Why is body hair generally considered unfeminine?

[Anonymous]

For example, armpit hair or leg hair

Why do women spend all this time and money, and go through this pain to remove body hair?

[worzt]

I read below a girl saying "boys decided they didn't like hair on girls", while that was probably exactly the case, I can picture males setting the rules of female grooming, that explains why it was stabliushed that "preference", but not why it is still alive, MORE and MORE each day society pushes BOTH genders to be as smooth as possible, we guys, still and BARELY are able to have SOME hair and still be conssidered appealing by SOME girls, most will say "hairy body on a guy? nay nay", I think the reason why body hair being unappealing is still valid today is because each gender ACCEPTS what the media portrays as the rule, I dont, I'm a hairy guy and loving it, I also respect any gir that does the same, it would be weird if she was hairier than me :P but that would hardly be possible ;) I think some hair on a girl looks even sexy, and "a lot" of hair, is not really a proble IMO, my girl has very light colored and thin hair, so she rarely shaves her legs and they look bare, but she wears her pubes natural always and I love it, yes she has little hair but even if she had a LOT I would still find it sexy, she has let her armpit hair grow recently, mainly since I asked but she also has very sensitive skin, she was NERVOUS to try it, she felt ashamed and "ugly" but I loved it, and is really no big deal, media try to condition us to like X and dislike Y, only to fulfill their own purposes, in my country there are advertising that say "we are not with any company (as if anyone believed it) we are just a group of girls who love male handsomeness but ONLY when their bodies are fully shaven" I mean, is quite obvious Gillette is behind it, the commertials are like a guy that looks like a cave man and girls giving him ":S gross" looks, and then a guy full shaven (armpits bare and eyebrows girlie shaped) and the group of girls with orgasm faces, but it is a STUPID trend, that sadly is well advertised and average TV vviewer is easily domesticated to think anything a cute actor/actress say, and thus we are in this sad reallity, I for one could not care less, wear my beard with pride, my girl loves it, and so other females, and males find it empowering, and also do my part to try and support my friend into accepting their natural selves too, and of course, I love my woman to slowly loose all the misconceptions that society has forced on her mind, she is still shy, but she feels more at ease and also she truly enjoys not having to shave, but is not how much I like it, the most important opinion is of course HERS, just like I am the main one satisfied with my hairiness, and YOU should be the 1st one to feel confident with yours, if you decided to keep some of all of your body hair.

[Asker]

I accidentally posted this question in the flirting section, before I reposted it here. The guys that answered there basically said things along the lines of: "how could you speak of such dispicable things, it's gross and dirty, etc", and just as I was losing faith in humanity, I read your answer. I'm glad people like you exist. Keep up the good fight :)

[worzt]

yeah :) I wonder how is it that lots of people are "meh" about many important topics but when it comes to how each person choose to dress or groom, or eat or what to believe, people get so passionate agist it, but be easy on them, most are just confused or don't know any better, I said it in another post, unhygienic? I don't have razorburns or ingrow hairs, I am clean and nor dry or oily, dare those who shave to say the same

[worzt]

oh in that other post I read, the common agreement was "hygiene & comfort" the 2 reasons why smooth was better, again, hygiene rarely has something to do with shaving, if anything is LESS hygienic, and really? who can say the pain of shaving and the aftermath of doing it can be refered to as COMFORT? people should stop inventing reasons, boys and girls shave having IMAGE as the only thing in their mind, & the "official" best image in our consumistic society will always be the highest maintenance

[AltoonaYourPiano]

It's peculiar really. Humans are the only species in the animal kingdom that try to remove their own naturally grown body hair with strange products like wax and shaving cream. And it's so pointless, too. It's just a cultural thing, the reason men have short hair and no facial hair and women have no body hair is because it was a xenophobic means of telling "real Americans" apart from "dirty foreigner" immigrants. Such a waste of time IMO. I don't get why so many men think the only place a women should have hair is on her head (and curiously that it should be really long) and so many women want men to look as hairless as a baby's bottom like Justin Bieber.

Some guys though (such as myself) actually prefer a woman to be all natural. One thing women freak out about that I actually find really sexy is upper lip hair (the "ladystache")

[Asker]

Thanks for the answer, I'm only setting this as best answer because I'm biased and agree with you :)

[Daph81]

I think because men are generally hairier than women. So hairiness equals masculinity. And a woman who doesn't groom somehow shows she doesn't care that much about her body and appearance. It's also a lot easier to maintain hygiene if you're hairless.

I don't like too hairy guys either, for the reason that it doesn't look that hygienic. link

here's also a good argument on why shaving is good: link

[Lj238]

ewww lol

[Tatianav11]

To me body hair is just gross or unattractive altogether so not sure if my answer is what you're looking for. I'm probably in the minority of females that actually like my guy to not have body hair. I prefer smooth chest, arms and yes even legs...armpit not really important. So to me it's not as much of a masculine feminine thing as much as just a matter of attractiveness and preference.

[Anonymous]

At some point in history, it was decided that women should be smooth and hairless. I honestly don't know when or why it started, but it did and it became the standard. Men have more body hair, so it seems to have something to do with male hormones, testosterone.

I don't like it when men are overly hairy either, but I do prefer SOME body hair, facial hair, etc.

[Konnour]

Yes, they do

Why spend money if you can shave it yourself?

Women need a lot of hair on their head but no hair anywhere else, that's the way it is, body hair is unhygienic and plain gross - women are not apes!

[Asker]

Ok, well, neither are men...

So, why is it okay for men to have body hair that is "unhygienic and plain gross"?

[Konnour]

Because men are plain gross? And sometimes unhygienic too

Body hair is masculine thing. It just is, questioning it is the same as asking why skirts and high heels are feminine only

[AltoonaYourPiano]

Like it or not, humans are apes. And body hair is no more unhygienic then head hair. And why is it "gross"? Did you know that disgust is a learned thing? Growing up you're taught what to find disgusting, it doesn't come natural. For example, when you're five years old playing "see food" is funny, but when you're an adult it's all "eww, don't do that, that's disgusting". Food for thought, pun intended.

[Anonymous]

I don't have an answer. What I want to know, though is WHY body hair started to be seen as masculine in the first place. We all have it, and there was once a time that there wasn't an option to remove it.

[Asker]

Exactly, that's why I asked the question :)

[ferny313]

ewww that is nasty. vagina ass legs facial hair and all that you said is nasty. To me it look dirty as if she doesn't shower and stays clean

[Anonymous]

I think that the first reason is that hairiness is a sign or masculinity.

Second, guys are more touchy-feely, so when they are rubbing a girl's legs they like when it's smooth. It's just a guess though, but I think that's why as well.

[Racez]

It's because fair, smooth skin is generally termed as attractive and very much desirable.

[theblondeguy]

less hair=more civilized men want ladies not hairy ass chimps...

[AltoonaYourPiano]

Shaving everything short in general was just designed as a xenophobic means of telling "real Americans" apart from immigrants. It has nothing to do with being cultured or civilized.

[Anonymous]

Because the magazines and society says so... Kind of depressing I like female armpit, leg, and pubic hair.

[Anonymous]

"and go through this pain to remove body hair"... Umm, it's not that painful :S

But why? I don't know.

[Anonymous]

link

[Anonymous]

Men have MORE body hair, which is why it's associated with masculinity.

[palek]

Some guys like hairy women.

[7gnat]

But you happen to not be one of them...

[palek]

Now that you mention it, I prefer women to be 'natural" in certain areas. I suppose most guys my age feel this way, but I ain't fer certain.

[Asker]

Do you want to take a shot at actually answering the question?

I'm genuinely curious to see everyone's opinions :)

[palek]

I find it highly feminine...

[iPood]

because men decided they didn't like hair on women

[Anonymous]

Hair is a sign of masculinity so that is why.

[Asker]

I realize it's considered masculine... what I'm asking is why is it considered masculine when both sexes have it?

[Opinion Owner]

The amount of hair on a typical male and female are much different and also throughout time it has been a fashion, style and hygiene habit.