Requiring Women to Shave their Legs?

[TinklednPants]

Wearing shorts or a skirt with unshaven (or at least not RECENTLY shaven) is gross and yes, MOST people will notice it right away.
I grow hair on my head but am "well groomed" everywhere else

 

[fall08CP]

The first thing I thought was that if they are wearing hose, why does it matter? I didn't realize it was proper to not wear hose when wearing a dress or skirt to work. When I worked for Disney it was required as I wore a skirt, and no one complained. We could wear knee highs and although it was annoying to constantly wash them, it really wasn't a big deal.

How could they determine how often one must shave their legs? Daily? That's really a lot to ask. It takes quite some time to shave legs and it doesn't grow back to a noticable amount overnight (for most people). Also, some athletes don't shave during training season. I used to swim and we did not shave for 7 months because it's a mental thing and something we all did together- builded community. Sounds weird but it's quite common for swimmers. So if one doesn't want to shave everyday, then wear pants or hose.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I actually shaved my arms and legs when I was a performer (a lot of us did due to heat.) I will probably start shaving my arms again now that I am going to be outdoors all the time, and of course, my legs stay shaved. But I just feel weird about requiring it of women, maybe because I've never heard of such a stipulation before. And frankly, I wonder how they would enfroce it. If men don't shave, they are given shaving cream and a razor and told to shave it off. You can't do that with women though because legs must be shaved in the shower.

If they want women to shave, I think men should have to shave their legs too. I think men's hairy legs look a lot grosser than women's! I've never understood why women must hsave but men do not.

 

[Feralpeg]

IMHO, unshaved legs has nothing to do with hygeine. It is a matter of personal choice and what is an accepted practice in your part of the world. Women in many countries do not even shave their underarms and it is not considered bad or non-hygenic.

I've always shaved my legs, but my DD does not. She never has and she is 21 years old. She is extremely fair. You cannot even see she has hair on her legs unless you have your face two inches from her legs. I have always told her that it is her personal choice to shave, but once she starts, she will have to continue. So far, she has chosen not to do so.

I think comparing a clean shaven face to legs is silly.

 

[bicker]

I think comparing a clean shaven face to legs is silly.

Silly which way, though?

 

[Feralpeg]

Silly which way, though?

A lot of it depends on a person's job. I would rather not have someone who works with food have a beard. I think that could cause contamination issues. It would not bother me at all if someone who sits at a desk all day has a beard. I think society equates men who are clean shaven as professional. I think guys with neat beards can also get away with being considered professional. In my experience, guys with unruly beards were not considered having the look the company wanted to project. Right or wrong? I don't know, but it seems to be the norm.

I have never seen anyplace, other than perhaps in the modeling world, where shaved legs made a difference. I know that I never paid any attention to other women's legs. I was management for a very large company and we had no rules about shaving legs. The company did require women to wear hose. This rule may have been lifted since I retired. I guess the only way it would be a problem would be if the women had extremely thick, dark hair that brought attention to their legs. I can honestly say that I have never noticed anyone like that.

 

[TinklednPants]

Even the Pirates of the Caribeean Ride makes fun of hairy legs!!!!! YUCK!

 

[MM27]

If you're wearing shorts or skirt as part of the job, I think the employer has every right to say you need to shave your legs. If someone wants to be hairy on their vacation, hey that's up to them.

I had a teacher in high school that didn't shave her legs or pits and yes, everyone was aware. It didn't help that she wore a lot of sleeveless shirts and dresses. It makes me sick just thinking about it.

 

[SandrA9810]

I don't know where this conversation has led to, but if you don't want to deal with the company standards, then don't work for it. I see lots of people complaining about disney look, I mean it goes all the way down to personal hygeine and putting on deoderant. Especially those with tattoos or piercings that don't want to cover them up or taken them out while working, if you don't like it go to sea world. I see people there with tons of tattoos and peircings in visible places.

I'm one of those that shaves when I get around to it. Sometimes it's long as can be for a week before it comes off. It's usually when I get tired of looking at it. And well i'm horrible at doing a good job and it still takes like a 1/2hr to do, only to my knee caps. Although i was always jealous of those that worked in the water parks, beause after a while the chlorine and sun bleaches the hairs so much or takes it right out that it looks like even guys shave.
On the other hand Kari (my g/f) has never shaved her entire life. She knew when she was like 10 she never wanted to shave because of how time consuming and PITA it is to do. Her hairs have bleached over the years from sun and swimming. And I don't think a job would get her to do that sort of thing.

And if you want apples to apples, then guys would have to shave thier legs as well. legs to legs, face to face. Women are just lucky to not have facial hair like guys.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Hairy legs in pantyhose is almost worse. Although pit hair is by far the most offensive to me. A woman should not be able to braid the hair in her pits. Sorry but that is just nasty.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I do think it is silly to not allow men to have beards (unless they are working with food, and then I don't want to see any facial hair on them) as long as they are well groomed. My father has had a beard and mustache as long as I can remember (and it is well groomed). He shaved it one time on a bet and he looks like pterodactyl without it! He has no chin.

Still, I guess I could see it as maybe being a communication type thing since people are looking at your face. And maybe the companies think it is easier to say "no beards" than try to regulate all of the million variations that men come up with, particularly young men, or that scruffy in between look if a guy starts to grow it out. Again, I think that is kind of a silly rule, but I still don't think it is the same as requiring a woman to shave their legs.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

I don't understand the point of requiring men to be clean-shaven. And I can't understand women who don't shave their legs.

I'd much rather look at a man's beard than a woman's unshaven legs. *shudder*

Yes, I think the men have a valid point and it wouldn't bother me a bit to be required to shave my legs. I do daily anyway.

 

[Feralpeg]

I don't understand the point of requiring men to be clean-shaven. And I can't understand women who don't shave their legs.

I'd much rather look at a man's beard than a woman's unshaven legs. *shudder*

Yes, I think the men have a valid point and it wouldn't bother me a bit to be required to shave my legs. I do daily anyway.

Do you think men's legs with hair are gross? Just a question. I see a lot of double standard here. It is a custom to do this in the US. It is not a custom in most of the world. Just because we are used to something doesn't necessarily make it mandatory. Men don't shave under their arms. They don't shave their legs. Is it a hygiene thing for them as well? I wonder who the first woman was to start this trend in the US. Very odd how some things catch on and then become the only acceptable practice.

 

[pperfectmom]

Do you think men's legs with hair are gross? Just a question. I see a lot of double standard here. It is a custom to do this in the US. It is not a custom in most of the world. Just because we are used to something doesn't necessarily make it mandatory. Men don't shave under their arms. They don't shave their legs. Is it a hygiene thing for them as well? I wonder who the first woman was to start this trend in the US. Very odd how some things catch on and then become the only acceptable practice.

I totally agree. Leg shaving is a fairly recent addition to women's grooming but now it seems people think it is the "only" way. I personally have went for longer than 10 years in between shaving. Yes, it was a hippie stage while I was going to Dead shows but I was the same person I am now. Even now, I will only shave once a week at the most and that is only in the summer time. Most of my female friends don't shave at all to this day. Frankly, I could care less who shaves and who doesn't as long as they are clean.

 

[DarthKTrava]

Only if I'm allowed to wear shorts at work. 'Cause I only shave my legs if I'm going out in public and wearing shorts or if I go swimming. Other than that, I don't bother because no one is going to see them.

 

[TinklednPants]

I totally agree. Leg shaving is a fairly recent addition to women's grooming but now it seems people think it is the "only" way. I personally have went for longer than 10 years in between shaving. Yes, it was a hippie stage while I was going to Dead shows but I was the same person I am now. Even now, I will only shave once a week at the most and that is only in the summer time. Most of my female friends don't shave at all to this day. Frankly, I could care less who shaves and who doesn't as long as they are clean.

Girl......I don't know where you're living or how old you are....but if you think leg shaving is a recent thing you need to get in touch with the times ( sorry if that sounds rude but it is the truth). In the year 2009 girls are expected and preferred to keep more than there legs touchable. You may want to hit the local convenience store and pick up a magazine or two.

Again......I'm not tring to be harsh..... but hair is (and yes that hair too... has been) out for a while.

 

[daisax]

I'm not crazy about facial hair on men, but I think a trimmed beard is different from stubble, and I can see not wanting your employee to look like the Unabomber or some Studio 54 lounge lizard

On the other hand, it amuses me that people seem to feel strongly about not wanting facial hair on men working with/serving food. It's not like they put their face in the food! Technically speaking, it would be more important for them to have to shave their arms below the elbow. In certain ethnic restaurants we go to, the staff are pretty shaggy and dark haired -- if I were going to be paranoid about hair in my food, it would be the hair around their wrists, not from their facial stubble!

 

[Aisling]

That's a company I wouldn't work for if I were male or female.

I agree.

I do shave my legs, but my legs aren't in people's faces, and if hair offends them, I see it as their problem. It isn't poor hygiene for a woman to have hair on her legs. Body odor, crud on teeth...that's bad hygiene.

 

[Feralpeg]

Girl......I don't know where you're living or how old you are....but if you think leg shaving is a recent thing you need to get in touch with the times ( sorry if that sounds rude but it is the truth). In the year 2009 girls are expected and preferred to keep more than there legs touchable. You may want to hit the local convenience store and pick up a magazine or two.

Again......I'm not tring to be harsh..... but hair is (and yes that hair too... has been) out for a while.

I am 57 years old. I am well aware of when women began shaving their legs. My mother's generation did not do so.

So, do you not think men's legs are touchable? I've never been with a guy who shaved his legs (and I don't think I'd want to be). It certainly didn't make me not want to touch him.

Leg shaving is a fad. Yes, it has been around for a long time now, but someday, it too will fade away. Some influential woman will come along and decide she does not want to shave her legs. Others will follow, because people are basically sheep. Eventually, the thing to do will be to not shave. I don't know if I will live long enough to see this, but I guarantee it will happen.

 

[DarthKTrava]

LOL! ITA I hate hose!!

I hate hose too! They are useless and love to run at the least provocation!!

I don't wear dresses to church so no hose wearing. I wear slacks and my good sneakers.