"14 year olds should remove all pubic hair" **MNHQ adding quote marks as per request**

[TowelRailing]

My daughter reckons this is what all teenagers do. If you agree, please vote YANBU. If you disagree, please vote YABU.

I’ve reported it and been fobbed off twice. They clearly don’t care.

@JenniferBooth I'd wager that there are, by a massive factor, many times more driving, DIY, sports, stairs and domestic chore related injuries calling upon the NHS's resources than there are pubic grooming ones.

Your argument is a wee bit silly.

“…because it’ll put on a strain on the NHS
isn’t a particularly convincing argument when trying to dissuade a teen influenced by societal pressures to look a certain way.

I’m quite surprised a consultant was openly complaining about other patient’s infected in grown hairs “as a result of removing hair from the pubic area” particularly as there was a woman opposite with a cyst on her groin.

I think the worm is gradually turning.

There is an increasing amount of material in the media promoting body positivity and embracing women of all shapes and skin types- encouraging women to be comfortable in their own skin and not subscribe to a particular ideal.

Dove advertising campaigns for example. Although I’ve yet to see a deodorant advert for men or women featuring hairy armpits! Perhaps because antiperspirants are designed to be applied directly to the skin to effectively block pores/sweat.

There are online influencers who have documented “ditching the razor” and a couple of pop stars making a statement at music festivals with underarm hair dyed a bright colour.

This is the sort of thing that influences the younger generation- not threatening “grooming injury” or showing them a Mumsnet poll, or parents putting a blanket ban on personal grooming for teens and trying to “police” what’s happening in the bathroom at home.

@SmileyClare I've seen a woman modelling a dress on one of the supermarket clothing sites (George or Tu, can't remember) that had hairy armpits. There's also a poster in my local Primark in the underwear section where the model has underarm stubble. I'm sure I've seen a TV. ad with female armpit hair, too.

I agree that things may be (slowly) changing. Hopefully.

We should recognise the influence of porn and how what was rare 30 years ago is not now. Whilst the OPs DD is wrong, there will be many of her age who feel it is normal to do so, and teenage boys who expect girls so to do.

Yes hopefully @PearlClutzsche

The smooth hair free look will no doubt still be popular but I’d like teens to feel they have choices - they can embrace hair free or a natural look , or anything in between without fear of being judged by society (or feeling pressured to conform).

Well I've just been googling when woman first started shaving and it became a trend in the 1920's because of shorter dresses and skimpier tops.

Then I saw an article about an only fans woman who calls herself the hairy sex worker so I think anything goes.

Removing public hair is definitely not a recent thing.

Pubic not public

Well that was more educational than I'd anticipated.

I hope it was helpful for at least a few other parents of teens.

I’d be interested to hear the stance you’ve taken with your teen dd on this issue @TowelRailing ?

At risk of being judged a lax parent, I never refused to allow my teens to shave body hair. We’ve had general discussions on the societal expectations women face and my own views. I’m well aware my teens don’t always listen or value my opinion!

I haven’t encouraged personal grooming but I accepted their choice and given them advice on shaving safely.

Yes, well there are quite a lot of posters and general members of the public who really don't have much in the way of critical thinking ability just an affinity for pitchforks. They want what they want and expect it to happen. Best give them a wide berth or smile and nod and slowly back away if they get you in their sights.

Some people jump on the bandwagon of their choice without any thought at all for what is actually going on. Strange times.

@DejaVoodoo we either believe in bodily autonomy or we dont. So its also nobody elses business what people choose to put in their bodies and that includes food.

This hypocrisy also showed itself during Covid. My body my choice..........until it came to the vaccines. For clarity im pro choice and had my Covid vaccines. But im so sick of the bloody hypocrisy regarding my body my choice because that only seems to count when it suits

I mean obesity is a whole other debate but if we’re raising the issue of eating until obese then that’s more complex than just a personal choice isn’t it? It’s symptomatic of deep rooted issues, self medicating with food for example, or an addiction which should be treated as such?

In the same way that I’d advise my teens to shave safely and care for their skin, I’d encourage caring for their health and eating sensibly.

That said, I do acknowledge your point that “conforming” as a woman by removing body hair is more complex perhaps than personal choice.

Choices are rarely made in a vacuum let’s face it.

People who bash overweight people don’t care about the NHS at all..people have a right to do what they want with their own bodies

Perhaps, but it’s a valid point that obesity and all it’s Co morbidities is a huge strain on NHS resources. You could say the same applies to any life style choice- alcohol, skiing, horse riding, DIY, cycling even your example- personal grooming.

My view would be that all those things should be a choice but done with caution/ in moderation, taking precautions to avoid injury (if we’re mindful of a failing NHS) and that includes eating and personal grooming.

I actually think it’s more helpful to teens to warn them of “grooming injuries” and how they can be avoided or treated if they choose to remove hair?
..rather than being overly strict which probably results in a teen attempting to hack off some hair with their mate’s blunt razor in secret.

It’s a little odd (reeks of journalism) to kick off a debate on a contentious issue and not share your own views or engage in any discussion?

I think that’s the reason so many posters are dubious of your motivations in posting on a talk forum.

It's not though. I'm in my early 40s and it only really became a "thing" about 20 years ago, definitely an influence of porn. My husband is a bit older than me and he said porno mags (yes old!) in the 70s had women with really big bushes. Women really need to wake up and at least acknowledge the facts.

I never remember this being a thing in the 80s, and the brazilian is something I don't think really started being mentioned until the 90s.

Just googled it - apparently the Brazilian became a widespread trend after 7 (!) Brazilian sisters (all with first names starting with 'J') set up a waxing studio specialising in pubic hair removal in New York in 1987.

A "choice" that you and all your friends just happened to make at the same time. In the 70's everyone "chose " not to. Do you seriously believe that you and your friends just all got up one morning and made the SAME choice. Give over dear

As a mother of teen girls I believe this is very standard. Fucking shouldn’t be though

Dove advertising campaigns for example. Although I’ve yet to see a deodorant advert for men or women featuring hairy armpits! Perhaps because antiperspirants are designed to be applied directly to the skin to effectively block pores/sweat.

The Facebook ad for Fussy features a hairy armpit. Antiperspirants are ime equally effective on hairy armpits.

I wasn’t aware of the brand Fussy. I stand corrected!

A choice that you and all your friends just happened to make at the same time

Of course a woman’s choice to remove hair is influenced by outside factors- peer pressure, societal expectations and social conditioning to name a few. That doesn’t mean she shouldn’t have that choice.

It means teens should be made aware of what might be influencing their choice but their right to make that choice should not be removed by their parents, in my view.

JenniferBooth We all need a bit of timber as long as we eat healthy and exercise regularly. If you become sick as you age and you lose weight your body will still be able to cope. I read on this forum that a skinny 8 stone woman eats microwave food and she thinks she's healthy. Where as I have a bit of timber in me and I cook my meals from scratch.

Who do you think will be a burden on the NHS me or the skinny woman?
I know the answer to that question.

This. I'm shocked at how naive people are 🤨