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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be annoyed at this feminist

530 replies

PlayOnWurtz · 05/09/2017 08:01

I happily call myself a feminist and will enter into discussions about it freely in real life and online. I got into one conversation about appearance and politics and how you rationalise body hair removal with feminism. I said I simply feel unclean, it's nothing to do with politics or being oppressed if I don't remove armpit and leg hair I feel like I need a wash.

Cue me being told that I clearly missed the memo on western socialization and oppression and that me removing body hair to feel clean wouldn't happen if I hadn't been socialised to feel this way Hmm erm no love I feel like I need a ruddy good wash if I don't shave I'm not oppressed....

AIBU to be annoyed and more than a bit Hmm

OP posts:
Walkingdead11 · 05/09/2017 16:38

If everyone is doing it and it's considered the norm plus there's some cock eyed view that pubic hair is dirty....is it really a choice?

ponderingprobably · 05/09/2017 16:39

I'm not prescriptive. I'm not interested in judging women. I am interested in examining societal expectations and pressures, the origins of them and looking at how they effect women's freedoms.

Pigface1 · 05/09/2017 16:48

I can see why you are annoyed. I consider myself a feminist yet I diligently remove certain body hair. And I have my eyebrows threaded and tinted. And I sometimes wear eyelash extensions. I don't consider myself oppressed.

BUT, it is really stupid and arrogant to think that you are SO enlightened that you are not in any way influenced by or a product of your societal environment. (I'm not saying this is what you actually think btw). We are all heavily influenced by our culture and environment - every single one of us. We are not the independent free thinkers we all think we are.

Seachangeshell · 05/09/2017 16:48

I have a little trim now and then.
But seriously, if you shave your pubes don't you get all itchy? And have you ever nicked your labia? Ouch.

Walkingdead11 · 05/09/2017 17:00

It is so itchy, I did it once and never again and the smoothness lasts one day!!! Why????

Walkingtowork · 05/09/2017 17:03

That's what I want to know too, fellow walking Grin

I mean, it's all very well saying "I prefer to be hairless", but surely that only lasts a day or two then it's stubble till long enough to be waxed again?

I may be wrong, never had any part of me waxed (thank god)

Walkingdead11 · 05/09/2017 17:04

I used a cream, nearly burned my clit off!! 😂

JacquesHammer · 05/09/2017 17:09

It lasts about 2 weeks being hair free then grows back. I exfoliate and never get ingrown hairs.

The more you wax, be softer and sparser the hair grows back

BeyondLimitsAndWhatever · 05/09/2017 17:09

A friend of mine shaved drunk and did shave her clit off. Fun visit to a&e...

PrincessWonderRabbit · 05/09/2017 17:11

I wish people would stop saying men do it to. I think most straight men are going for a quick tidy up to make their dick look bigger they are not getting their ass sack and crack waxed.

ponderingprobably · 05/09/2017 17:11

Exfoliate! Yikes! Talk about sand in your pants..

Walkingtowork · 05/09/2017 17:13

Sweet Jesus Beyond !!! Was she ok?

BeyondLimitsAndWhatever · 05/09/2017 17:16

Well, she didn't get the the lump she shaved off back - it sailed away down the plughole!

Walkingdead11 · 05/09/2017 17:16

Most men are definitely not getting rid of their genital hair...but women are......why???

Walkingdead11 · 05/09/2017 17:17

And that shaved clit story has my head in a spin!

JacquesHammer · 05/09/2017 17:18

Exfoliate! Yikes! Talk about sand in your pants

It's just skin? It's not like i'm using a black and decker down there 😂

Gretia · 05/09/2017 17:18

I shave everything everyday in the shower and it takes about 30 seconds to do everything! Its only itchy the first time and easy to keep up!

Gretia · 05/09/2017 17:20

Most men don't wax but ime they shave it all to a no 1 with hair clippers?!

ponderingprobably · 05/09/2017 17:22

Really, Gretia. Is this a new thing? The ones I've known didn't. Maybe get the strays that poke out of swimming trunks with electric shaver but that's it.

PlasticPatty · 05/09/2017 17:22

OP, they're right, you're wrong. But it's your body so remove your hair if you want.

Removing genital hair makes you look like a child. Men like that. What does that tell us?

Walkingtowork · 05/09/2017 17:23

The clit down the pulghole story is going to give me nightmares!

JacquesHammer · 05/09/2017 17:24

Removing genital hair makes you look like a child

It really doesn't. It makes me look like a mid-30s woman with no pubic hair.

Barbaro · 05/09/2017 17:27

Shave if you want to, don't shave of you don't. I don't see the problem.

I shave my underarms every few days or they do get a bit smelly unfortunately. Legs get done once a week maybe because I don't like the hair getting long.

Not a feminist at all. I am an equalist.

Walkingtowork · 05/09/2017 17:32

I don't want my nieces (or my ds's I guess) being sent societal messages that yet another body part of theirs is not good enough and must be altered to be acceptable. They're perfect as they are.

Lovingmybear2 · 05/09/2017 17:38

Each to their own bush Grin

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