ext_166916 ([identity profile] nonseqmenagerie.livejournal.com) wrote in [personal profile] merchimerch 2008-07-01 03:08 am (UTC)

I agree with most of your points, but this paragraph is kind of frustrating to read for me.

I'm disturbed that waxing is now considered standard and that so many women either sculpt their pubic hair into odd shapes or remove it completely. The option currently seems to be between post-modern pubic hair coiffures or the pre-adolescent none-at-all approach.

I'm concerned that many women feel that they have to wax or shave to have their vulvas considered beautiful, and I get downright pissed if people insist on their partners shaving and/or waxing without consideration for their feelings and preference. But I'm also rather tired of being told (or having it implied) that because I shave, I'm obviously being influenced by these negative factors and that my shaven vulva is obviously pre-adolescent. I shave, or don't shave, depending on what I feel like at any given moment. I enjoy the feel of my skin when my vulva is shaved, and I happen to think that my vulva is pretty, and shaving lets me and my partner(s) see the coloration there better. It has advantages if I'm in the mood to play with wax, as well. And there's sometimes I nice anticipation generated if I'm shaving for a specific purpose.

I don't demand my partners shave or wax or grow - my general philosophy is if they're letting me have access to the fun bits, they get to choose how they like the fun bits. I have no actual preference to other people's hairstyles (or lack thereof). As a muffin enthusiast, I'm just as happy to feel hair as I am just the bare skin, so it's really up to my partner. If they try shaving or waxing, I'll comment that it feels nice, but I will also comment on the niceness of the fur.

So yes, there needs to be more things like the Everyday Vulvas project, and they should get out there so people are more aware of the differences and that these differences are, in fact, normal and not bad. I think being body-positive is a very good thing. But it should include all types of vulvas, smooth or not, I'd say.

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