To shave or not to shave (women's legs)

[steve-in-kville]

This is a spin-off of the current beard thread. Keep it light. Don't make it weirder than I already did

My quick search on the interwebz found this:

The norm to remove leg hair for women became very strong in the 1940s, more specifically, it moved from fad to custom in a matter of months in the early 1940s. A later survey, in 1964, indicated that 98% of American women aged 15–44 routinely shaved their legs.

Vote & discuss. I think we did polls like this before but its been a while.

[steve-in-kville]

ETA: Poll is open to everyone, Anabaptist or not. Would love to hear opinions on this from the guys and ladies.

[JimFoxvog]

I have the same opinion on this as beards. It's OK to shave, but I believe more God-honoring to look like the way God made us.

[Ken]

This is a spin-off of the current beard thread. Keep it light. Don't make it weirder than I already did

My quick search on the interwebz found this:

The norm to remove leg hair for women became very strong in the 1940s, more specifically, it moved from fad to custom in a matter of months in the early 1940s. A later survey, in 1964, indicated that 98% of American women aged 15–44 routinely shaved their legs.

Vote & discuss. I think we did polls like this before but its been a while.

Somehow my cultural memory is that there was a shortage of nylon for stockings during WW2 as it was used for things like parachutes and other war purposes and so women started to shave their legs as they were going bare-legged for basically the first time. That would match your early 1940s date. Prior to that most women would have been wearing thicker stockings and so no one would have noticed the leg hair.

And what is with the "consenting lady" language. Are some women getting shaved without their consent? Is that a problem in Menno-land?

[steve-in-kville]

This is a spin-off of the current beard thread. Keep it light. Don't make it weirder than I already did

My quick search on the interwebz found this:

The norm to remove leg hair for women became very strong in the 1940s, more specifically, it moved from fad to custom in a matter of months in the early 1940s. A later survey, in 1964, indicated that 98% of American women aged 15–44 routinely shaved their legs.

Vote & discuss. I think we did polls like this before but its been a while.

Somehow my cultural memory is that there was a shortage of nylon for stockings during WW2 as it was used for things like parachutes and other war purposes and so women started to shave their legs as they were going bare-legged for basically the first time. That would match your early 1940s date. Prior to that most women would have been wearing thicker stockings and so no one would have noticed the leg hair.

Interesting. Makes sense.

[Sudsy]

I have the same opinion on this as beards. It's OK to shave, but I believe more God-honoring to look like the way God made us.

This must be very 'God-honoring' -

Although the paint job may be over doing it.

Joking aside. Whatever we do we are to do as unto the Lord. God knows your heart.

[Bootstrap]

For married women, this should be between them and their husbands. For single women, this should be up to them. In general, I think men shouldn't broadcast too many opinions about women's bodies, women need to know that's not what we are focused on, that we treat them primarily as people and as brethren.

[steve-in-kville]

For married women, this should be between them and their husbands. For single women, this should be up to them. In general, I think men shouldn't broadcast too many opinions about women's bodies, women need to know that's not what we are focused on, that we treat them primarily as people and as brethren.

I agree. Very well put.

Can anyone who grew in such a setting explain why shaving legs is frowned upon in some circles? When my wife and her sisters were at home it seemed it was always a point of contention between mom and the girls.

[Sudsy]

For married women, this should be between them and their husbands. For single women, this should be up to them. In general, I think men shouldn't broadcast too many opinions about women's bodies, women need to know that's not what we are focused on, that we treat them primarily as people and as brethren.

I prefer to call both the men and the ladies as 'saints' and agree with our 'Mennonite Brethren' church being renamed to 'Meadow Brook Church'. I don't think the word 'brethren' is beneficial in our culture today. YMMV.

[Ken]

For married women, this should be between them and their husbands. For single women, this should be up to them. In general, I think men shouldn't broadcast too many opinions about women's bodies, women need to know that's not what we are focused on, that we treat them primarily as people and as brethren.

I agree. Very well put.

Can anyone who grew in such a setting explain why shaving legs is frowned upon in some circles? When my wife and her sisters were at home it seemed it was always a point of contention between mom and the girls.

Perhaps it was considered to vain in some circles…like wearing makeup? I don’t really know.

In any event, much of conservative culture is focused on maintaining separate dress and grooming norms for men and women so that there is no blending or confusion of the sexes. So I don’t personally understand why people would have an issue with it. Perhaps it is one of those old-fashioned rules from a bygone era when women always wore stockings and bare legs were considered scandalous or inappropriate? And shaving your legs was only something you would do if you planned to go bare legged?

Also, is there any difference here between shaving legs and shaving armpits which is also a common female grooming habit? Are they exactly the same thing or is there any difference in attitudes towards that?