Do You Really Want Your Pubic Hair Shaped Like a Lightning Bolt?

 

Well, do you? (Yes, guys, I'm asking you too.)

With all the equality Western women have achieved, we face more insidious forms of oppression that keeps our minds on trivial issues and off of big ones, while draining our energies and our wallets as we strive to attain often unattainable ideals.  I know...because I spend way more time and money than I should on all of this ridiculous shit.

But, at least, I am aware that advertisers are playing on my insecurities.  I have stopped myself and said "Holy shit.  Are you seriously having an internal debate over whether or not to have a Brazilian wax?" 

Truly, there are women out there right now that are seriously contemplating whether to go with a heart or lightning bolt.  And, this is why we remain fucked no matter how much formal equality we might achieve.

Links:

Image retrieved from Feministing

Update: Kind thanks to the folks at SDA for helping me with my spelling...Now, all we need is an enlightening bolt.

Comments

[Grant]

The idea of shaving your pubic hair into a symbol of some kind is certainly wacky. The fact there's a specific product for it, and a company capitalizing on an obviously market study-backed "demand" for it is more a comment on crass commercialism, I think. If a woman wants to do this, whatever. It's silly. But I'm not certain it necessarily smacks of subjugation.

[Polly Jones]

Yeah, but, the product is for waxing, not shaving. And, it is pretty much counterintuitive to rip hairs from your own body. So, most women who have ever tried this will tell you that you end up going to a salon. It costs about sixty dollars and up for this type of "exotic" wax. Some women go every five weeks - that is over six hundred dollars a year! That is one tiny aspect of the beauty regimen.

I agree that there is nothing inherently wrong with all these different things. I have always been what they call a "lipstick feminist". I also agree that it reflects out of control marketing and consumerism which is affecting men as well as women. (I think Viagra, while maybe helping some men, has probably hurt more by heightening anxieties, etc.) But, I would argue that the packaging of women is more intense. Of course, the extreme of waxing is women signing up for labiaectomys to "refresh" the look of their labias.

[Grant]

I've always found the "lipstick feminists" to have a lot more credibility, Polly :P because they're the ones seeking humanity, rather than reverse subjugation. I think the packaging of men is becoming more "intense". Consumer goods geared towards men are just as insidious in their deliberate attempt to appeal to certain male tendencies (those AXE ads are a good example - ever smell that crap?). But I would agree that marketing to women is still largely targetting vulnerabilities, and attempting to exploit certain insecurities. A man who does not keep himself well may not be regarded as highly as the same guy who does, but is still chuckled at as "just a guy". A woman, however, who does not "keep herself", at least according to the norms of the day, is given much less slack. I can see this "lightning bolt public hair" thing being empowering for some women - "look at me, I'm doing something wacky with my most private region - because I can", but still, at the very least, it's in poor taste. But then, bad taste has never been gender specific.

[Richard Evans]

Mine are shaved into the shape of elephant ears...

NOT

Cutsey shapes are a waste of energy. Bald is better...

[Grog]

One minor correction - your thinking of a "labiaplasty" procedure:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Designer_vagina

A "labiaectomy" would be a removal of the labia - something few women would desire, I should imagine. (but I'm just nitpicking...)

As for the product that is the topic of your post - like many "beauty" products out there, it's playing on two things - the myth of the "perfect" female body that our culture has created (the airbrushed model) and the desire of some people to 'feel' a little racy.

I'm ambiguous in my thoughts on the product itself - it falls into the "whatever floats your boat" category for me. If that's what someone needs to do to "feel sexy", fine; but I can't see any reasonable person "demanding" it. (and if they do, they deserve to be dumped by their romantic partner - quickly.)

[Polly Jones]

You're not being nit-picky, Grog. That's a pretty big mistake on my part. Although, anyone reading my blog lately can probably tell I'm not myself. I am definitely out of steam and my heart isn't in much of anything, including this damn blog.

I guess though I would argue that the labiaectomy and the labiaplasty aren't as different as some might think. I think we easily condem other cultures but can be blind to our own.

I actually have nothing against the bikini wax (of any kind). It is only as part of the bigger picture that it gets to me.

[RP.]

Richard, I lauled. Polly, I'm sorry, I'm not able to give you anything more coherent than "WTF."

[Diane]

hahahahaha I just happen to come across this site. I'm all for pubic hair designs :) I have a heart right now and personally, I think it's cute. Call me a slut. whatever. But if guys are okay with a little trimmed hair down there why not get the most out of it?

[Eve]

How is this any different than messing around with the hair on your head? Money to go to the salon, harmful chemicals on your scalp, time, effort, etc-- and that's not considered subjugation? Everyone should have the decision to do what they want with their body. Decorating it is a personal choice, not 'the man keeping you down'. Pubic hair and politics are two separate things.