There's No Armpit Hair Over or Under Here

Blondie of Transatlantic Blonde fame has issued a Call to Arms, as it were, for Feminist Friday. To shave or not to shave? THAT is quite a question. I started shaving under my arms many, many years ago when I had virtually no hair there anyway. I did it because, well, that's what my Mom did, and her sisters did, and most of the women and girls I knew or saw on TV or in magazines did. It seemed to me that it separated the women from the girls, and I was definitely aiming to be one of the women. I've never been very hairy, so it isn't very noticeable if I don't shave, but *I* notice. And I don't like the little black hair stubble-- reminds me of fly legs. Ugh. Just na-zasty.

Do I think shaving and the new Venus razor blades with 5 blades and 27 gel layers are part of some sort of patriarchal plot? Not really; marketing hype, certainly, and preying on our fear of ever being demonized as unfeminine. It is also an artificial de-naturalisation in the name of 'Beauty,' whoever she is. I don't see what purpose the hair serves in the first place-- it should be obvious to everyone that I've been through puberty, no? So any potential 'come hither, Caveman, I am now fertile and of age' signalling it might have done is pretty pointless. Will I carry on shaving? Yep. Will I defend the right of women Over There or Over Here or Anywhere to NOT shave? Yep.


(ten minutes later)
I can't resist adding a (revolting) visual, because I am stubbly and proud of it! Weak of stomach, look away now: