Body hair is always brought up in context with Feminism and being a Feminist. People have this idea that all Feminists are hairy, radical, anti-bra, and men haters. Okay, maybe I dragged it, but these are all stereotypes of Feminists. Women showing off their hairy legs and armpits isn’t necessarily a new trend, but I think it is still viewed very negatively. For sure, if someone sees body hair that typically shouldn’t be there, they will do a double take. Even though this is a trend that we have seen in recent years, it isn’t just that. Many of my friends including myself have been doing this for years. Most women do not keep up with their body hair like they’re expected to. Women have been hairy for centuries before #bodyhairdontcare became a thing. As mentioned earlier, a lot of connections are made between hairy women and Feminism but it isn’t something that is just trendy or new. It is something that I believe is very important for all genders to acknowledge as an acceptable practice. It is a practice that really isn’t anyone else’s business and seriously needs to be normalized. So as the weather gets warmer and I begin to wear fewer clothes, I see that I pay closer attention to my body hair. I typically am a hairy girl all year around, but I find I always make excuses to shave in the warmer seasons. This makes me think about how so much of the “female experience” is embedded in shame. Women are shamed for their natural bodily functions so often.
It is crucial that at this time, we support women who are letting their body hair grow. Not only is it just a political statement for a much bigger cause but it also brings along a normalizing of the female body which has been the topic of discussion for too long. Growing your body hair and being a feminist are not the same acts. Not all feminists grow out their hair and not all people who grow out their body hair consider themselves Feminist. Wherever you stand on body hair, it is essential to acknowledge and refuse how society has chosen to police people’s bodies, especially the female body.