Sexuality in 21st century censored by perceptions of pubic hair
Trends in sexuality vary from generation to generation and from decade to decade. There have been many large changes to our shared sexuality that have occurred in the past 20 years, but one change in particular is our view toward body hair and pubic hair, and the perception that this hair is unattractive.
For the past two decades, pubic hair and body hair have become increasingly perceived as unattractive, messy and gross within the general public ever since pornographic magazines like Playboy and Hustler started showing hairless models in the late ‘70s.
This idea is reinforced by pop culture, the entertainment industry and the pornography industry and subsequently picked up by the public — and by young people in particular.
A recent study by Debby Herbenick and Vanessa Schick of Indiana University reveal that in the U.S. roughly 60 percent of women from the ages of 18 to 24 sometimes or always have no pubic hair, and that 50 percent of women from the ages of 9 to 25 stated similar conclusions.
Why is there now the subtle expectation that men must shave their chest and backs, while women must shave or wax nearly all or all of their pubic hair?
In cultures throughout history there lies a general belief that to look sexually attractive, someone must look younger than he or she really is, or in the least, present the illusion of youth to a perspective mate.
From the 11th century to the 19th century foot-binding was performed on young Chinese girls to offer more dainty, feminine steps and because it was found to be attractive by the males in the society, and in17th century Europe, white make-up was applied to portray the bright complexion of youths.
These culturally accepted ideas not only affect how people perceive what is sexual or attractive, but also puts societal pressure on them to do the same.
Today in our society we have reached a point in which a nearly hairless penis or vagina is seen as sexually attractive, and we need to address the fact that we are trying to imitate a prepubescent body — and whether we are doing so subconsciously or consciously.
We should have an honest discussion about what this says about our society and the insidious mental impacts this societal pressure can have on individuals.
We need to cultivate a culture that accepts our mature bodies instead of trying to alter or manipulate them through shallow means. Perhaps this unnecessary maintenance will be a trend something people decades later will look back and laugh at, or perhaps it will become and integral part of our society like high heels or bras. Whatever the outcome may be, it will always amaze me to see the lengths that humans will go through to make themselves more “attractive.”
Ryan Tarinelli can be reached at [email protected]