Requiring Women to Shave their Legs?

[Eeyores Butterfly]

There is this company, and like many companies the men are required to be clean shaven (think Disney look). Apparently, the men have been complaining that it is unfair that they have to shave their faces, but women are not required to shave their legs. The company feels they have a point and is considering requiring women to shave their legs (many uniforms have shorts/skirts for women).

I'm not sure how I feel about this. On the one hand I can kind of see their point. On the other, shaved legs have a different connotation than a shaved face. From what I have observed, as soon as a guy starts getting facial hair, his parents buy him a razor and teach him how to shave. This is not true of girls. For whatever reason (and I have never understood this), shaved legs on women have a sexual connotation. Girls go around with hairy legs for years before being allowed to shave. I have heard parents say things like, "She will not be dating so there is no need for her to shave." I know it took awhile for me to convince my parents that I should be able to (and for me it was a comfort factor). I don't know how long it takes guys to shave, but shaving is a PITA to me and takes forever. I find that I don't shave as often as I would like to.

The other issue to me is, who is really going around looking at women's legs to see if they are shaved? I can't recall a time when I have ever noticed a woman's leg hair or lack thereof. I don't care if she is wearing booty shorts with the whole leg exposed, I'm not going to be paying attention to whether or not she bothered to shave.

So out of curiosity, do would you feel if a company required women to shave their legs in order to work there? What would you do if you were working for that company? Do you think the men have a point, that it is unfair to make them shave their faces (their legs can be as hairy as Sasquatch's) while women do not have to shave their legs?

 

[shortbun]

first, 'like many companies, the men are required to shave?" I've never heard of this. Second, people have actually said their daughters don't need to shave their legs because they are not dating? Who ARE these people? I don't know any of them? I know companies that require men's beards to be neatly trimmed - ie, no 'jerimiah johnson' looks but I know of none that require clean shaven. Requiring women to shave their legs? Bring in the ACLU.

 

[Sir Robin Hood]

If I were a G.M. of a company, I would not want my male employees going around with unshaven faces just as much as I would not want my female employees going around with unshaven legs. Not for any reason sexual, but just to avoid distraction of customers/clients and other co-workers. If my employees represent the company I am responsible for, then I want them to look as classy as possible. I think this is absolutely fair, and not gender biased.
From a client/customer's point of view, if I walked into your place of business and a female employee greeted me while wearing a skirt but with hairy legs, I would be as put off by the appearance as if a male worker greeted me who looked like Rip Van-Winkle.
Demanding that your employees keep shaven and presentable is not offensive or too much to ask (imo).

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

first, 'like many companies, the men are required to shave?" I've never heard of this. Second, people have actually said their daughters don't need to shave their legs because they are not dating? Who ARE these people? I don't know any of them? I know companies that require men's beards to be neatly trimmed - ie, no 'jerimiah johnson' looks but I know of none that require clean shaven. Requiring women to shave their legs? Bring in the ACLU.

1.) I know many companies that require this. For isntance, every food place I have worked at required men to be totally clean shaven as a health issue. At this place, men can have mustaches. Basically, they are modelling their grooming requirements after the Disney look (men cannot have beards at Disney.)

2.) Most of my friends moms said that. I know when I got my first Teen magazine there was an article on how to shave your legs. I asked my parents for a razor and shaving cream and they threatened to take away my Ten magazine if this was the behavior it lead to (5th grade). I don't really know why they reacted that strongly, they are pretty liberal as far as these things are concerned. I just know that in my friends cases, it was the dating aspect that was brought up.

I'm very curious, how many people go around looking so closely at a woman's legs that they can tell if they are shaved or not? To me, that is more troublesome than whether or not a woman shaves. Like I said, I cannot recall even one time looking at a woman's legs and thinking they were hairy, and I am sure I have passed some women with some hairy legs.

I could see saying that women would have to shave off any facial hair if they had any, that to me would be equal. But if you are requiring women to shave their legs, shouldn't you require it of men too?

Honestly, I don't know of any company where appearance requirements are "equal". Many companies do not allow men to have long hair or wear jewelry, but it is acceptable for women (within reason on the jewelry aspect.) By the same token, men can have shaved heads but women can not. That is one reason I waited until I went back to school to shave my head for St. Baldrick's. I had the option to do it right before I got my bachelor's, but I was headed to Disney and knew I would be out of a job. Grooming requirements will never be equal for men and women. This just seems like such an odd thing to require.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

That is ok with me.

Men to be clean shaven and women sans hairy legs... if everyone was like this, I would be so happy.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

I don't think it's right. You are born with the hair so you should be allowed to keep it if you want to. I wouldn't be happy if i worked there. I wear shirts allthe time and some days i skip shaving. It is a pain in the neck.
What is it about just mens faces and women's legs? Maybe they will start requiring hairless people. I am from Portuguese descent and man do we have hair LOL. We have hairy arms and upper lips, etc.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Is this the theme park you interveiwed at?

Let's see, you have brought up a lot in such a short thread:

First I have not met people who oppose their daughters shaving their legs. This is new to me I bought DD12 a razor and taught her how to use it at 10. She hardly ever bothers and I wish she would. She has dark, corse hair which is very visible and I think it looks lazy and unkempt to not shave. But, I don't push her on it because it is a "gown up" chore and I hate that the poor little thing's body pushed a lot of grown up stuff on her pretty young (she is both taller and cruvier than I am and has looked more like 16 than her age since she was 10). Soon enough she will care more what others think and do it of her own accord I am sure.

Second, I touched on this in the first point--you asked how someone would notice. If haor is dark and coarse it stands out easily. It's almost impossible not to notice. Finer and lighter colored hair not so much--but you really could not have a rule about only brunettes with coarse hair having to shave

Third, yes I think it is a fair rule. I agree with some others that not shaving legs just looks unkempt. If you are going to be wearing pants (so it won't show) I don't think you should have to shave, but otherwise I would think being unshaven looks like you did not put much effort into your appearance (generic you here). Same goes for men with "growth" (though poor DH his grows so fast by late afternoon it looks to those who did not see him the morning as if he skipped shaving that day). I think neatly trimmed facial hair is fine--but not just lazy unshaven look or scraggly bears, etc. I don't think "neatly trimmed" works for legs so us girls are out of luck there

 

[3jsmommy]

If they require the men to be clean shaven, I would think the female equivalent would be a well waxed upper lip. Making women have clean shaven legs is really not the same thing as the men having clean shaven faces...apples and oranges.
I would rather my female employees have a little stubble on their legs than a mustache!

 

[jrmasm]

There is this company, and like many companies the men are required to be clean shaven (think Disney look). Apparently, the men have been complaining that it is unfair that they have to shave their faces, but women are not required to shave their legs. The company feels they have a point and is considering requiring women to shave their legs (many uniforms have shorts/skirts for women).

What's your source?

 

[RachelEllen]

If a company wants to require shaved legs, I have no problem with that. However, these piddling "equality" arguements really get under my skin. Men and women have culturally different grooming standards. Shaved face is not equivilent to shaved legs. With all the real issues of equality and fairness still out there, I find the implication of "well, you want equal pay, so we want equal shaving" insulting.

 

[Cantw8]

all I'm going to say about this is shaving my legs is not an option to me It's a task I perform everyday because that's the way I want it, not for anyone else

 

[EthansMom]

I thought about this for several minutes. Shaving my legs isn't something I enjoy.... and it's a task I often let laps for a while.

But while I don't think there's an equal distinction between men shaving their facial hair and women shaving their legs, I do think it's reasonable to request that employees maintain a certain standard of hygeine.

So, I think it's reasonable to require women who are wearing skirts or dresses to have legs that are not noticeably hairy. But, if there is a uniform being worn, women should have the option of pants, just as the men do. And there should not be a requirement for women's legs if they are wearing pants.

I also think it's reasonable to talk to a female employee about hair removal of any facial hair she might have (say, bushy eyebrows or hair on her lip).

 

[bicker]

I don't think it's right. You are born with the hair so you should be allowed to keep it if you want to.

You're also born naked.

 

[merryweather20]

I have never seen a woman with unshaven legs except my Mom when she got a cast removed.

I assume like me if they didn't shave they wear pants. Wher is this ever a problem?

Also men can get rediculous about things. I was watching TMZ (yeah I know) and one of the people was complaining about a woman not shaving the baby fine blonde hair on her upper hair. You don't need to shave this! If a company told me to do this it would be waaay too personal. All the women in the office told them it wasn't necessary either, but the guy wasn't convinced.

The last time I heard men getting irate about this stuff was a boy at a catholic school who was angry that he couldn't wear frilly party dresses too school. A lawyer actuall took his case, but the boy lost interest after the lawyer reminded him that the girls couldn't wear frilly party dresses to school either (per the dress code) and told him to wear sensible white blouses with the grey uniform skirt or pants, like the girls had to wear. It turns out it wasn't about equality after all the boy just wanted to make a but of himself for a couple of weeks.

 

[bicker]

I thought about this for several minutes. Shaving my legs isn't something I enjoy.... and it's a task I often let laps for a while.

Ditto, for me, with regard to shaving my face. Right now, after a week on vacation (while my wife didn't take the week off), I probably look like Grizzly Adams.

 

[Pigeon]

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

 

[mjkacmom]

Hairy legs on women? Gross. I let my girls shave as soon as they ask (only dd12 has asked, at 10, and I let her). I can't imagine it's even an issue -who doesn't shave her legs?

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Hairy legs on women? Gross. I let my girls shave as soon as they ask (only dd12 has asked, at 10, and I let her). I can't imagine it's even an issue -who doesn't shave her legs?

Agreed! I shave my legs everyday winter or summer. Unshaven legs on a woman is just plain nasty.

And how can you tell? You can see it. Most leg hair on woman if not shaven stands out pretty easily without taking much effort to see.

 

[Belle2667]

Hairy legs on women? Gross. I let my girls shave as soon as they ask (only dd12 has asked, at 10, and I let her). I can't imagine it's even an issue -who doesn't shave her legs?

I haven't shaved my legs since I was pregnant with DS#2 19 years ago!

Now, before you go ewww and start calling me sasquatch, I am very blonde and the hair on my legs is blonde as well as very very fine and unlike the hair on your head, it stopped growing after 1/4 inch or so.

If the sun hits my legs in a certain way and you are 4 inches from them, you might notice. Other than that, my legs look perpetually clean shaven. I would have to object to the mandatory shaving.

 

[MaumeeMom]

It is about hygiene and presenting a uniformed appearance - a company's "look"

I don't see anything sexual in a woman's shaving her legs. To me it is like keeping her hair groomed and clothes pressed. If the company uniform is a skirt for women, I have no problem with the requirement, as long as it is disclosed when the woman is hired.

Now I admit to becoming Sasquatch sometimes during the winter but, don't you feel better after shaving? My skin always feels better, maybe it is the lotion in the shaving gel or something.

I don't go around making a stubble check but it is pretty obvious when a girl hasn't taken the time to shave, especially brunettes.

As long as it is an across the board policy, I have no problem with it.

You're also born naked.

LOL