A few years ago, I was out on a group run with some close friends. As usual, we spent that time chatting about our kids, our lives, and the latest gossip. We jogged along, venting about husbands who drive us crazy, kids who make us sound like our mothers, and lamenting that our mom bodies felt older with each gentle hill we climbed. Joining us that day was my friend’s younger sister, who was ten years younger, single, and fully immersed in the dating scene. She was a good sport to tag along.
Since my running group is open to discussing just about anything, we eventually landed on the topic of body hair. With warmer weather upon us, we talked about the need to dust off our razors and manage our body hair for shorts and swimsuit season. We groaned about the extra effort involved in lathering up our legs, shaving our armpits, and getting our bikini lines ready.
My friend’s sister looked shocked by our conversation. She paused mid-run to good-naturedly express her disbelief that we had become “those women”—the ones who stopped caring and let their body hair grow wild. Curious, we asked her what the current trend was among her peers when it came to body hair. She calmly informed us that her generation was all about being hairless, referring to themselves as Generation Pubeless.
We were equally horrified. The irony of discussing this on Beaver Lane was not lost on us (the jokes practically wrote themselves). As we shared our hair-removal horror stories, we all agreed that hair management is a personal choice. While I respect Generation Pubeless and their choices, I am not signing up for that club anytime soon. Brazilian waxes are not for the faint of heart!
This conversation popped back into my mind recently amid the uproar surrounding the new Wonder Woman movie. People were upset that Wonder Woman, portrayed by actress Gal Gadot, had time to shave her armpits while saving the world and flying her invisible jet. When promotional images were released, social media exploded. Feminists argued that the smooth skin of Wonder Woman represented a double standard, noting that male action heroes don’t typically shave their pits before leaping into action.
Now, I’m not here to debate anyone’s grooming habits because, frankly, I don’t care what you choose to do with your body hair. Hair is a natural part of being human, and if you want to let your body hair flourish, more power to you. It’s absurd that women must justify their grooming choices when men can walk down any beach in America looking like Sasquatch.
Let’s face it: Not all women aspire to look like hairless models. And just because a woman opts not to shave doesn’t mean she’s any less attractive. If she decides to let her armpit hair grow, that’s her right. Until you’ve endured the pain of having hot wax yanked off your skin by a stranger, kindly reserve your judgment. Waxing is painful and pricey, and shaving can lead to skin irritation. We’ve all seen that infamous scene from The 40-Year-Old Virgin, right? It’s a comedy when a man gets waxed, yet Wonder Woman faces backlash for merely tidying up before confronting evil.
Why are we so fixated on hair removal? What’s the big deal? Hair serves as a natural defense mechanism against germs. Nose hair and eyelashes protect us from dust and particles, and body hair helps regulate body temperature. While scientists are still exploring why pubic hair has persisted through evolution, it’s nobody’s business whether my lady garden is meticulously manicured or wild and free. My body, my choice. If I want to donate my leg hair to charity, so be it.
In conclusion, hair is an essential aspect of the human body, and we all need to chill out about it. Wonder Woman has enough on her plate without us nitpicking her grooming choices. And trust me, my partner still finds me attractive, even when my legs aren’t as smooth as they once were. Ultimately, whether a woman chooses to wax, shave, or let it grow should be the least of our concerns in a world filled with pressing issues like politics and economic instability.
Well, except for those pesky chin hairs—I tackle those with fierce determination.
For more related content, check out this informative post about intracervical insemination. If you’re interested in home insemination, Make a Mom is a reliable resource for tools and information. Additionally, for comprehensive fertility services, you can explore Johns Hopkins’s expert resources.
Summary
Women have the autonomy to choose how they manage their body hair, whether they prefer to shave or let it grow. This choice should not be subject to societal judgment, as grooming is a personal decision that varies by individual. The recent debate over Wonder Woman’s grooming choices highlights the double standards women face, contrasting them with the freedom men have regarding body hair. Ultimately, we should focus on more significant issues rather than hair removal.