Being ‘feminine’ gives us the social responsibility of ‘looking perfect’ as per the norms set by people who often don’t know it is all about. One of those norms talk about being non-hairy all the time.
Getting your body hair shaved is a common practice amongst women all over the world. I also like to do it. And I am not planning to give it up. But that is my choice.
No one in this world has the right to body-shame me if I am not getting my hair waxed. I have the full audacity to wear sleeveless garments even when my armpit hair is visible. But, often, to our surprise, it’s our dear women themselves who will start giving disgusted looks just because you have little grown armpit hair.
Even I have been at the receiving end of comments like, “Why don’t you want to get your underarms waxed? They look gross.” And when you want to argue, the expressions which you often see are out of this world.
First and foremost, the point of argument often is hygiene. If hygiene is maintained only by removing body hair, I think science has gone crazy telling us the benefits of the same. Also, when was the last time you heard a man being body-shamed for not getting his hair waxed?
Obviously, the point is not just about hair growth. It indicates how we desire to control women and their wants. It goes without saying that at the end of the day, it should be just a personal choice. Please don’t push anyone to think about society and its perceptions, while taking these decisions in daily life. Whether a woman wants to remove body hair or wants to keep them intact is her prerogative.
Many notable women across the globe have left their underarm hair alone. They have also been boldly photographed – like Julia Roberts, Penelope Cruz, Sophia Loren, Madonna, etc.
God gave us hair and they are on my body. So, let me decide what to do with them. Don’t judge me for what I have got naturally.
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Featured image used for representative purposes only.