I can see how shaving is seen by some people as a developmental milestone but the idea of the age of hair removal becoming younger and younger is rather troubling. Kids hardly have a chance to be kids anymore. Why do parents seem to support turning girls into mini-women? I mean, toddlers are wearing miniskirts and having their nails painted...And sometimes I do wish we lived in a culture that allowed for *natural* body hair but I suppose that's too much to ask.

Anyway, all that aside, Nair is disgusting and the chemicals are a little frightening. Maybe they should leave 10 year olds alone.

My baby sister wanted to start shaving her legs at ten. She has very dark, thick hair which is beautiful on her head but she was starting to feel self conscious about it on her legs and eyebrows. We talked to her about it at first (told her it was natural, that we all had body hair it was just that my mom and I had lighter hair than she did) but it really bothered her a lot. She started shaving her legs for the summer time when she was 11 and asked me to help her pluck the middle part of her eyebrow around then too, and I did. I don't shape the rest of her eyebrow, but I do clean up the middle so she doesn't get stuck with that hideous "unibrow" moniker.

I wish that I could have told her that no one would notice the hair if we left it, but I know from personal experience that it wasn't true. Boys in middle school teased me about the hair on my arms which is light brown and, frankly, really hard to notice unless you're staring. I don't love that she started shaving and plucking so early, but I think if she'd been teased it would've been worse.

I hear you, Genny. I had the same struggle your sis did (thanks, Italian genes!) and really also only started shaving so young because I was getting teased.

One of the most annoying double-standards. But I have been noticing a trend where men (younger men, really) are finding it more socially acceptable, and desirable, to shave certain nether region areas, and I think (in their minds at least) this is primarily to make them more acceptable to women. I suspect their overriding motivation is "to get more," but at least for the first time they seem to be showing some deference to what they think women want. Of course, most straight guys will retain the underarm and leg hair as a symbol of their maleness.

Right now, I only shave my underarms if I'm going to wear a sleeveless shirt to work, and even then I wear a bolero type thing over it (I don't think tank tops are particularly welcome in the professional arena but its fucking hot!) My legs I have stopped shaving, in part to repel would-be suitors, but also because I'm so sick of spending money I don't have on unnecessary toiletries.

I always freak out when I see four year olds wearing training heels--what the hell are parents thinking? It must be a pedophile's wildest dream the way baby girls are dressed in this country.

Excuse me while I retch.

Maybe it's a cultural thing, but my mom (african-american) never shaved her legs...the few times I did out of curiosity, I didn't like the way my pants clung to my legs...the hair on my legs is so light however, i've never been teased.

Oh geez, just checked the nair website.

"You stay smoother longer compared to shaving without UGLY razor bumps or cuts.
And that means that your skin is just what it SHOULD be...

PRETTY"

Woah. Talk about scary patriarchal ideological conditioning here: ugly is bad and you should be pretty. Hair on girls=ugly. My emphasis, but jebus.

I'm 23 and was at a party with younger people present the other night. There were two 20 year old guys there who said they only go near shaved pussy. When I pressed them, they said they'd shave in return, but I seriously doubt it. Then I showed them my hairy legs and told them I never get near guys who don't appreciate a proper bush.

Ugh, pornification of our culture just sucks ass.

My mom made me use Nair instead of shaving my legs for years. She knew I felt bad about being hairy but for some reason she didn't want me shaving.

"There were two 20 year old guys there who said they only go near shaved pussy."
Please. They probably don't get the chance to go near ANY pussy. In high school there were guys in my study hall who would say things like that, and they'd critique every girl in the room ("She's hot... but I'd only do that one if she had a paper bag over her head" etc). They pretty much made me feel awful every day until I realized they were all ugly, virginal, and in no position to make comment slike that.

After reading the comments on the Gawker link, do people ACTUALLY use Nair on their lady-bits? I used Veet (which is less burny for me tha Nair) behind my knees once and my skin practically melted off 5 days before I had to wear a knee length dress to my mother's wedding. I can't imagine letter that crap anywhere near my vaginal area for fear of having an accidental chemical labiaplasty.

I got sick of shaving, but Nair made my pores bleed. That stuff is awful!

Ooooh Nair on my vagina- no way! That stuff smells and burns and I like my vagina in one piece, thanks.

Genny- I had the same issue as your sis. Started shaving my legs at 10 years old because I was hairy (and still am). Also started doing my eyebrows in junior high to avoid the unibrow. I prefer no hair on my body to be honest, that is due to the fact that I have sensitive skin and hair actually irritates it more than waxing/shaving does. But that's my personal preference.

I don't agree with young girls acting like women either, but I think it depends on the reason. My reasons all had to do with just being uncomfortable and wanting to avoid being teased. Whereas I see girls doing things now simply to look "sexy" (as if that's appropriate at 10 yrs old!) It sickens me really...

Holy. Fucking. Shit. In a culture that is already sexualizing young girls, we're pushing them to have even LESS hair? What? So that a 10-year-old could look like she's 7, so pedophile Bob can be happy? Christ.

As for the comment from the two guys about pussy - I think they're the product of the porn culture. Aside from visual, there isn't a difference between a shaved and an unshaved vagina. Amazing how so guys can be so "discriminating" even when they're not getting laid.

Pussy is pussy. Get over it.

body hair can be a very sensitive issue for a young girl. i was invited to a pool party at the end of my 5th grade school year. the day before, however, my mom took me into the bathroom (my 2 younger sisters following close behind), presented me with an electric razor and helped me shave my armpits for the first time. while i'm sure i was aware of the hair, i don't recall feeling one way or the other about it. of course, neither my mom nor my sisters remember this incident at all now, but it is so clear in my memory i could tell you what side of the sink i was standing on and this was nearly 20 years ago.

the hair was quite thick and shaving it was painful, both physically and emotionally. i know my mom only meant to keep me from being teased at the party, but i was traumatized. i still have issues with armpit hair (regardless of whether it's on a woman or a man) and have never gone more than a week in my life without shaving mine.

as for nair, yeah, it smells nasty. you couldn't have got it near me when i was 10 or 15 years old. my mom used to use it to remove a couple whiskers from her chin and my sisters and i would tell her to stay away from us when she had it on because of how gross it smelled. when i choose to go bare down below, i use veet sensitive. although, honestly, i find that plain ol' shaving often yields better results.

I got into a little arguement with some of my guy friends the other day. They were talking about how they wouldn't let their girlfriends go more than a week and a half without shaving. They thought that it would be SO GROSS if they went longer. My response was "why don't you consider shaving the dead animals under your arms before you get onto your girls for being a little prickly."

Ugh, I hate shaving. Luckily, the hair on my legs is really thin and not really visible at all, so nobody notices that I don't shave anymore. My absolute least favorites, though, are my armpits and labia. I have really small arms and shoulders, which means that no razor is really small enough to get under there without causing a major massacre and lots of screaming and wailing from me.

I also second the two guys at the party never having been near an undressed woman before, because when I shaved my labia, not only did it hurt like hell, it also smelled worse -- awful, actually, and this is coming from someone who's never had any type of infection in that area at all. It also itched like hell growing back. Those experiences have convinced me that shaving is disgusting, and I will never for the life of me understand why men want mutilated women who constantly scratch their crotches and smell bad, which is exactly what shaving does. Plus, as somebody else noted, it costs money that I just don't bloody have, money that I'm not willing to spend on being smelly and in constant pain.

On an interesting side note, I once had a straight male roommate from Germany who shaved his legs and armpits, and he said that it's not uncommon for German men to shave. Huh.

MsPitt, you're dead on about the guys feeling the need to remove body hair thing, but I don't necessarily think it's fair to say that men doing it to "get more" is different from the reasons women shave. Some women (okay, probably most) shave because they feel like they have to, but I personally do it precisely because I want to "get more." If I could get laid while sporting "unsightly" body hair and the only consequence of not shaving was getting teased, no amount of harassment could convince me to shave. But that's just me.

But yes, back to men shaving - I recently found out my bf shaves his balls. (Lol, sorry if that's tmi - but the personal is political, right?) Before that it had never really occurred to me that they're *supposed* to have hair on them - I had just assumed they were naturally that way. When I realized this I felt SO stupid because a lot of younger guys (I mean really young) assume women are naturally hairless in certain areas until they learn otherwise. It was like patriarchy backwards! Of course, the difference is that men don't *have* to shave anywhere - they can sport a beard or any other amount of body hair they want and it's still socially acceptable, whereas we basically *have* to remove at minimum the hair on our legs, underarms, and upper lips if it's too hairy. And eyebrows. It's ridiculous that this is socially mandated rather than an option in the real sense of the word, but there you go.

In fact, I'd say that men choosing to remove hair now actually weakens our cause in this area - now that men can claim it as a choice, it'll be harder for women to complain about it. Men just don't get that most women literally don't feel like they have a choice in the matter - we can't skip a few months of shaving when we're not in the mood to be attractive the way they could skip a few back waxes between girlfriends. I'm guessing employers would have a problem with female employees who don't shave if their legs or underarms showed - we basically have to look attractive even when we don't particularly feel the need to. GRRRRRRRRRRRR.

Taina, I think I'm a complete 180 from you in terms of why young girls should dress like "women." You said you did it to avoid being teased but can't stand girls trying to be "sexy," but I think the other way around - a girl who is doing something to avoid getting teased basically has no choice in the matter and is allowing the harassment of others to determine how she behaves. Acting sexy, on the other hand, can be a very valid choice. I know in our society sexiness is sort of imposed on girls at a very early age now, but acting in a sexual manner can also be extremely rebellious. I personally love feeling sexy and knowing men are attracted to me. The main problem today is that girls are allowed to be *sexy* but not *sexual* - they can look pretty and pleasing to men, but they can't act on their own desires. They're supposed to be objects. So I do see your point. My solution would be to break the norm by either refusing to be or act sexy just because it's a cultural norm, or look sexy and then actually act on it - or, perhaps the most rebellious of all, look completely unsexy according to our current societal standards and then go get yourself laid! Lol, that would send the patriarchy into a downward spiral - autonomous women who have sex but refuse to cater to men's desires! I'm smiling just thinking about it...

I love this part:
"It's not that you're obsessed or anything but maybe you've noticed that the hair on your legs (and other parts of your body) is just a little bit thicker and darker than before. Chill. You're growing up...it's all good."

Its normal...now get rid of it!

Raginfem- I agree with some of your points but IMO, a ten yr old girl who shaves to be sexy is a sickening thing. I am sorry, but no 10 yr old girl should even be contemplating sexiness. I don't even think a 13 year old should be contemplating it (but of course, that's not the society we live in) She should be acting like a little girl (school, playing sports, dancing, whatever floats her boat). Your comment "The main problem today is that girls are allowed to be *sexy* but not *sexual* - they can look pretty and pleasing to men, but they can't act on their own desires." troubles me- of course little girls aren't allowed to be sexual- they're little girls (but then again I have a big issue with them being sexy in the first place - let alone acting on it).

I am sorry, I just think that shaving is a bit of a rite of passage. Many of us have commented on our "first time"- whether it was by choice, because our parents wanted us to, or because we just wanted to fit in. Granted, fitting in and not being teased is still a pathetic reason, but it's a hell of a better reason than wanting to be eye candy when you probably haven't even grown that much body hair to begin with.

Yeesh. I don't think Nair is a safe product to market to kids. As other posters affirm, it can really burn your skin if used incorrectly. Also, Nair should not be used in, erm, private areas, for the same reason- those chemicals are REALLY strong. I'm not saying razorblades are any safer on the whole, but there's guards and things built in to make them safer to use. What if some kid tries to use this on her eyebrows, and gets all those strong chemicals in her eyes?

I had to use Nair on my legs when I was healing from a skin problem, and I also ended up burning myself behind my knees, on that sensitive skin. I can only imagine what this would do to a child's skin. (Let's face it, an 11 year old is, generally speaking, still a child, not a "tween" as the advertisers call her.)

raginfem correctly noted: "I'm guessing employers would have a problem with female employees who don't shave if their legs or underarms showed." I can just imagine the vile things the menfolk would say amongst themselves around the watercooler! Any discrimination lawyers otu there? I would suspect that employers would not be permitted to say anything directly to women unless they would say it to men, as well. Don't some companies insist men have to be clean-shaven (that seems unfair, too, unless it's related to the safety or something).

As for shaving balls, I'd suggest men keep at least some hair on them. Guys, we love you but let's be honest, they look peculiar enough without making yourself look like a farm animal. For men, shaving "down there" should be as a courtesy to the women who perform one particular sexual act on them. That doesn't really involve the testicles.

raginfem: "perhaps the most rebellious of all, look completely unsexy according to our current societal standards and then go get yourself laid! Lol, that would send the patriarchy into a downward spiral - autonomous women who have sex but refuse to cater to men's desires! I'm smiling just thinking about it..."

Heh. It is pretty fun. I love getting laid and I love not shaving my legs or underarms. I also have very dark, very thick hair so people do notice. Guys at first may think it's unattractive, but I also love not shaving because I think it makes them realize that it really doesn't matter.

Acceptance through exposure.

The ad skewering younger is sad and I remember worrying about leg hair around 11/12. I feared being teased, but hated shaving at least equally so I just always wore pants. Thankfully, the former sentiment went away years later as I noticed fellow women who didn't shave and realized it was possible.

I can understand preteen girls starting to shave but using nair or waxing is a bit reaching.

"For men, shaving "down there" should be as a courtesy to the women who perform one particular sexual act on them. That doesn't really involve the testicles." - MsPitt

Says you.

I made the mistake of putting nair on my genitals once.

I wanted to trim the hair into a little heart shape and found that with razors I just ended up with an uneven and not-even-slightly-heart-shaped mess.

So I carefully took a felt tip and a stencil (yes, I am a sad and obsessed-with-accuracy little geek) and then applied the nair.

I was fine until I decided to clear a little of the hair from hat crease between my thighs and outer labia.

Ouch is, sadly, an understatement. And I'd used the hypersensitive stuff, too...

Oh, Nair is nasty! I tried it once on the space between my eyebrows and had a skin break-out for a week! I can't imagine exposing a child's tender skin to such chemicals.

I, too, am disturbed by the expectation of some that a woman should shave her pubic region to be acceptable to a man. When the nude photos of Vanessa Anne Hudgens hit the Internet, I read entirely too many comments regarding her unshaved state. Do these commenters not realize that is what a woman looks like post-puberty? GMAB!

"Woah. Talk about scary patriarchal ideological conditioning here: ugly is bad and you should be pretty. Hair on girls=ugly. My emphasis, but jebus."

It's ethnocentric too.

"I don't love that she started shaving and plucking so early, but I think if she'd been teased it would've been worse."

Trust me, it could have been much worse. Age 10 is when other kids started bullying me for being a "bearded lady." They sure didn't care about giving me more time to be a kid, giving me a chance to learn and practice social skills, etc. Then when I went to college, it was kinda hard to catch up (at 18 and 19 I was still trying to learn social skills that nearly all my peers learned when they were 11 or 12).

"raginfem correctly noted: 'I'm guessing employers would have a problem with female employees who don't shave if their legs or underarms showed.' I can just imagine the vile things the menfolk would say amongst themselves around the watercooler!"

Not to mention the things the employers would think to themselves when deciding who to lay off...

"Oh, Nair is nasty! I tried it once on the space between my eyebrows and had a skin break-out for a week!"

I once left on my legs twice as long as recommended and still had stubble when I washed it off.

"For men, shaving "down there" should be as a courtesy to the women who perform one particular sexual act on them. That doesn't really involve the testicles."

I rarely agree with no name, but usually unless a guy tells me he doesn't want me to pay attention to his testicles, I will. And that is kind of unpleasant when they're super-hairy.

I tried to shave my nether-regions twice, and both times I got horrible razor bumps, so I haven't tried that since. Does no one else get razor bumps down there?

Rock Star: I get all kinds of itchy stubble if I shave the lady-bits, so I don't. If I'm feeling particularly daring or if I've been drinking heavily, I'll wax (or attempt it). No way in hell I'd toss a chemical hair remover down there, though. That's just asking for either a bladder infection, a yeast infection, or a melted off clitoris.

And for those of us to did the "massive chemical burn behind the knees" thing, I've found that smearing Neosporin on the affected area seriously relieves the pain and helps the burn heal.

Just a random comment about shaving in the workplace...in the Marine Corps women are required to shave if/when the leg hair is "unsightly". Who decides what "unsightly" means I have no idea. I've heard of hairy women being told to shave the extra hair on their face too but there's no regulation on that and it was a friend of a friend story.

Just a random comment about shaving in the workplace...in the Marine Corps women are required to shave if/when the leg hair is "unsightly". Who decides what "unsightly" means I have no idea. I've heard of hairy women being told to shave the extra hair on their face too but there's no regulation on that and it was a friend of a friend story.

"Just a random comment about shaving in the workplace...in the Marine Corps women are required to shave if/when the leg hair is 'unsightly'. Who decides what 'unsightly' means I have no idea. I've heard of hairy women being told to shave the extra hair on their face too but there's no regulation on that and it was a friend of a friend story."

Speaking of soldiers and sailors being ordered to have hairless faces, that reminds me of a link I found when looking for info on hair removal:

http://forums.obgyn.net/ob-gyn-l/OBGYNL.0401/0084.html

"Actually, I think that is called pseudofolliculitis barbie (or somehting like that). It is, and almost always has been a big deal in the military (except for the Navy, where beards were allowed until recently).

"If blacks shaved, but not frequently enough, the hairs would grow out of the face and curve back down and puncture the skin, causing bumpy skin lesions. The military (at least the Air Force) had dermatologists who spent a great deal of time working with black patients with this problem. The solution was to use a needle to pluck the look of facial hair so that the end would no longer be burrowed into the facial skin. They would then get a temporary shaving exemption while the facial skin healed and the facial hair grew longer and no longer penetrated the skin. They would then attend special classes to learn shaving techniques so that they could have a 'clean shaven military appearance'. Incredible amounts of money and dermatologist time, medical technician time, etc., were spent on this 'problem'.

"I know that this does not have a lot to do with pudenda, but it is an interesting story and it explains why many blacks prefer to have beards.

"- - - -

"At 04:27 PM 1/7/2004 -0600, you wrote:
>The current trend towards hairless pudenda has prompted more patient
>visits with the complaints of in-grown hairs, 'folliculitis', and risin's
>( Southern for boils, carbuncles,furuncles).
>
>Do any of you cybergyns have any particular approach to this affliction?"

Nair is awful. It burns my skin, but does nothing to the hair. I choose shaving and plucking.

I don't feel that I *have* to shave and pluck, or that my job would be in jeopardy if I didn't. I'm just not real crazy about the thick black Italian pelt that grows if I don't remove it.

Mr. Gothboy shaves his face and trims his mustache, so I figure it's fair and square in our house.

mina's comment would explain why I get razor bumps when I shave down there...
I feel like I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't when it comes to removing pubic hair. Goddamit, why do humans even have it in the first place??

As a response to RockStar's question "I feel like I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't when it comes to removing pubic hair. Goddamit, why do humans even have it in the first place??", I want to note that: humans have it to ward off infection, and protect the genital region. it works like nosehairs, eyelashes, and earhairs, in a way. There are probably other reasons for pubic hair, these are just the ones I wanted to note, since I haven't read it mentioned before.

My mother told me I shouldn't shave or use Nair/Veet. So I waxed: legs, thighs and bikini line. Hot wax starting at age 14, three times every summer. It hurt like hell.
Now at forty I keep my hair, trimming only the big bushes on the bikini line and armpits. I occasionally shave my legs since the hair grows very uneven and ugly, after so many years of waxing.
My colleagues never complained, but even if they did... that's what tenure is for.

[Sorry, pressed post too early]
My daughter is 7 and has already luxuriant hair growth on her legs. I'll help her shave if she gets teased in puberty, but I hope the good example will help.

@lilaeden: I think painting the nails is different. It is (or can be) really fun. My sons like it, too.

"My daughter is 7 and has already luxuriant hair growth on her legs. I'll help her shave if she gets teased in puberty, but I hope the good example will help."

Hopefully her classmates won't be as mean as too many of mine were. Even after I removed my beard and moustache, they still remembered that I could grow those in the first place...

Apart from all the other problems with Nair, am I the only one who thinks it smells like vomit?

Elise, I think it smells like burnt hair (even before you put it on).

In response to the comment about "training heels", and this Nair phenomenon as well, I think it's natural for kids to want to emulate adults. That's how they learn to be adults. So while it may be easy to pick on Nair, I think (and I can't imagine anyone here would disagree so I feel kind of dumb for even saying this) the greater problem is what girls end up seeing as the details of "growing up" thanks to our sexist culture.

Elise, in response to you I think it kind of smells like some kind of metal...like tin or copper. When I do use it, I feel like I spent time rubbing pennies all over my vulva. And the smell WILL NOT go away. Like, for several days. No matter how many times and how vigorously I shower.

I don't know what it says about me that this is probably the most I've had to say on any posts.

For some reason, my parents get really upset when I use tweezers to remove facial hair... razors just don't give me the smooth feel that I want.

---

Apparently I must be unusual, but I think I find women with the "natural" look sexier; the hairless genitals in most pornographic videos do not appeal to me much as those with at least some pubic hair left. I also suspect this extends to female arms and legs, too...

No, Doug, you are not unusual. I don't shave anything -I hate hairless skin- and I've found a lot social harassment about it, mainly from women, family, workplace.

But about dating, I honestly can't remember any date was bothered about it, most of them didn't seem to notice or care if I was shaved or not.

I consider having to shave in order to be attractive is a myth, my experience being the contrary.

I don't understand why so many people get up in arms about some women choosing to shave their pubic hair. I do about once a month, when I have free time and a new razor. I like it better- I am more sensitive when I get oral sex and even when I am just wearing non-cotton underwear. My boyfriend does too, more often than I do. His pubic hairs are dry and he refuses to use conditioner on them, so he shaves, and I greatly prefer it for giving him oral sex- ever get a hair stuck in your throat? I hate that.

And I really hate everyone commenting on any razor-related aricle talking about how young it makes their vagina look, and blah blah pedophiles must like that. Well, I can have a shaved vagina and a fairly traditionally feminine body, so I really doubt sexual partners really think I am a preteen.

Speaking of preteens, in a more on- topic topic, I remember shaving my armpits before a dance in sixth grade, and started shaving my legs during the next summer. I have super dark, obvious, awful hair, and I was glad to be rid of it. I will say that shaving the armpit has always made sense to me as a way to make deoderant stay on- and I really wonder why men don't. These days, I rarely shave my legs, because I rarely wear anything above the knee.

I think these girls getting these commercials will strike a balence when they get older.

I agree with your comment raginfem . We allow young girls to be sexy but not sexual. We (mainly the media) tell them to be sexy you have to wear skimpy clothing and get attention from boys. We don't tell them being sexy involves being yourself and having confidence. When I say we don't allow them to be sexual we tell them that they should not have sexual feelings and should definately not express those sexual feelings (in a healthy way such as talking about their feelings or even masturabation). It's A OK for boys to have sexual feelings their boys after all. Boys love sex they need sex, but not girls, no way Jose. Did you know that more than 75% of teen girls don't masturbate that statistic is the exact opposite for boys, hmmmm I wonder why? Then again this is America and when it comes to sex and children we would rather keep the two isolated from each other as if human beings are not all born sexual animals.

I think I need to move to Europe.

I agree with your comment raginfem . We allow young girls to be sexy but not sexual. We (mainly the media) tell them to be sexy you have to wear skimpy clothing and get attention from boys. We don't tell them being sexy involves being yourself and having confidence. When I say we don't allow them to be sexual we tell them that they should not have sexual feelings and should definately not express those sexual feelings (in a healthy way such as talking about their feelings or even masturabation). It's A OK for boys to have sexual feelings their boys after all. Boys love sex they need sex, but not girls, no way Jose. Did you know that more than 75% of teen girls don't masturbate that statistic is the exact opposite for boys, hmmmm I wonder why? Then again this is America and when it comes to sex and children we would rather keep the two isolated from each other as if human beings are not all born sexual animals.

I think I need to move to Europe.

I agree with your comment raginfem . We allow young girls to be sexy but not sexual. We (mainly the media) tell them to be sexy you have to wear skimpy clothing and get attention from boys. We don't tell them being sexy involves being yourself and having confidence. When I say we don't allow them to be sexual we tell them that they should not have sexual feelings and should definitely not express those sexual feelings (in a healthy way such as talking about their feelings or even masturbation). It's A OK for boys to have sexual feelings their boys after all. Boys love sex they need sex, but not girls, no way Jose. Did you know that more than 75% of teen girls don't masturbate that statistic is the exact opposite for boys, hmmmm I wonder why? Then again this is America and when it comes to sex and children we would rather keep the two isolated from each other as if human beings are not all born sexual animals.

I think I need to move to Europe

Anything that feels like getting acid burns on your legs is a bad product *anyway* -- if the kid is that desperate to get rid of hair, give her a razor.

(Actually that has its own dangers, when I started shaving my legs around 14 I had scrapes and cut like crazy -- probably looked worse than hairy legs, but it's tough to have a logical perspective when you're a teenager.)

"And I really hate everyone commenting on any razor-related aricle talking about how young it makes their vagina look, and blah blah pedophiles must like that. Well, I can have a shaved vagina and a fairly traditionally feminine body, so I really doubt sexual partners really think I am a preteen."

Removal of pubic hair nullifies a secondary sexual characteristic, as does removal of underarm hair, and to some extent, facial hair. Another female secondary sexual characteristic, hip padding, is also minimized when a woman's body conforms (through natural or unnatural means) to the patriarchal standard of extreme thinness. Smooth skin, another beauty mandate, is also characteristic of pre-pubescent youth.

Add to this the patriarchal madate that females be subservient and act "helpless" in order to affirm the hypermasculinity of the males around her. Consider t the longstanding, but recently accelerated, trend towards sexualized dress for young girls. Consider the HUGE section of the het-male-directed porn industry that advertises "Barely Legal" etc. And our very language diminishes the adult status of woman ("babe," "girlfriend," etc.)

The perception among many feminists that a shaved pubic region (you can't shave your vagina!!) is part and parcel of the patriarchy's sexualization of children, especially female children, is not formed in a vacuum. I'm not trying to say that you "shouldn't" shave, jenlovesponies - I'm only trying to point out that the act has these connotations for a reason.