tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655832685701724052.post925904336765441037..comments2023-04-30T08:40:52.688-04:00Comments on a pure open awareness: she's one hairy son of a bitchjuliamarisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06783911894379650919noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655832685701724052.post-60211774040111467852010-07-17T02:30:54.908-04:002010-07-17T02:30:54.908-04:00Yeah, I like shaving and makeup, but I also like b...Yeah, I like shaving and makeup, but I also like boys, so take my opinions with a grain of salt. ;)Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12954446923850241485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655832685701724052.post-88369385927443037012010-07-17T14:22:52.304-04:002010-07-17T14:22:52.304-04:00Great post Julia! Is it just me or am I referenced...Great post Julia! Is it just me or am I referenced in the title? hehe One thing I would point out is that although "trappings of femininity" may often be perpetuated by women, this occurs largely because of internalized oppression, and capitalism. I think a lot of women react negatively when other women act out of their assigned gender box because it makes them question their own actions--it's as if they feel challenged or something. When a woman who has never come in contact with another woman's body hair sees me all done up in a sun dress and heels, arm pits and legs just teeming with that lusciously healthy hair, it's like this big deal because I am doing something that she feels like she isn't allowed to do. And she isn't; we ladies aren't "allowed" to be feminine and have body hair. Well fuck that. <br>Also, I get a sense from some women I come across who have a reaction to it (that they would probably never voice) that basically amounts to "it's not fair that you don't 'have' to shave and I do". I think that one is about competition. It's like, if I have body hair, I need to be frumpy and cover it up and be ashamed of it, because if I dare to dress up and look sexy and rock that shit like an accessory or something, I am not playing by the established rules of the game of femininity. And if I have a good-looking boyfriend at the time, that tops it off as officially "not fair". It's weird. And it's like if I don't shave and still claim femininity, I am somehow cheapening the idea of womanhood by making it less feminine. <br>I remember when I met a girl who didn't shave for the first time. It was at a house show, and she was talking to me about it and I was just totally blown away because it hadn't really occurred to me that I could actually not shave and still exist. I'm sure the concept of not shaving had occurred to me, but to have someone standing in front of me, totally hairy, totally unapologetic, and totally badass--that just changed the game. So I think that's another reason women weigh in on this debate with so much more passion oftentimes; because they are personally affected by this issue so much more than men are. I mean when it comes down to it, what do men really care? They may have an investment in women being feminine, but they probably don't really care as much on an individual level about women's body hair. Whereas when a lot of women think that I think they shouldn't shave, just because I don't shave, men are just kind of like "huh" or "gross" or "cool" or "what?".<br><br>Anyways...end rant. Thanks for posting about this, your writing style is easy to read and you got dat flow. And congrats on your body hair! I'm glad you're doing what you want to do, whatever that may be :)Jenna Lyleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04915873192180732800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4655832685701724052.post-67459892685010903332010-07-27T12:33:26.568-04:002010-07-27T12:33:26.568-04:00slightly off topic, but have you ever noticed that...slightly off topic, but have you ever noticed that dad has like NO hair on his legs? that was always something i wondered about. a straightish male friend of mine actually shaves his legs and armpits because it makes him feel more attractive and comfortable. i'm pretty sure he's the only guy i know (other than swimmers or cyclists) who does that.sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01980526146909579427noreply@blogger.com