Why I Have a Problem With the Current Pro-Body Hair Movement

Exclusive and largely whitewashed, the current female pro-body hair movement fails to recognize women who are not classically feminine. 

The female pro-body hair movement is gaining traction. Large scale magazines, like Nylon, are designating full page spreads to articles and pictures focusing on women’s armpit hair. Photos of Miley Cyrus sporting grown out armpit hair are circulating among online gossip blogs. The New York Times is reporting on women who choose to dye their armpit hair, hailing it is a feminist statement.

The first time I stumbled across a photo of a female showcasing her unshaven armpits I was proud. I 100% believe female body hair is natural and should be presented as such. Also, I’m super lazy and can’t stand constantly shaving my pits. The second, third, and fourth time, I was still all for it (I still am).

The fifth time I spotted one of these photos, I realized that armpit hair has become the defining issue of the pro-body hair movement. Grown out and dyed armpit hair has become a trend, one that women who do not have face, chest, neck, or arm hair, can embrace. Armpit hair is the new riot grrrl chic. It’s the new artsy girl thing.

By focusing on armpit hair, hair grown in a hide-able part of the body, the media (and the movement) is shifting the conversation away from women with hair on their faces, necks, arms, backs, and chests. The body hair movement is providing no solace for the women who it was created for; hairy women.

The movement is not all inclusive. The only pictures I’ve seen of women with armpit hair have featured feminine white women with “cute” faces and slim bodies.

Women with facial hair are still dehumanized (“bearded lady”) and misgendered as a form of verbal abuse. Women with hairy arms still shave their arms out of fear of being referred to as a “gorilla.” Women who dare let their hair grow out in other places besides their armpits are met with hatred, militant beauty policing, and disgust.

The pro-body hair movement has become a one issue movement focused on women who can easily access beauty standards and the privilege provided to them due to their stereotypical femininity.

Armpit hair can be hidden. All women and men grow such. Although important, the normalization of cute women’s armpit hair cannot be where this movement stops and claims victory. The movement must carry on, fighting for the acceptance of all women’s bodies; for women with peach fuzz, facial hair,arm hair, back hair, chest hair, happy trails, leg hair, etc.

Call me when the pro-body hair movement is inclusive and starts to normalize women with facial and body hair. Until then, I don’t want to see another picture of an artsy white girl from Brooklyn with dyed armpit hair.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/16/fashion/women-who-dye-their-armpit-hair.html?_r=0