Why is body hair "unprofessional"?

[CheeseMonster]

Dress codes for many jobs reflect this. Men must wear pants, and sleeved shirts. Women may wear mid-length skirts and sleeveless tops. But women are expected to shave their legs and armpits, so no body hair is ever shown.

There are even men with unusually hairy arms who feel the need to shave or wear long sleeves in professional settings. And even beards are sometimes still seen as unprofessional.

Why is body hair so bad?

Everybody has it. We know it's not unhygienic or anything. In fact it's a sign of developmental maturity and competence to have well-groomed body hair, not laziness or inexperience. So why is it still so taboo in many so-called "professional" settings?

[misogynistic_pig]

In reality, the view that body hair is "unprofessional" is a social and cultural construct that varies in different contexts and cultures.

In some work contexts, people are expected to maintain a clean and tidy appearance, and this may include the removal of body hair.

This is due in part to cultural expectations around professional appearance, as well as perceptions of personal hygiene and grooming.

For example, in jobs where interaction with the public is common, a more polished and polished appearance is expected.

However, there are many people who choose not to follow these cultural expectations and decide to keep their body hair, and this is perfectly valid.

It is important to recognize that body hair is a natural feature of the human body and there is nothing "unprofessional" about it.

It is a personal choice and each person should have the freedom to decide how they want to present themselves in the world of work and in general.

[msmissydc]

I never would have thought that I ever could agree with you, but here you write something I can agree with.

[katiesmuff]

Perfectly written

[Anonymous]

This all started from back in war days. Because when we used swords 🗡️. Having longer hair as a man was a disadvantage. If someone took you by your hair, you’d die. It was a liability.

Men with longer hair however tend to have more testosterone. Hair keeps energy from what I heard. That’s were that Bible story came from. Hair has some type of strength or power. Not sure.

Piercing also look unprofessional, and in war if someone pull you by your piercings, again it’s a disadvantage and a liability.

Women in police and military however. They let us keep our hair. But to respect our men in war. Or to represent them. And stand for them. We keep our hair in a tight bun. Women in military or police, are usually put to desk jobs anyway.

In a woman, on the other hand. It just looks more masculine. You can tell a woman has higher testosterone if she’s growing longer thicker body hair. This is why most women shave and remove all that. Because it looks masculine. Compared to a normal woman of normal hormones. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Opinion Owner]

@cheesemonster
I’d say; that now because of those old war days. 🗡️
All jobs require you look and dress hygienic. And shaving everything off, gives the impression of top hygiene and self respect. Not just police and military.

Even though a man of long hair can still have high hygiene and self respect. Society has been trained to view shaving as someone who actually has self respect and motivation and hygiene. Instead of the guy with long hair.

[Jersey2]

Short hair in modern armies reduces such things as lice and time to care for your hair. Facial hair is also not allowed generally because your gas mask will not seal tightly which can lead to negative consequences in a battle involving gas. In business it is less of a distraction and business can be focused on. Corporate environments aren’t that different than any well oiled machine, military or not. Fewer distractions keep things moving faster.

[Opinion Owner]

@Jersey2

Were you in the Military?
Yeah I was gonna say that too. But forgot. I wondered how you’re gonna wear helmets and certain hats and masks and certain gear if you have a Santa beard or long woman hair.

And on a windy day Hair can get in your view too, if your hair is not short enough or not long enough to tie it back. It can obstruct your view, and that’s another liability.
Women deal with this on the daily.

[Jersey2]

Yes, I was in a US Armored Division, artillery, where we would spend 10 days or so at a time out in the heat, rain, snow and mud with no showers. We rarely even washed up with a helmet of water as we had 18 hour days and low water at times. So short hair was very helpful. I have also been many years now in the corporate environment so I have seen both sides of this.

[Opinion Owner]

@Jersey2
I think it would be fine if we all lived like cavemen in peace. And war didn’t exist. Then men can have their long manes like a Lion 🦁.
But that’s not the case now is it lol 😂

If you look at Gorillas 🦍 in the wild, those guys don’t have to worry about pulling eachother’s hair to end eachother, because their hair don’t grow like ours.

[Jersey2]

I would much prefer a peaceful world myself. But there will always be guys like Putin. Freedom only comes from soldiers.

[Bricealan]

Samson lost his 'MOJO" when his hair was cliipped.

[Daniela1982]

I don't want to see some guy's hairy belly, back, or legs. It is expected of females to not have hairy pits, leg, or even boobs, so why not men too. Certain races have more body hair than others. Not so much on Asians or American Indians, but a lot on girls from India, Arabia, and a lot of Europe really. Others have very fine body hair. So everyone is not equal. But that's life. Some should shave their Sasquatch hair, and others don't need to shave.

[insteadfew]

Agree. Men should also have the same standards of no body hair. Why give them the advantage of keeping body hair

[Bricealan]

Some men look like a gorilla anyway

[insteadfew]

@Bricealan even after shaving?

[Daniela1982]

@Bricealan 😃😅😂🤣

[LimitedBenefits101]

Every woman should shave

The feminine women always, they know how to take care of their body 😍

Sadly we have the masculine wannabe men aka blue haired /purple haired women that dont shave🤮🤮 but they are only few, as it should be.

[Val713]

I've had people tell me that, but I've got quite a few sleeveless shirts/vest/coats that are more expensive than many guys suits. I wear them to formal settings, and I don't shave my armpit hair. I'm old enough to grow armpit hair and people know I have it, so I don't see why I should have to shave it just to be "professional."

I actually had someone say something to me for wearing one of those vests/coats. Crazy thing was there was a woman there in a sleeveless dress that clearly hadn't shaved in a while. When someone brough it up to me and I countered by bringing her up, they told me "we'll women's dresses are made like that and it is an expensive evening gown." Which is why I had to tell them that my vest/coat was clearly made like that and it probably costs more than her dress.

As far as facial hair, yea, I haven't been clean shaven since I started getting facial hair, and I'm not shaving it to be "professional," especially since I keep it trimmed.

I honestly couldn't care less if people see me as unprofessional...

[Anonymous]

I don't need a dress code or law to tell me to shave. I shave because the alternative is damn disgusting. Further, I have never nor would ever date a 'hairless' guy. I like men and all their traits- including hair on arms, legs, and chest. I'm not a big fan of facial hair but a 5 o'clock shadow is damn sexy!

[insteadfew]

You ok with visible upper chest hair on a guyy?

[CubsterShura]

If I applied to a place that required me to shave my arms and look like an eye candy in general I'd not apply there or quit if I realize it after I start working. I'm not a commodity.

[sheikalana]

I wouldn't say unprofessional. Unhygienic yes especially if you work in a restaurant or anything to do with food.

[CheeseMonster]

Obviously if it's for a functional reason I understand, like not wanting beard hairs to fall into the food a cook is preparing (even though they aren't required to shave their head and that hair could also fall in).

[sheikalana]

I believe some restaurants require you to shave your bread and all restaurants I've seen whoever works in the kitchen has to wear a cap to cover their hair.

[CheeseMonster]

Yes, but you could just wear a cap to cover your beard as well. People do that and it also works.

[sheikalana]

I’m pretty sure I’ve seen that too.

[fonduegirl]

It's not. Unless you work in a beauty salon or something, nobody gives a hoot.

[Juxtapose]

I'm a man, I'm going to have hair. If people don't like it they can hire a woman instead.

[In_Trance]

Show me a dress code that references shaving body hair

[CheeseMonster]

Did you read the description? I explained how it works. Besides, this isn't just about dress codes. It's about society in general. Women shave and men keep their body hair covered, to appear "presentable" in formal settings. Have you not noticed this practice in your own experience? Maybe we live in different cultures.

[In_Trance]

Your description says nothing about shaving.
Same a society in general. Show me anything that says anyone anywhere has to shave

[CheeseMonster]

Lol if you think there are no expectations or social rules outside the law then I can't help you. You just don't understand humans.

[In_Trance]

No you were very specific in the question you asked and I asked you to provide examples which you haven't done so far.
You formed your opinion based on evidence. I'm asking you to show me that evidence.
Do you have evidence or did you just assume all of this?

[CheeseMonster]

Yes, I was specific. Including using different words like "must," "are expected to," and "feel the need to," to convey different meanings. Excuse me for assuming you understood the difference between expectations and requirements.

Yes, evidence is what led me to ask this question. But yes, I do assume the premise in the question. Because I didn't want to make this a debate, I just wanted answers. I asked "why," not "if."

If you disagree about the premise of my "why" question, then feel free to ask the "if" question yourself. On the site. Not to me. But if you invite me to it, I'll give you that evidence you want so much that you can't just Google it.

But this is my question. If you don't like it, tough. I'm not in the mood to justify it to someone who won't even answer it.

[In_Trance]

If you can justify, you're trolling.
And clearly you can't.
No validity to what you're saying at all.

[CheeseMonster]

Lmao ask

[marish01]

Body hair is not beautiful to me especially on women.

[insteadfew]

And on men?

[AnusNdaPainus]

it is not just unprofessional it’s historically accurate

[ChefPapiChulo]

who gives a fuck what people think? this is america land of the free and the brave.

[Anonymous]

It's unhygienic and looks ugly. Simple.

Both on men and women.

[Fuentes]

On women? Not into it

[QuietRunner]

Everyone should shave

[fonduegirl]

Yes I agree.

[fonduegirl]

But we can't force people.