I got VERY excited to answer that poll! And comment wheeee I have so many feelings about this!
I’m 45 and I think it has just gotten worse and worse for this (gestures vaguely around) - ‘image over EVERYTHING’ ie sensation, pleasure, intimacy, safety....
Oh consumerism and patriarchy.. Disguised as ‘no I LIKE this’ .. me too, when I have had a partner who wanted my hair a certain way.. I changed it.
I remember years ago finding the 60s copy of ‘the joy of sex’ in my parents bookshelf and marveling at the pics of pubic hair that it celebrated- on women! Celebrated!!!
I remember the first time I realized I am also supposed to hate my large labia. I didn’t know! Ohhh this voluntary snip and trim is for pleasure right?
I’m excited to talk about it too! I read somewhere that there was once an art historian who married a woman and was disgusted on their wedding night because she had pubes that he had never seen in paintings, because artists chose not to depict it. So strange to me, even when it was "in style" before the 1980’s or so, bushes had no place in the classical art pantheon. And on a personal note, when I was in HS early college and thinking about how to have sex with guys, i agonized over whether to shave or not. I ended up not, until an extremely immature guy (whom i haven’t had contact with since 2016, but is unfortunately the love of my life so far) stopped going down on me to theatrically spit hairs for five whole minutes, yelling that I should shave. Anyway, that’s all I’ll say for now, I’ll save the rest for the poll 😂
as i'm typing on my work computer answering one of the written questions...my internal thoughts were "boy, i hope they (work) don't see what i'm writing" - but then if they do - it's the truth, so oh well :)
I did this monologue a few years ago! At CHURCH (UU, but still)! I was absolutely horrified when I saw that first line, but eventually I got into it. What a hoot to remember, though!
Answered this poll with pleasure. Despite all the negative messaging about the need to “do something” about having a body that’s not smooth like a dolphin, I somehow never thought about doing anything with my hair growing up. The hair grooming came much, much later. The critical comments from men about what we look like? 🤦🏻♀️ I was shocked when a guy I had just started dating expressed his expectations about pubic hair removal on women. The sexiest thing for me is when a man loves my body exactly as it is. So that was a huge turnoff. Thank you for the opportunity to share and connect on this topic in this wonderful community.
Love this! I will say that some of it was hard for me to answer because my answer changes—when I was still sleeping with cis men I worried about how they would feel about my hair (even if I didn’t let that impact how I styled it) but as someone who only has queer sex now, it’s a non-issue for me and my partners.
I would like to take it, but I I reached a point about 8 years ago where my body hair just stopped generating anymore. Whatever state it was in, it just stayed there.
So my answer to “do you shave / trim / etc” your body hair would be no, but I used to yes. I felt it VERY important at the time.
Is it ok to just explain this at the end — or maybe I shouldn’t take it?
ETA: I feel like this discussion, though I’m enjoying it and finding it’s made me think of some things I haven't thought about for a while, is for those with body hair or without it by choice.
This is not a bad thing. But I feel very old. Rolls eyes at self: 🙄
One more edit to add:
The quote from Eve Ensler/Vagina Monologues—I never saw it, read it, heard it. Are there points where characters/personas talk about older vaginas?
tell me why I was SO thrilled to fill out this poll…
I got VERY excited to answer that poll! And comment wheeee I have so many feelings about this!
I’m 45 and I think it has just gotten worse and worse for this (gestures vaguely around) - ‘image over EVERYTHING’ ie sensation, pleasure, intimacy, safety....
Oh consumerism and patriarchy.. Disguised as ‘no I LIKE this’ .. me too, when I have had a partner who wanted my hair a certain way.. I changed it.
I remember years ago finding the 60s copy of ‘the joy of sex’ in my parents bookshelf and marveling at the pics of pubic hair that it celebrated- on women! Celebrated!!!
I remember the first time I realized I am also supposed to hate my large labia. I didn’t know! Ohhh this voluntary snip and trim is for pleasure right?
With Love, large labia full bush ❤️
i’m glad you get to document what i call my thighburns for research
I’m excited to talk about it too! I read somewhere that there was once an art historian who married a woman and was disgusted on their wedding night because she had pubes that he had never seen in paintings, because artists chose not to depict it. So strange to me, even when it was "in style" before the 1980’s or so, bushes had no place in the classical art pantheon. And on a personal note, when I was in HS early college and thinking about how to have sex with guys, i agonized over whether to shave or not. I ended up not, until an extremely immature guy (whom i haven’t had contact with since 2016, but is unfortunately the love of my life so far) stopped going down on me to theatrically spit hairs for five whole minutes, yelling that I should shave. Anyway, that’s all I’ll say for now, I’ll save the rest for the poll 😂
Starting a FWD email chain amongst pals
as i'm typing on my work computer answering one of the written questions...my internal thoughts were "boy, i hope they (work) don't see what i'm writing" - but then if they do - it's the truth, so oh well :)
I did this monologue a few years ago! At CHURCH (UU, but still)! I was absolutely horrified when I saw that first line, but eventually I got into it. What a hoot to remember, though!
I took the poll 😎
Answered this poll with pleasure. Despite all the negative messaging about the need to “do something” about having a body that’s not smooth like a dolphin, I somehow never thought about doing anything with my hair growing up. The hair grooming came much, much later. The critical comments from men about what we look like? 🤦🏻♀️ I was shocked when a guy I had just started dating expressed his expectations about pubic hair removal on women. The sexiest thing for me is when a man loves my body exactly as it is. So that was a huge turnoff. Thank you for the opportunity to share and connect on this topic in this wonderful community.
Love this! I will say that some of it was hard for me to answer because my answer changes—when I was still sleeping with cis men I worried about how they would feel about my hair (even if I didn’t let that impact how I styled it) but as someone who only has queer sex now, it’s a non-issue for me and my partners.
The way I rushed to answer this poll. I love my sparse bush, fluffy legs and fuzzy pits.
Along with a student, I've been doing some academic research/thinking on these topics! Will look forward to your article.
I would like to take it, but I I reached a point about 8 years ago where my body hair just stopped generating anymore. Whatever state it was in, it just stayed there.
So my answer to “do you shave / trim / etc” your body hair would be no, but I used to yes. I felt it VERY important at the time.
Is it ok to just explain this at the end — or maybe I shouldn’t take it?
ETA: I feel like this discussion, though I’m enjoying it and finding it’s made me think of some things I haven't thought about for a while, is for those with body hair or without it by choice.
This is not a bad thing. But I feel very old. Rolls eyes at self: 🙄
One more edit to add:
The quote from Eve Ensler/Vagina Monologues—I never saw it, read it, heard it. Are there points where characters/personas talk about older vaginas?