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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

I am so shocked about that thread stating most women have no pubic hair

452 replies

roseability · 05/01/2011 22:33

I don't know quite why it has disturbed me so much. Like most women I have plucked/shaved and groomed for many years of my life. However the thought of putting myself through that really upsets me for some reason. Not that I plan to. It is just that I have never, ever considered that pubic hair is undesirable. I can't help but relate it to women in porn with little or no pubic hair and it makes me sad to think girls and young women (I have a daughter) will no doubt feel insecure about their vagina and how it looks in this way.

I am by no means a good feminist. As I mentioned I do shave my legs and I wear make up. I have read Beauty and Misogyny by Sheila Jeffreys and I question why I even do this. However it makes me almost weep to think of my daughter being influenced in such a way.

I was just really upset by that thread and I m not sure why

OP posts:
melezka · 06/01/2011 16:31

TNS's dedication to research!
Shock

MillyR · 06/01/2011 16:31

I don't have any judgement to make over women of any age who choose to do this for whatever reason. But I think it is really bad that it is now the norm for almost all young women to do it. It means that in a few years my DD will have to do it, or have no sex life.

wukter · 06/01/2011 16:32

Agreed ISNT.
And nightsky - your an inspiration cautionary tale to all of us. Shock

ISNT · 06/01/2011 16:32

TNS blimey!

snowflake69 · 06/01/2011 16:33

Well then ISNT my mark of coolness has never been to do things just cause everyone else did them and as a result I was one of the most popular girls in my year.

MillyR - As I said that isnt true as I hang around with a lot of the teenage aged group through my work. Most of them are having lots of sex and not one is completely shaved. I really dont think that will stop them having a sex life.

ISNT · 06/01/2011 16:38

Yes snowflake and that is great for you, but you cannot transfer that to every single child in the whole country and say that they should all be capable of resisting peer pressure and there is no chance that they will be picked on etc if they are different.

Your point seems to be that 11 or 12 year olds should be judged as weak if they do things because their friends do them. I think that is very unfair, it is quite normal for children to have a desire to fit in with other children, it does not mean they are weak.

And whether you like it or not, some children will be bullied for not conforming to whatever the prevailing fashions are in terms of grooming / styling / clothes / etc. It is foolish to deny that this happens.

ISNT · 06/01/2011 16:41

TBH I found that difference/originality/not following the herd only started to be seen in a positive light in general when we were about 14.

thenightsky · 06/01/2011 16:44

I did think of putting pics on profile, but I'd not want to put you all off your tea Grin

Anyway... my thoughts after this are that I now accept the women who say they do it for themselves. There is no way anyone would take that torture for someone else, even a loving DH/DP.

Prolesworth · 06/01/2011 16:45

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reelingintheyears · 06/01/2011 16:46

I haven't read the whole thread but i've always hated shaving my fanny.
DP doesn't care so it's not an issue and i've only done it once or twice years ago.

Maybe it's just me but i always felt a bit uneasy/queasy about it,like men who really wanted it hairless were a bit pervy.
Prepubescent/underage girls etc.

camaleon · 06/01/2011 16:49

'...I now accept the women who say they do it for themselves. There is no way anyone would take that torture for someone else, even a loving DH/DP.'

Thenightsky... thanks a million for all the smiles you are putting on my face today! You are fantastic

NarcolepsyQueen · 06/01/2011 16:51

I am amazed that so many people are surprised by this. I shave under my arms and my lady bits each morning in the shower - I never have regrowth or stubble or itching, and just feel so much fresher without extra foliage on the undercarriage. I only leave a small strip on the front - it got narrower and narrower over time as I tried to 'even up' the sides. It is such second nature that I can still do it without being able to see my bits due to being prgnant!

higgle · 06/01/2011 16:56

I had never really thought about hair removal in this area until a few years ago, when I thought I would experiment. I'm not a very hairy person and found a combination of scissors, tweezers and a normal razor could remove most of my pubes ( I like some to be left, sort of DIY Brazillian) After approx. 30 years with and 5 without I much prefer having less pubic hair, especially underneath. I have not name changed so will not go into graphic detail about why.

I just wonder if the reason people are removing their pubes more and more is that they try it and prefer it. It seems very strange to me that we would all start doing something and carry on just because of porn films or the whims of certain of the male population.

ISNT · 06/01/2011 16:58

The thread is about total hair removal, narcolepsy.

I can see how one might start on the traditional bikini line and get gradually more carried away!

But this is removing all hair including any growing on the insides of the labia and under and up towards the bum IYSWIM. I never realised that young women considered it normal to get their inner labia and arses waxed (OUCH) but there you have it.

camaleon · 06/01/2011 17:00

'....It seems very strange to me that we would all start doing something and carry on just because of porn films or the whims of certain of the male population'

Not sure if this is a strong argument though. I can imagine many things women do because they were assigned such a role for centuries, not because they tried it and thought it was a great idea... ironing, housework in general?

smallwhitecat · 06/01/2011 17:05

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MillyR · 06/01/2011 17:06

Thanks SNowflake, I feel reassured.

ISNT · 06/01/2011 17:07

swc she does it every day so that's why no regrowth etc.

NarcolepsyQueen · 06/01/2011 17:13

SWC - I'm an everyday kind of girl Smile

amberleaf · 06/01/2011 18:05

I currently sport a hairy full bush, but i sometimes remove most of it [i shave as i dont have the guts to wax after having half a leg done and chickening out] i am more likely to take it all off during the warmer months, although ive been thinking about doing it again over the last few weeks.

In the summer i feel fresher with less hair and thats not because i see my vagina as 'dirty' its because it IS fresher !! bacteria clings to hairs-bacteria is what creates odour. i dont mind a natural smell but i dont want to humm.

Lastly and for me most importantly- I like the way it feels Wink

sarah293 · 06/01/2011 18:08

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thenightsky · 06/01/2011 18:24

But don't you 'all off' people notice defects more? Since I had a go at removal this afternoon I find myself fretting about my different sized flaps and a rather large blackhead I have uncovered. Will this lead to wanting fanjo flap surgery to even them up?

And its already feeling a bit spikey down there round the edges.

JaneS · 06/01/2011 18:34

Ewww, blackheads down there!

Right, that's convincing me if nothing else would - the bush is staying put!

And ffs, if you think it is dirty or smelly, WASH!

amberleaf · 06/01/2011 18:53

LRD I didnt say it was either dirty or smelly i said its fresher when less hairy, also easier to keep that way.

I do wash thank you very much.

Thenightsky I dont consider different sized flaps as a defect.

thenightsky · 06/01/2011 19:01

Well perhaps 'defect' is the wrong word... I was just so shocked at not even knowing I had even had them.