What Do You Think of the "Free to Be Hairy" Movement

pie_eyes · April 2016

synchkat · April 2016

I couldn't do it

saramickeydee · April 2016

Love it but I don't have the rocks to do it.

Justpeachy02 · April 2016

No way could I do it

salembambi · April 2016

i don't shave

so that answers that

Peter_Brady · April 2016

I dated a woman that kept her armpits natural. Definitely wasn't an issue for me.

lucyamason1 · April 2016

Could probably do it in the winter ah ha!! I know it's not, but i feel cleaner when I shave

lithezebra · April 2016

Your body, your hair, your choice.

jnichel · April 2016

Don't care one way or the other; if you like what you see when you look in the mirror; if you're comfortable with yourself, that's the only opinion that matters.

ericatoday · April 2016

Doesnt bother me but if i go 2 days without shaving i get a rash under my arms i have very sensitive skin in certain areas. But i domt shave down stairs if that counts and my husband dont mind.

Gioeyebrow · April 2016

It looks uncofortable like something you would constantly have to hide or somthing that you wouldnt necessaraly want to show im not sure

MissMonicaC4 · April 2016

Just no. I mean yah I get the fact that its your body. Your choice.. But what wrong with a type of slight expectation? Like showering and deodorant.. Things like that shouldnt be a form of expression or rebellion. Use your brain and thoughts to free yourself but please take care of yourself. I may get hate for my opinion.. I truly dont mean harm and at the end of the day I wouldnt treat anyone bad for it but its just my 2 cents.

valente347 · April 2016

I shave my armpits irregularly, so it doesn't bother me at all. I don't particularly want to attract attention to my pits, so if I think I'll get stares in a shirt, I'll shave. Before losing weight I never wore shirts that allowed for peeping there anyway, so I never got in the habit.

I don't like how my legs look when hairy (pale skin, black hair) so I keep them shaved, even in winter.

mkakids · April 2016

Ive had laser hair removal on my underarms, so its not an option for me. If it were, I still wouldnt do it though.

RaeBeeBaby · April 2016

I broke my arm about 10 years ago. Aside from the pain and learning to do things one handed for awhile, I really hated having hairy armpits. I couldn't raise my broken arm to shave on that side OR hold a razor to shave under the good arm. As soon as I could comfortably lift the broken arm above my head I went into a salon for a wax. While it may be au naturale, the hairy trend is not for me.

martyqueen52 · April 2016

In my opinion, I think it's rank.

It's a proven fact that hair holds in body odors.

But being clean and having proper hygiene and it won't be an issue, but, it is a huge issue for some people.... try going to Wal-Mart on a hot Sunday and you'll see what I mean.

StephanieJane2 · April 2016

No likely!

slinkybinkydog · April 2016

Nope

saramickeydee · April 2016

MissMonicaC4 wrote: »

Just no. I mean yah I get the fact that its your body. Your choice.. But what wrong with a type of slight expectation? Like showering and deodorant.. Things like that shouldnt be a form of expression or rebellion. Use your brain and thoughts to free yourself but please take care of yourself. I may get hate for my opinion.. I truly dont mean harm and at the end of the day I wouldnt treat anyone bad for it but its just my 2 cents.

Yeah, that's why muscle shirts should not be allowed in the gym, right?

You're attaching a lot of assumptions to a little bit of hair. shower, deodorant, taking care of oneself, rebellion, expression, freeing oneself. Seriously - it's hair.

trish2016 · April 2016

No chance at all its not attractive to look at, if a person wants to let it grow then so be it. I never grew hair under my arms and I am still so happy to this day that I never did.

looking4gains · April 2016

I mean freeing oneself by not shaving? That is such a minuscule part of ones life. To me jumping blindly for your goals, overcoming your fears, leaving a toxic relationship. Those are freeing yourself and following your happiness. It's soo hypocritical to rebel to something that is based off the stigma of societies image of beauty is a shaved body. You're taking physical appearance, and making that your focus in life. Personally, if you care that much of what people think, honestly your efforts could be soo much more better suited towards something substantial.

Now I get it. You don't wanna shave then don't. I don't think people really care. I mean if I saw a girl with hairy armpits or hairy legs, I'd probably have a thought for two seconds in passing, then go about my business. But calling it a movement? In my opinion, that just sounds ridiculous. It's an obsession with how others view them. There is soo much more to life than vanity.

MonkeyMel21 · April 2016

I think it's body hair. It's naturally growing on a person's body. It shouldn't be taboo to have it.

samwiserabbit · April 2016

I'm kind of turned off by the word "movement" but otherwise, I'm pro hair.

I'm pretty lazy and way against arbitrary double standards. If a dude with hairy pits doesn't catch *kitten* for not "taking care" of himself or being "unclean" then why should a chick? No reason, that's why. It's not like our sweat is somehow "hair reactive" in a way men's isn't.

Sometimes I fantasize about going to the Oscars or something, and wearing an awesome sleeveless gown. Then I would shave, because it goes with the outfit.

unawind · April 2016

Being in an LDR has certain benefits, lol. But I have to laugh at the "stock photos" you see in these and other identity movements (no makeup, no shampoo, etc. ): they're all relatively hairless, pretty, or have nice hair anyway! Show me the trolls like me who would give Chewbacca a run for his money, haha.

unawind · April 2016

samwiserabbit wrote: »

I'm kind of turned off by the word "movement" but otherwise, I'm pro hair.

I'm pretty lazy and way against arbitrary double standards. If a dude with hairy pits doesn't catch *kitten* for not "taking care" of himself or being "unclean" then why should a chick? No reason, that's why. It's not like our sweat is somehow "hair reactive" in a way men's isn't.

Sometimes I fantasize about going to the Oscars or something, and wearing an awesome sleeveless gown. Then I would shave, because it goes with the outfit.

You're not far off there. Women only began shaving, or were encouraged to shave, as clothes became more revealing! It's an early 20th century development in the Western world.

saragd012 · April 2016

I certainly dont mind if others choose not to shave, I've dated a woman in the past who didn't, but because I use natural deodorants I have noticed a can get a little smelly in the summer if I dont shave. A downfall of living in Florida.

Big_YEET · April 2016

I don't shave my armpits religiously or anything. Sometimes they get a little hairy. But I don't take a ton of pics with my arms up, or go around shoving my pits in peoples faces demanding they praise me for not shaving, like it's a big deal. I just don't think it's a big deal, it's like a 2 inch section of skin that most people shouldn't see on a daily basis anyway.
If a guy isn't attracted to a girl because she doesn't shave, it shouldn't be a huge deal. Lots of people aren't attracted to others for many reasons, and they're mostly uncontrollable. I think women (and men) should just do what they want and stop giving so much of a *kitten* what the opposite sex finds attractive. Or the same sex, if that's your thing.

MsAmandaNJ · April 2016

MissMonicaC4 wrote: »

Just no. I mean yah I get the fact that its your body. Your choice.. But what wrong with a type of slight expectation? Like showering and deodorant.. Things like that shouldnt be a form of expression or rebellion. Use your brain and thoughts to free yourself but please take care of yourself. I may get hate for my opinion.. I truly dont mean harm and at the end of the day I wouldnt treat anyone bad for it but its just my 2 cents.

I understand what you're saying, please do shower, use deoderant, and brush your teeth. That's keeping you clean and keeping your mouth healthy - taking care of yourself. I'm going to share my story, it is in no way meant as an attack, rather to show you the other side.

When it comes to something natural that you find repulsive on another's body as a result of learning that from society (my 6 year old nephew is not grossed out by my leg hair, he asked my mom why it's "gross" and all she could say was "It just is"), it is not a slight expectation. I shave my pits because I couldn't stand the smell when I've grown the hair out. I choose not to shave my legs for the following reasons: the hair grows right back and I'm "prickly" by the end of the day, it's soft when grown out, I enjoy the breeze through my leg hair, no more ingrown hairs, I don't waste money on shaving supplies, showers are shorter, and finally, it's my body and nobody gets to tell me what to do with it. I think it's a wonderful way to rebel and express oneself, it's literally not hurting anyone, yet is making a statement - hair is nothing to worry about. What better way to show the world that hair is okay than by living by example?

I get looks and comments from friends, family, and strangers, but I don't have a problem with it - if I did, I'd shave because that's the only way to stop the comments...unless they come to understand that some body hair isn't disgusting. I don't judge women who shave because it's their body.

I'd like to point out that men are not expected by society to shave any part of their body, why should I? For once, I'd like someone to admit that they've been told all their lives that women should be hairless and THAT'S the reason people are so offended.

MsAmandaNJ · April 2016

samwiserabbit wrote: »

I'm pretty lazy and way against arbitrary double standards.

It's so nice to see someone else who gets it :-)

Peter_Brady · April 2016

looking4gains wrote: »

Now I get it. You don't wanna shave then don't. I don't think people really care. I mean if I saw a girl with hairy armpits or hairy legs, I'd probably have a thought for two seconds in passing, then go about my business. But calling it a movement? In my opinion, that just sounds ridiculous. It's an obsession with how others view them. There is soo much more to life than vanity.

You are wrong to think that people don't care. If women didn't get ridiculed for things like this, it wouldn't be a topic.

gramarye · April 2016

MsAmandaNJ wrote: »

MissMonicaC4 wrote: »

Just no. I mean yah I get the fact that its your body. Your choice.. But what wrong with a type of slight expectation? Like showering and deodorant.. Things like that shouldnt be a form of expression or rebellion. Use your brain and thoughts to free yourself but please take care of yourself. I may get hate for my opinion.. I truly dont mean harm and at the end of the day I wouldnt treat anyone bad for it but its just my 2 cents.

I understand what you're saying, please do shower, use deoderant, and brush your teeth. That's keeping you clean and keeping your mouth healthy - taking care of yourself. I'm going to share my story, it is in no way meant as an attack, rather to show you the other side.

When it comes to something natural that you find repulsive on another's body as a result of learning that from society (my 6 year old nephew is not grossed out by my leg hair, he asked my mom why it's "gross" and all she could say was "It just is"), it is not a slight expectation. I shave my pits because I couldn't stand the smell when I've grown the hair out. I choose not to shave my legs for the following reasons: the hair grows right back and I'm "prickly" by the end of the day, it's soft when grown out, I enjoy the breeze through my leg hair, no more ingrown hairs, I don't waste money on shaving supplies, showers are shorter, and finally, it's my body and nobody gets to tell me what to do with it. I think it's a wonderful way to rebel and express oneself, it's literally not hurting anyone, yet is making a statement - hair is nothing to worry about. What better way to show the world that hair is okay than by living by example?

I get looks and comments from friends, family, and strangers, but I don't have a problem with it - if I did, I'd shave because that's the only way to stop the comments...unless they come to understand that some body hair isn't disgusting. I don't judge women who shave because it's their body.

I'd like to point out that men are not expected by society to shave any part of their body, why should I? For once, I'd like someone to admit that they've been told all their lives that women should be hairless and THAT'S the reason people are so offended.

It also seems to play into this weird ideal where we as women should cling to things that are girlish (our hairlessness, our lean bodies (except the boobs/butt, obviously), and our "natural" looks) while still being available for society to objectify. The things that mark one as an adult women are things that have been stigmatized.*

I do choose to shave for various reasons (and I used to not; I go through phases), but none of it happens absent of cultural context. While "movement" is a self-involved sort of word for this kind of personal expression, it is absolutely a rebellion to step away from that cultural context and realize that you aren't shaving proactively, but reactively because someone said you should or you'd be "gross." It's also totally fine to consider your reasons and choose to keep going forward with shaving.

(* To be clear: I don't think people want us to look like girls, or are necessarily fetishizing young girls. But there is absolutely a fetishization of the appearance of youth. I also think it has to do with wanting women to be demure, to be smaller and weaker and lesser.)

What Do You Think of the "Free to Be Hairy" Movement

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