Contents 1 Origins of Women Shaving in Western Culture 2 ?? 3 Cyclists 4 Leg shaving as a sexual role

[edit] Origins of Women Shaving in Western Culture

Shaving for women actually exploded in western society during WWI. Since many males were now overseas fighting, the sale of razors fell, so the corporations started marketing razors to women. Source: QuickShave.com --Nalos6 01:13, 3 January 2006 (UTC)

[edit] ??

Some women don't shave in order to be "less environmentally wasteful"?? This requires an explanation! -Branddobbe

Well, shaving cream comes in plastic or metal containers, and those often get thrown out, which creates trash. And the same goes for razors too. Ralphael 22:13, 20 March 2006 (UTC)

"Some women, despite the social pressure for hairless legs in certain Western countries, simply never shave at all. While some refrain out of laziness or lack of concern, others do so consciously as a form of feminist revolt, protesting what they see as an unnatural and repressive societal double-standard. Still others refrain in an effort to be less environmentally wasteful."

while i could see all these reasons for not shaving to be viable, although the environment theory seems a little of a stretch, i think an important reason has been forgotten. i don't know what the best wording might be, but i think a large perecentage of women who don't shave are just being a human - just being natural. you might argue this could fall under "lack of concern", but i think that phrase implies that it should be an issue of concern in a woman's life in the first place. and while i do know women who say they don't shave due to laziness, i still can't help but bristle at that reason. sorry, i don't mean to turn this into a debate, but did want to say that i think being natural is a large reason & i've never written in a discussion here before & apologize if i've done this inappropriately. Vivlemon 07:50, 30 July 2006 (UTC)

I am a woman who does not shave out of environmental concern. Raphael is correct in his explaination.24.79.69.34 14:07, 2 June 2007 (UTC)

I don't believe for one minute that women don't shave solely for environmental reasons or to be more "natural". Following that logic, you should also stop bathing, washing your hair and cleaning your teeth, too. That would really save the environment, and it would also be more natural. I'm sure when Homo sapien sapien was walking the Earth 100,000 years ago, they were completely natural: no bathing, no hair washing/brushing, no brushing their teeth, no monogamy, etc. The reason that some women choose not to shave is for reasons of power. They are rejecting the so-called "male-dominated" parameters of what is attractive or beautiful. They are saying, "I will decide what is attractive & beautiful". Which is perfectly fine, you have the right to do that; but don't piss down my back & then tell me it's raining. Don't couch it under the "Mother Earth" or "Mother Nature" guise. If you want respect, be honest about your intentions & take responsibility for your decisions. I think it's a real stretch to say that women who shave have lower self-esteem, than women who don't shave. It is completely natural to want to find a mate. It's called procreation & that's what our species is supposed to do, reproduce. In order to do that, one needs to attract a mate. Even though what is considered attractive or unattractive is culturally based, it's still a natural process. Currently,in my culture, women who shave are considered more physically attractive than women who don't shave. I am living in South America, and I can tell you that women here have a very high self-esteem, but its based around family. Women here want to have a family, and they make themselves as physically attractive as possible in order to find a partner and to have children. They are very clear about their goals, they don't apologize for it, and it isn't spawned from lack of education or ignorance.Thewayofthegunn (talk) 13:45, 12 August 2008 (UTC) thewayofthegunn —Preceding unsigned comment added by Thewayofthegunn (talk • contribs) 13:32, 12 August 2008 (UTC)

I also am a woman who doesn't shave. Environment isn't my main concern, only an added bonus. To me, hair is synonym with adulthood and sexuality, and therefore hair is sexy. I wouldn't feel as sexy, as sexual if I shaved my legs, armpits or other parts of my body. I would feel that my animality, my sexuality has been stripped from me and that I am a doll, an object, and therefore not a person. I also find that you sweat more when you shave. As a teenager I shaved due to social pressure and to hide my sexuality, that I was embarrassed about (like most teenager I assume) and when I stopped shaving after finishing university, I realised I wasn't sweating as much anymore. It makes sense, since the hair regulates transpiration and body heat, which is why body hair grows faster and stronger in summer, when it's most needed. Hair also allows you to keep your body odor, which isn't always a bad thing like people would have you believe. There ARE good body odors, you know. Finally, I can say that I do have a higher self-esteem as a result of not shaving anymore. I don't think a high self-esteem causes you to stop shaving, I think it's the opposite: not shaving can make your self-esteem higher. I don't feel like I have to "make myself" beautiful anymore, to alter myself to be attractive. I feel attractive naturally, the way I am. I still take care of my body, but I don't change, hide it anymore. I feel accepted the way I am, rather than being accepted in an altered, shaved form that I can't take credit for because it's not actually me. Anyway, to sum up, I think environmental concerns CAN be a factor in that decision, even if it probably only rarely is the main one. 77.194.75.4 (talk) 13:52, 7 May 2009 (UTC) Yeah, but women with hairy legs have gross-looking legs. --69.132.83.75 (talk) 03:10, 1 June 2009 (UTC)

It's only "gross" because that's been the societal standard. But I'd rather address Thewayofthegunn's comment. You claim that back when we were barbarians, there was "no bathing, no hair washing/brushing, no brushing their teeth, no monogamy" and somehow these things are equated with shaving legs. For a healthy civilisation, there needs to be societal standards pulling the members away from activities that are health hazards. Bathing, hair washing, brushing teeth and monogamy are all condusive to a healthy community, because doing the opposite actions facilitates the spread and development of disease. Shaving legs, on the other hand, has NO good scientific reason to be common practice. It also does nothing for creating healthier babies (as you say, procreation is something we are supposed to partake in as a species). There's no reason other than 1. razor companies wanting to sell more and/or 2. desire to dietize/objectify women ( or otherwise separate them from ordinary humanness) because we as a species, find mysticism AND subjegation sexy. Great way to mix them is push the women towards a mysterious angelicism AND a simple doll-like existance. Leg shaving is just a mild-ish form of this desire spilling into cultural practices. 68.55.22.148 (talk) 06:29, 30 June 2009 (UTC)

I am a woman 27 and I do not shave. I feel that shaving makes women look like pre-pubesant girls. I look at how many teen and women's magazines E! network and others present images of women that wear clothing that is too small short child like skirts innocent expressions and yes a doll like presentation. I am continually working on my self esteem. I feel attractive and challenge myself everyday by not caving into the social pressure of shaving. I really do not want someone to be attracted to me first by how sexy and smooth my legs are I want them to enjoy me and themselves in mutual company. It is not easy maintaining a strong sense of personal beauty while mainstream media is so hateful to the natural state of women. If you don't believe me about the hateful watch sex and the city the movie. See how intelligent women judge their friend in a bikini when she doesn't shave her pubic region. The shame based practice of shaving is so pervasive we do not even realize how much it effects us all both men and women. Lquarius (talk) 21:19, 30 July 2009 (UTC)

[edit] Cyclists

It says that cyclists shave their legs because an abrasive injury would heal faster. Is it not because they need massages after every race and massaging a hairy leg hurts? --Pelotas^talk 21:03, 21 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Leg shaving as a sexual role

Why doesn't the article include the fact that some men see shaven legs as being "sexy", and portray a role in sexuality? They may not be neccessarily a sexual part of the body but in recent generations the female legs, especially when shaven, can be seen as being almost a secondary sex characteristic. Just a word of advice, coming from a man.

Magicman710 (talk) 01:48, 14 September 2009 (UTC)