One of the first things I told my girl friend when I decided I was going to spend a year trying to fall in love with myself was 'oh man... I don't have to shave my legs anymore!'. We clinked margarita glasses and drank to the health of my long-oppressed leg hair.
I can't deny the glorious feeling of slipping into your freshly washed sheets with newly shorn stems, but my recent liberation from the shackles of the leg razor got me thinking; other than the sinfully guilty pleasure of feeling your silky legs against your favorite dress, what's the big deal with pruned pins?
We've all heard the stories about how the trend got started. There was an ad in Harper's Bazaar in 1915 featuring the new sleeveless dress! It was a revolutionary, fashion breakthrough that not only brought women freedom from their neck to ankle coverage, but revealed the dreaded armpit! And lo, it was hairy. The legs followed a few years later when pinups and shorter hems fell in line behind sheer and sleeveless dresses. What I gather from any research I've done is that it's a fad. A very long standing, profitable fad that razor companies have been banking on for decades.
Don't get me wrong! I'm not arguing that strong women everywhere should toss out their razors the same way our foremothers burnt their bras. I love that it can be a sign of femininity (or being on the swim team). I'm questioning the apparent necessity for women, in or out of a relationship, to shave their legs. I still shave my legs, but it's only when I want to. Why didn't I subscribe to this theory sooner? I have so much more time for activities now that I'm not slowly dragging sharp objects over my skin every other day!
There's a question on OKCupid (don't lie, you've at least checked it out...) that states "Do women have an obligation to shave their legs?" and the amount of 'yes' answers submitted by men is nothing less than staggering. I'm sorry sir, but I am not obligated to do anything to my body for you or anyone else. I've even seen some women who agree that they have an obligation, not the option, to keep their legs clear of stubble. And not because it feels nice for them, but because it's 'gross', 'not sexy', 'prickly'.
I'm in a unique position where I don't care that I'm not sexy to anyone else but myself. My trips to the gym have even waned a little, because I realized I wasn't training for a sport of any kind. I was training to train. Well if I'm the only one I'm trying to impress right now, I would be really dazzled by that new brownie recipe and a Netflix marathon.
The same goes for my legs. I'm the only one caressing them at night, and bully for me, I'm just not that particular about the length of the hair that grows on them. The best part about this distinct issue, I'll be able to carry my new outlook into a relationship in the future. That's just one more thing I wont be over the top self-conscious about. Because I've walked through the Leg-Hair Fire, and I have emerged victorious!
I actually use the unshaved leg as a type of test in relationships. Lol. Luckily, I've found most men who actually care about you for just being you dont give a shit whether you shave your legs, or anywhere, for that matter. I've found that 99% of what women do, is for other women, not men.
ReplyDeleteoh my goodness, I agree! I'm completely okay with shaving my legs whenever I want to. But I'm learning that what I do to and for my body should only be for ME. Nobody else. If they like it, that's a bonus!
ReplyDeleteSide note, I used to purposefully not shave my legs until like the 5th or 6th date so it would keep me from getting too frisky too fast! :)
You are truly inspiring, Not necessarily just this recent addition to your amazing blog but as a whole, I am truly impressed. You have inspired me to make changes in my own life, only for the benefit of myself (and my furry kitty children). We can be our own women! We can do anything in this life we want or need to! Making intentions reality! I'm super pumped and thankful to you for your self motivation, and for the courage to openly share it with me.
ReplyDeleteThank so you much. And I am so happy for you and your kitty babies!
DeleteIt's a scary first few steps into changing. I'm still in the scary part! :) And it's scary to start putting your needs AND wants first for a change. But it's important that we take care of ourselves! I view it as the flight attendant says, 'Put on your mask first, then other's.' We're no good to anyone if we're not healthy first. :)
Get it, girl! Let's do this!