So we’ve all heard of No Shave November. Many men will take on the endeavor to not shave their beards and mustaches and embrace their inner lumberjack, but it’s not just men that feel inclined to participate. Plenty of women have expressed their desire to get in on the fun as well and for an entire month, they will reject the conventionally held notion that women have to shave their legs. Leave it to social media to expose sexist comments such as “Women who participate in No Shave November will be participating in No ‘D’ December,” and other thoughts spewing vitriol against body hair on women all in the name of “personal hygiene” and “being ladylike.”
Remember that time Brad Pitt participated in No Shave…Ever?
As the sexes debate these ideals over Facebook and other sites, little people know how No Shave November got started. This event can be traced back to the ancient Greeks. Plato insisted that for guardians to be educated properly, they had to imitate the gods, which were seen as bearded men. For thirty days, they wouldn’t shave, and this became a tradition of practicing ethics amongst themselves. Jump forward in history and you’ll find that the actual title was coined by the socialist Karl Marx in a celebration of communism. He argued that beard-growing during this month was a way to upset the upper class because it was seen as unkempt and unprofessional. Nowadays, No Shave November is used for various campaigns. In 2004, a group of men in Australia began using it as a campaign to raise awareness of prostate cancer. It has also been used to raise awareness for sexual assault, and many other issues.
No Shave November has had various purposes throughout time, so I propose that we leave it open for anyone. Whether you want to find a charity or campaign to support with it, stick it to the man like Karl Marx, or even become one with the gods, take part in this annual event if you please. Women included. We all need a break from the razor and the tedious chore of shaving, and if any man tries to tell you there’s something wrong with a woman having body hair, like any other human being, feel free to inform him that his grubby hands had no chance of touching your beautiful hairy legs in the first place.