Habit shift #1 - Stop shaving
- practical actions that can be taken to fight internalized misogyny
Why : Shaving is a harmful practice pushed on women by men and patriarchal societies in order to control and sexualize women’s bodies. Shaving can be directly harmful to a woman’s body : it can cause cuts, ingrown hairs and skin irritation. Moreover, it promotes self-hatred, it distances women from their natural body state, it create a culture of self-policing among women, who might even turn against each other in order to appease the established patriarchy. It also reinforce the idea that all women should stay young by turning women into hairless beings, which are reminiscent of prepubescent girls. Women are thus pushed into a version of womanhood that should be hairless, odorless, take up no space, be voiceless dolls.
How : Take the bold step to stop shaving. Going cold turkey will mean some itchiness down the road. Consider paying for a last wax by a professional or using an electric depilator on the concerned area. This might alleviate some of the itchiness and reduce ingrown hairs, as wax and electric depilators often get rid of the whole hair. When a new hair grows, it’s a soft “baby” hair, instead of the cut harsh tip of a shaved hair. Your leg skin might get dry; vegetable oil or hand cream help. Quit deodorant for a few days to spare your armpits. Avoid scratching the places that itch. After a few days to weeks, tackle the ingrown hairs. They’ll get sparser with time.
New habits to grow : Bask in the glory of your hairy pits, pubes, arms and legs. Enjoy the wind tickling your legs. Marvel at the fact that tiny insect struggle to reach you skin, deterred by your hairs. Realize that having hairs is natural. Inspire women around you. Question the patriarchy. Just be.
