it better that way. I'm doing it because I've been conditioned to do it.

booyhoo, i'm struggling again. some men feel inadequate about penis size. and some women feel inadequate about their body hair. lots of people feel inadequate about lots of things. how is any of this a feminist issue?

Riiiiight.

So do you disagree with all the feminist critique of the beauty industry or just where it concerns hair removal?

How can you possibly say "It's a personal choice, nothing to do with feminism". It's not a personal choice. It's a choice made by an individual within an environment that's massively influenced by gender. Men aren't expected to shave their legs. They don't (unless they're Olympic swimmers or something). Women are.

my post was to Luvvinlife

Mine was to Luvvinlife too. We've been cross posting..

second time today, but here are some links to books for anyone who genuinely doesn't understand why it is a feminist issue and would like to know more:

The Beauty Myth

Beauty and Misogyny
these two books explain it all a lot more articulately than I ever could and list all the evidence and sources.

Do you? Poor love, life is going to hold much confusion for you isn't it?

It can be a feminist issue, in as much as any subject can be a feminist issue - but it's not solely for the feminists - isn't Dolly Parton a feminist icon?
Ill bet my house she shaves her legs....

I agree luvvin, for me it's just aesthetics. Fashions change all the time don't they? Pretty soon there will be a big muff revival.

I can say with absolute certainty that when I am waxing my undercarriage I am not thinking about looking like a porn star or pleasing my BF. I am thinking about pleasing myself :o

Feminism is ultimately about choice after all, no?

you can choose not to shave your legs. many women exercise this choice. if you're going to feel 'pressured' and oppressed by adverts, then life must be bloody difficult.

I choose to shave my legs, most days. I also usually colour my hair and usually wear make up. Sometimes I choose not to shave, and sometimes I let my greys show, and sometimes I go out without any make up on. There are no negative outcomes for me whichever choice I make. I am free to make that choice.

mrsravelstein i was refrring to your comment about pressure. not teh feminist aspect of it.

SybilBeddows - but I don't equate my waxing with "beauty".

It's just the way I prefer to be.

luvvinlife, go on, have a bash at my questions. entertain me.

Oh there's a book about it, wow...it must be a feminist issue then.

slaps forehead

Its not a femisist issue, its an issue for some feminists.

More importantly, you are NOT being unfeminist by exercising your fundamental right to do whatever you like to your own body.

yes, there are quite a few books on it.
you should read one of them, you might learn something.

Living Dolls is very good on this as well.