If you’re a hairy girl like me, you’ve probably grown up being insecure of your body hair. It’s time to say “fuck you” to gender norms and accept all the hair on our body.
This post is on embracing your body hair, unlearning certain beliefs, and a slight rant on gender norms.
So if you’re a hairy girl tired of societal standards or just want some reassurance that your body hair is totally okay, enjoy the post!
Being a hairy girl
Being a hairy girl in today’s society sucks. Even if no one is making you feel bad about your body hair, societal norms and media do a good job of that. I am Latina, and even though I may not look like one (many have said), I definitely have the body hair of one. I was insecure over my legs, happy trail, booty peach fuzz but especially my arms. My arms are the most visibly hairy parts of my body and I’ve always been super insecure over them. Seeing people’s eyes shift to them in middle school P.E. class, being told I have “hairy man arms” and even having family make comments really affected my self esteem. I always felt like my arm hair was so ugly and eventually I started shaving my arms in middle school when my father said I should.
So if you’re a hairy girl too…
I understand and completely empathize with you on any insecurities and unfortunate circumstances you have been through due to having “excessive” body hair in today’s society. I know how it feels to be uncomfortable in your own body, unable to have your arms or legs exposed without feeling like people will stare or make comments. Feeling frustrated at the fact that you have to deal with removing body hair when other girls don’t have to. I’m sorry we have been made to feel ugly for something we can’t control.
Fuck social and gender norms.
It hurts to reflect on how women as a collective have been shamed and judged for their body hair. Social/gender norms and misogyny are so ingrained in us that hair removal is normalized and seen as a must for women. It’s ridiculous that one’s attractiveness and feminity is lowered for having body hair. Now, I don’t even know if my preference for having smooth, hairless legs comes from my own self or from societal standards. Probably the latter. I just want all women to feel like they can wear a skirt even if they didn’t have time to shave. For those women who do feel comfortable, I applaud you and aspire to get to that point.
Body hair benefits
Forget what you’ve been told about body hair or an “excessive” amount of it. Body hair does not make you unattractive, dirty or less feminine. It is a natural human aspect and has tons of purposes. It is on your body to help prevent infection from wounds, protects from sun damage, keeps you warm, and keeps you cool providing airflow. Pubic hair specifically helps prevent bacteria from entering, prevents infections and reduces friction. Many may be convinced that any body hair is unhygenic due to odor, but it’s only because it traps bacteria and pathogens. It’s actually doing you a favor. You shouldn’t worry about body odor if you shower daily and use deorodant.
Body Hair and Sex
I know we may feel embarrassed, uncomfortable or unattractive having a hairy vagina, legs and armpits but that’s just internalized misogyny we all have due to society’s gender norms. Pubic hair actually helps prevent bacteria and friction during sex (hair rubbing against each other is smoother than skin on skin). Having some hair on you also keeps the assholes away. If someone has an issue with any hair on your body, they’re too immature to even be having sex. Obviously everyone has their own preferences on their own pubic hair, but don’t feel pressured to be hairless for sex.
Why do you remove your body hair?
You have the right to do whatever you want with your it, but ask yourself why you decide to remove it? Is it for personal preference, or do you feel pressured to stay smooth and hairless to be accepted by society? I’m not here to convince you to let all your hair grow out, but I want you to do what you want. I want you to be unapologetic about having prickly legs and unshaved arm pits. You deserve to have freedom in your choices about your body. You have the right to feel comfortable, beautiful and accepted going out with unshaved legs/armpits/arms. Body hair is natural and unique to everyone, it should be embraced as a part of who you are. Don’t remove it for any other reason other than because you truly want to.
If you have more hair due to your ethnicity, I recommend you take pride in it! Take pride that it is a prominent trait of your people and it is part of your ethnic identity. Now, I love my hairy arms and how it also means that I have thick beautiful brows, nice long hair and longer lashes.
Embrace the beauty and functions of your body hair!
Body hair is not a thing to be removed or undesired.
It bothers me that many women see body hair as something that must be removed. I’ve heard many women be told that if they are insecure about the hair on their body that they can just remove it. Why aren’t women told to accept all aspects of themselves as they are? I’ve heard countless times about the pain of hair removal and though I do partake in it, I have to question why do we put up with it? Unfortunately, it’s very difficult to unlearn gender norms that are constantly encouraged everywhere we go. I don’t expect you to completely stop shaving after this, and I admit I won’t be either. Though I am working on not giving a fuck and showing my prickly legs on those days I don’t shave because the thought of social norms holding me back from wearing what I want irks my soul.
In conclusion…
Embrace your body hair as it is and realize the beauty and benefits it brings. You aren’t less feminine, unhygenic or unattractive for being “hairy”. We deserve to be accepted as we are, inside and out. If anyone has a problem with it, then they can gtfo!
If you’re struggling with embracing your body hair, I hope this post was comforting and helpful in any way. You are beautiful and inherently worthy of feeling comfortable in your body wherever you are.
Thank you for taking the time to read my post, I appreciate you greatly. Have a great day/night! <3