Society & Shaving
So I know that I donāt have that many followers, and probably a lot of my followers donāt care about what I have to say. But Iām angry and annoyed at society and the pressures it puts on women.
I have always hated shaving. I didnāt start until I was 13; I remember I was at a pool party and all the girls in my class were in bikinis with freshly shaven legs and I stood there, in my tankini and with my hairy legs, extremely uncomfortable. I remember a girl asked me if I had started shaving yet, and I said no, not really, full of embarrassment. That night I asked my mom if I could start shaving. I was extremely hesitant and had my mom help me at first, but even to this day I am still incredibly careful and slow while shaving; I have a fear of sharp objects and I am terrified the razor will leave deep cuts.
I am continually embarrassed when I go out in public and feel like my leg hair is too visible. I have never been a great shaver; I continually miss spots on my legs no matter how long it takes me, and Iāve always wondered how girls can have such smooth legs. I donāt think Iāve ever had legs completely rid of hair. I am also extremely self conscious about my armpit hair and pubic hair. I remember my mom telling me once that I needed to shave my armpits because they were getting too hairy, and now I am incredibly insecure every time I have to lift my arms in the dressing room. No matter what bikini bottom I wear, you can almost always see a little bit of hair peeking out. Iāve tried shaving it, but itās so painful, and thereās just so much of it. I know what youāre thinking right now, āWoah Grace too much information, we donāt need to hear about your pubic hair.ā But that is part of the problem, that in the society we live in we canāt even talk about the hair that grows naturally on a womanās body without people being disturbed, grossed out, or uncomfortable.
Hereās the thing: hair grows. Itās a natural part of our body. We canāt do anything about the fact that itās there. Yet we spend so much time shaving and waxing and removing, trying to please others, while men donāt have to do any of that, because itās normal for their hair to be there, but itās somehow not normal for us.
Iād like to say that Iāll stop shaving, that Iāll stop giving in to societyās standards, but I probably wonāt. Because as much as Iād like to go out and rock a dress with hairy legs, I donāt think I have the confidence to do it yet. I am afraid that someone will tell me itās disgusting, that someone will whisper about me behind my back as āthe girl who doesnāt shaveā. I wish I wasnāt so self conscious about my body. Even today, I went out in 80 degree weather in jeans because I was too embarrassed about how my legs looked to wear shorts. I canāt tell you how much I did that this summer actually, not just because of hair, but because of the burns and scars the razor and shaving cream leave. I think about how often times when I go swimming Iāll wear gym shorts over my swimsuit in fear someone will see a tiny bit of my hair down there. How I throw on a jackets last minute because I think my armpit hair might be a bit too long.
Now I understand some girls love shaving. I have friends who love the feeling of smooth legs, and Iām not saying that we must not shave ever, just that the idea that we must shave a couple times a week to look acceptable is a misogynistic and American one. Iām not sure when we got the idea that in order to be beautiful our legs must be smooth and our bodies hairless. Iām not sure where we got the idea that in order for men to love us our legs must be shaved.
Your body hair is beautiful and has value. Itās there for a reason. Shaving it is perfectly fine, and not shaving it is too. I understand if youāre not brave enough to stop shaving; Iām not, either. But I see so many girls complain about it (myself being one of them) and wonder why so many women participate in this burden that is completely useless. You are not more beautiful with or without your body hair.
Love yourselves and your bodies :)
@dovedamneron @alvcbans














