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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Akron chapter.

Hair removal has been a key cultural norm in female American beauty, but why? It is well known that body hair is an essential part of life. It helps regulate our body heat and protect us from things like dirt and bacteria. As mammals, we have body hair everywhere. So, why do we go to extreme lengths to shave or wax it off? Why do we spend the money and endure the pain for threading and laser hair removal? Well because society tells us to, of course. 

Hair removal in America started in the 1900’s because of three very important movements. The first was hemlines rising ad sleeves getting shorter, this is when Gillette brand started the “anti-underarm hair campaign.” They used words such as “unsightly“ and “objectionable” as a way to describe the very natural human body of females. Selling their female version of the razor to women in order to make more money for themselves as well as create a ‘sexier’ look for females. 

armpit hair
Photo by Billie on Unsplash

The next stage of hair removal started after World War II, with the shortage of nylon, meaning women could no longer wear stockings everyday. This led to the campaign against leg hair. As skirts got shorter, leg hair became nonexistent. And of course amid all of this, the men did shave anything! By the 1950’s legs, armpits, and eyebrows were being shaved and plucked. 

As the introduction of bikinis came about, it was encouraged to trim down south, but it wasn’t until the 1980’s and 90’s when it was expected to shave down there. The introduction of porn, swimsuit models and photographs, and the introduction of the Brazilian wax was all out of our control. Women were supposed to be as hairless as possible. 

Thankfully, now as the new form of feminism grows and gains popularity, women are now choosing to shave or not to shave. It is more accepted now, to see a female with leg hair and armpit hair just as it is accepted to see women without hair. So let’s take back our bodies! If you want to shave, then girl you grab that razor and love that smooth shave feel and look, and if you don’t want to shave, you love your hair, and if you fall somewhere in between, or if you’re like me that likes to shave, but am sometimes just so lazy that I don’t for awhile. You love yourself that way too!

I am a middle child of a single mom from Pittsburgh, PA. I am currently studying English as a major and Philosophy as a minor at the University of Akron. I love reading, writing, hiking, camping, doing community service, and hanging out with friends and family. I have a spunky kitty names Charlie who runs my life!
Madeline Myers is a 2020 graduate of the University of Akron. She has a B.A. English with a minor in Creative Writing. At Her Campus, Madeline enjoys writing movie and TV reviews. Her personal essay “Living Room Saloon” is published in the 2019 issue of The Ashbelt. Madeline grew up in Zanesville, Ohio. She loves quoting comedians, reading James Baldwin, and sipping on grape soda. She fears a future run by robots but looks forward to the day when her stories are read by those outside of her immediate family.