I usually try to stick to PG topics around here, and try to include a picture in every post. Well, I'm about to break both of those rules. Actually, I had plans to write about beavers this week... but this (coincidentally?) came up instead. ScienceBlogs has gone a-buzz over bikini waxing, since Tara wrote about a young woman who suffered painful complications and infections after a "Brazilian" wax. Her post and the article she cites are not for the squeamish, so beware before you click the link, or continue below.
To make a long story short, this young lady had a bikini wax, and later experienced painful swelling. She didn't seek treatment for a few weeks, by which point the infection had gotten so bad that ER doctors had trouble examining her. They discovered she was suffering from a streptococcus infection, exacerbated by untreated type-1 diabetes and herpes simplex virus type 1. Ick. (You can get all the details from the article.)
That wasn't the worst of it, however. Within six months, the young woman tried to remove her public hair once again, by shaving. Apparently, she had some trouble, and the infections returned. Before she was released from the hospital a second time, she made it clear that she would continue trying to remove the hair.
This brings up the question: Why? Why would a women feel obligated to groom themselves in such a manner, even with the risk of deadly infection? Between the comments at Aetiology and Pharyngula, it is clear that there are multiple reasons. Some suggestions, like PZ Myers' hint that some folks have pedophilic tendencies, have been a little more tongue-and-cheek than others. Some have admitted they simply like the feeling, while others say it enhances the likelihood of receiving oral sex from their partner. Many people, including Kevin Beck, have suggested that it is a generational trend, not only possibly repeating throughout history, but one currently experiencing a surge in popularity among the under-40 crowd. It would probably be impossible to pinpoint a single reason why it is done.
Whatever the reason, it seems clear to me that we have some rather strong social pressures in our culture for women to remove their pubic hair. I've always been bothered by it, even more so after watching the debate that has arisen around this poor woman's case. I've been told many times, by both men and women, that I should shave it. Having a slight metal allergy, I'd rather not. (Not to mention, it is a time-consuming, messy practice, which is inevitably followed by pain and itching.) Despite that, there is this nagging, irrational voice, securely installed in my head after years of cultural impact, telling me that it is wrong to have pubic hair.
I've been haunted by incident that happened when I was about 13, as I was swimming at Whiskeytown Lake in Northern California. I was out in the middle of the lake, with others around my age, preparing to dive off a floating dock, when this boy came up and asked me if I shaved my legs. I told him I had. He then pointed to my crotch, and said "well, you missed a spot." I was mortified. Someone who overheard it called the guy a pig and shoved him the water, but for me, the damage was done. I was supposed to shave THERE?!?! No one told me that!
Well, they eventually would tell me that--friends, lovers--just about anyone I'd ask said, "yeah, you have to shave it." And so I did, loathing the practice, suffering ingrown hairs, shaving nicks, and rashes from the allergy. Some of my girlfriends suffered the same complications, and then claimed it was "totally worth it." Personally, I thought it was painful and rather gross. How could something that causes painful rashes be attractive or pleasant? Maybe it looks nice on nude models, but they get to have their blemishes airbrushed away. So we get the impression that it is possible to have a healthy-looking, hairless mons. Maybe it is. I've just yet to see a real one.
Eventually, I got over the social pressures, and gave up shaving for the most part. Still, thanks to that jerk on the dock, I pull out the razor and suffer before I go swimming. I hate doing it.... but I do. I can understand, then, I suppose, why the woman in Australia was so "keen" on doing it again. It is easier to bear the pain than it is to fight your culture.
In the comments that have sprouted up around this issue, it seems clear that many people would like to encourage this cultural practice. Personally, I hope the pressure goes away, eventually.... but every time we tell someone else that "yeah, you're supposed to shave that" we perpetuate the trend, and encourage more women (or men, in some cases) to suffer needlessly for vanity. If you like shaving it, that's cool. Just don't tell me to do it, too. And please, for the love of health, don't tell impressionable young girls that they should do it. Remember that stubborn woman in Australia, instead.
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I commented at PZ's post asking if anyone was familiar with the relationship between this practice and the almost unversal practice among porn actors (both male and female as far as I know). Since access to porn is so easy today, more and more men see women in this stuff and think that's the way women are supposed to look - including breasts that look and act like semi-solidified gelatin pads. Perhaps the advent of high definition in pornography will help men realize that women do not actuallly look like that.
You might have a point there... but I don't think that is necessarily where women are getting the peer pressure from. I think women, in general, are more affected by each other (i.e., close friends), or at least women that they identify with (like in fashion or home/garden magazines.) I could be wrong, but I think most women who watch porn look at it as pure fantasy, and wouldn't really want to be like the actress on the screen.
Men, on the other hand, *do* generally identify with the actor on the screen, and think that's how they are supposed to look. It might change the impressions about the presence of hair, but I'm not sure HD porn will help dispel those complexes with penis size.
I was thinking more along the lines that men wanted their own female companions to look like what they see in porn because they think that's what women are supposed to look like. I don't really know how this ends up being translated into peer pressure. I do know that I tell my wife that I don't care how or whether she does her hair or puts on makeup, but she believes she has to do it. She says women do it for men, but I don't agree. I tell her that I think she does it because of pressure from other women to look a certain way. I am not sure (there is a lot I'm not sure about) how that kind of pressure extends to shaving parts that are not ordinarily visible, but maybe women talk more about that kind of thing among themselves than men do.
The practice goes back as far as human history. It does not seem to be a "new" thing, or "inspired by porn." A quick search (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=history+of+depilation&btn…)
yields a good list of articles. Decide the merits for yourselves, people.
According to this (http://www.wnn.nu/UK/History/history_of_depilation.html) article, it dates back to the ancient egyptians, as well as the greeks (who used resin and pitch for waxing).
Personally - I'm satisfied not to take any stand on the issue, but simply say "to each his or her own." If you like it, do it. If you don't, don't. Either way, please don't tell the other side what they should or shouldn't do.
(In terms of human sexual practices, there's a very long list of activities to choose from. What some people find enjoyable, others might find disgusting.)
In other words, let's not put our collective noses into other people's crotches unless invited.
Mark, I can't speak for your wife, but the conversation has come up among my friends before. I might have brought it up, though.
Paul, well said. I agree with you; let people be as disgusting as they please, as long as they don't force it on someone else. I do at least hope they will consider their own health and safety while they do, though.
Paul, you will find occasional references to the practice throughout history, I'm sure, but in terms of modern practices, the notion of women shaving their pubic hair in the US was almost unheard-of until fairly recently. I know my generation (40s and up) don't, and we find the idea, frankly, disgusting, whether you approve of that opinion or not.
So in other words, when you are ready to start shaving your own crotch, then you can tell us not to offer an opinion on how we feel about the idea of shaving ours.
Allow me to venture to say that, as a male, I shave my crotch regularly. My primary motivation is the fact that most of my sexual partners have been far more inclined to perform oral sex on shaven genitalia than otherwise. And personally, when I'm on the giving end, I'm not exactly fond of the bush myself. I think it's a sexual selection thing.
It is a requirement for Muslims, male & female, to shave their pubic area and under their arms. In a hot country this reduces smells. The incidence of pubic lice also reduces.
Even shaving under the arms can have bad effects; ingrowing hairs and so nasty abscesses.
Why not just use Nair or Immac? Not a nice smell but safer I would guess.
Each to their own, but I prefer things natural and this includes the places hair grows.
People might have been shaving their privates in ancient Greece and Egypt, but were they doing it in 1950? How about 1850? Or 1750? I strongly suspect it was extremely rare if it happened at all. That means you need to trace the source of the current practice to something other than it "goes back as far as human history." There is a reason that the current practice has become more common, and I suspect, as I have mentioned, that it has to do with pornography and the gradual spread of that concept of female attractiveness to the general population. And I believe that even the practice in porn is relatively recent. While I have said that certain female cosmetic practices might have more to do with peer pressure than with mens' desires, in this case I think the original impetus came from mens' desire to see their partners looking like the women in porn.
But who cares, other than in an academic way? Assuming no one gets hurt.
Karmen...
Isn't it amazing how a topic about something "sexual" brings commentors out of the woodwork.
Another blog here (Good Math, Bad Math) has a respondent who said Freud's theories were dead.
I don't think so.
RR
Is it my age, or the culture I grew up, but I like hair. That is the only kind of Bush I'd vote for ;-)
Rich, yes, I'd noticed that this post was drawing a little extra attention. To think I almost didn't even write it, too, thinking it might be too personal.
Well, assuming anyone who doesn't want to see me go over-the-line stopped reading long ago, I'll add this comment:
Having performed oral sex on both male and female partners, both bearing pubic hair and not, I can attest to the fact that hair (even long) does NOT get in the way when done properly. As I said above, most hair-removal processes leave the pubic area looking somewhat abused, which I don't really find enticing at all.
So, I must agree with coturnix, it is the best sort of bush!
I'm very much more turned on by hair. Naked pubes look pre-pubescent to me, ergo infertile. Similarly, I find the twiggish waifs the media foist as ideal women to be pre-pubescent looking. I prefer soft curves with hair where it was meant to be. (Yes, even under the arms). When will the pendulum of fashion swing back toward my preferences?
Glad we agree on this. One day, over a beer, we'll have a long chat about this topic ;-)
Geez, late to the party as usual.
Personally, I'm a "mostly removed" type for several reasons. Peer and societal pressure may have certainly been part of the reason I started in the first place, I admit.
But secondly, there's the courtesy issue. I don't enjoy picking pubic hair from between my teeth and I suspect my lovers don't either.
Thirdly, I like the way it feels against my clothes, against the water, and in the breeze.
Fourthly, I like the way it makes me feel. I just feel sexier when I'm neat.
But I certainly agree that everyone has a right to their preference, and as long as no one is being forced and no one is being hurt, eh so what?
Of course, I'm in the younger set, YMMV, and it's just my tuppence worth.
Kisses
OH, and P.S.
The woman who had severe medical issues, then went and did it again anyway is an idiot.
Again, just my $.02
Kisses again.
"JanieBelle":
None of these "reasons" is true. You're fictional!
I was under the impression that fictional people got more than anyone else.
Although, I am waiting for Snopes to debunk this pubes-caught-in-teeth myth. If you folks are telling the truth, there is something seriously wrong with your technique. ("Eating" is just an expression, you know!)
On a hygiene level, not having pubes causes women to wee all over themselves (the pubes act as a kind of penis to direct the urine away). How is it "better" to do this???
And, having had sex with a man with shaved pubes, it was itchy and irritating. Again, not an improvement!
CCP,
Hey, just 'cuz I'm stuck in somebody else's head, doesn't make any of those things less true, silly.
-- Just slightly modified for your frame of reference, which as I understand things is completely subjective.
:P
Karmen,
Perhaps we just have a technique about which you are unaware. (Send $49.95 and I'll tell you all about it.) I don't get any complaints.
:)
Kisses
Janie,
But secondly, there's the courtesy issue. I don't enjoy picking pubic hair from between my teeth and I suspect my lovers don't either.
Sounds like you're the one with the complaints! :P Thanks for the offer, but I'll stick with my own methods, resulting in pleasure, not hair in teeth. :)
Ms. 45, ew! You're right, I'd forgotten about that particular hygienic aspect. (Thankfully!) I hope your shaved male friend wasn't looking for compliments.