Why Does Women's Body Hair Still Give Society The 'Ick'?

For the longest time, women embracing body hair have been unfairly symbolised as “masculine” and “less attractive”. From our teenage years, we are taught that waxing and shaving are the essential rituals of hygiene and femininity, yet this message overlooks a critical question: Is there a gender to hair? And why is the "privilege" to let it grow freely reserved for men?

The society in which we reside, women are entangled in a vicious circle that revolves around outer beauty and appearance, a perfectly waxed body, threaded eyebrows, flawless skin and what not. The emotional toll of this pressure is so intense that choosing not to remove our body hair can feel like a social crime, leaving us open to judgment, ridicule and torment.

Is the worth of a woman only limited to her physical appearance and the lesser amount of hair on her body? The truth is undeniable.

The 'Unwritten' Rule 

In many cultures, societal standards of beauty have normalized the removal of body hair, particularly for women. This practice is often seen as a necessary part of a beauty regimen, despite the discomfort or pain it may cause to apply a hot layer of wax or laser, as reflected in the saying "beauty is pain." 

This perspective often overlooks the natural functions of body hair, which include protecting the skin from external factors, regulating body temperature, and reducing friction or chaffing.

While body hair serves a purpose, such as armpit hair preventing irritation while sweating and skin-to-skin contact reducing friction, the beauty industry has successfully influenced our perception, making hairless skin the ultimate symbol of feminine beauty and attractiveness.

But my brother wasn't subjected to the same expectations; he wasn't made to feel disgust about his body hair.

"In my formative years, I faced constant teasing about my leg hair, which ingrained a sense of self-consciousness in me. Even now, I struggle with these thoughts, feeling like I need to conform to societal beauty standards," expressed Mallika Tandon, a working professional.

The Male Gaze and the Double Standards 

“My partner doesn't like the hair on my body,” or “I prefer my woman to be more natural.” All of us have heard this at least once or maybe have experienced it. For too long, a woman's body has been viewed through the lens of satisfying male desires. While we've made strides in promoting body positivity by embracing different body types and skin colours, we still have a long way to go in accepting body hair.

As individuals with equal rights, no one has the right to dictate what we do with our bodies, especially something as natural as body hair. Would you ever ask a man to shave his chest or legs? If he didn't, would he be called unhygienic? The answer is no. This double standard highlights the long-standing societal expectation that women's bodies must conform to others' preferences.

Khushi Dwivedi, a medical student and writer, said, "The rise of social media has heightened a sense of insecurity among young women. This influence has also prompted people to shame women with body hair. Body hair is normal, and so is embracing it."

Personal Choice and Body Positivity 

Embracing your natural self, including your body hair, is a powerful choice. Removing body hair is a personal decision. It is not a shame to choose to get rid of body hair. However, this should be done by one’s own will and should not be confined to any external pressure. You should reflect upon “Am I doing this for myself, or because I have to conform to the gendered norms?” 

The pressure for smooth skin is so ingrained that women sometimes even judge each other for having natural hair or bumpy skin. This needs to change. You are the master of your own body and its needs. It can be a long journey to deprogram yourself from these expectations, but it's a worthwhile one. Don't let societal pressures dictate how you feel about your body. 

Always remember - you are beautiful the way you are!

Views expressed by the author are their own.