[Sandy Y.]

Why do U.S. women shave and European women do not? Where and when did this obsession with being hairless start?

User Detail :  

Name : Sandy Y., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 26, City : St. Louis, State : MO, Country : United States, Occupation : housewife, 

[BB23277]

I don’t have any friends who don’t shave their legs. As much as I dislike the idea of having to shave, I find the look of hairy legs even more repulsive. I would guess that the majority of Western European women (except for those very blonde and non-hairy ones) feel the same way.

User Detail :  

Name : BB23277, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Atheist, Age : 26, City : Edinburgh, State : NA, Country : United Kingdom, Occupation : PhD Student, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Tina G.]

I have also found that ‘European women don’t shave’ is a myth. I lived in France for a year and a half. None of my French friends didn’t shave. I didn’t feel any reason not to continue shaving while I was there (except that the hot water heater was very small – brrrr). In my travels in Europe and staying at hostels, I found women from all over shaving in the showers. Perhaps this stereotype is outdated or perhaps it never was true.

User Detail :  

Name : Tina G., Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Atheist, Age : 24, City : Birmingham, State : MI, Country : United States, Occupation : Exhibit designer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Tracy-B]

I don’t know about the leg-shaving, but I’m pretty sure armpit shaving began in the 1920s, with the new designs of strapless dresses. For the first time, women’s armpits were exposed, and I guess the fashion industry felt it gave them a sleeker look to have clean-shaven pitties.

User Detail :  

Name : Tracy-B, Gender : F, Age : 30, City : New York, State : NY, Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, 

[Becca23296]

While not being able to help out on the question of when the hairlessness campaign began, I wanted to point out to Sandy that not all North American women shave, and I think there’s actually been a rise in the non-shaving numbers because of the return to ‘natural’ things in general during the past decade. My partner could care less if I shave. I find that I put more stress on myself to shave than he does. So, perhaps it all started as a form of consumerism, a way to sell more of a product (shavers, creams, etc.) to people in general, not just men. For my own part, I’m curious why a fair number of gay men shave, whether they dress as women or not. Is it purely for looks, or feel, or both? Last but not least, I lived in Asia for three years, and most women there don’t shave that I noticed – even the really ‘hairy’ women. Maybe it’s a North American obsession, and a pretty silly obsession at that.

User Detail :  

Name : Becca23296, Gender : F, Age : 27, City : Melbourne, State : NA, Country : Australia, Occupation : Teacher, Education level : 4 Years of College, 

[lotta]

Im from Europe and I shave my legs.I haven’t even heard about a myth like this.I’ve travelled pretty much around Europe and have never noticed that people wouldn’t shave.

User Detail :  

Name : lotta, Gender : F, City : stockholm, State : NA, Country : Sweden, 

[Katriina]

What do you mean European women don’t shave! I shave and so do all the females I know in here. I’ve travelled in Europe and never encountered women who don’t shave! It’s a myth.

User Detail :  

Name : Katriina, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 17, City : Espoo, State : WY, Country : Finland, Occupation : Student, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 

[Kati]

It is not true that European women dont shave their legs, though I think some older women dont shave their legs, or at least not often. That’s probably why people in the United States think people here dont shave. But as far as I know, in Finland, a large number of teenage girls and younger women shave their legs.

User Detail :  

Name : Kati, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Lutheran, Age : 16, City : Joensuu, State : NA, Country : Finland, 

[Kelly]

http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_012.html

User Detail :  

Name : Kelly, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 23, City : Augusta, State : GA, Country : United States, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

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