Kathleen Hanna & her marvellous armpits
Recently Squeamish Bikini went to see a screening of the Le Tigre documentary Who took the Bomp? After the film we discussed how much we love Kathleen Hanna, JD Samson (lovely eyes) and Johanna Fateman but what we’d all noticed (besides JD Samson’s really lovely eyes) was their armpit hair. It wasn’t like it was taking over their entire upper bodies or anything. It just jarred with what I expect to see when a woman raises her arms on screen.
We were by no means repulsed by the hair. Le Tigre didn’t discuss it and as I have reasonable knowledge of the Riot Grrrl scene (it's where we get our name from) I would have been more surprised if they did shave/wax/laser/other increasingly painful sounding method. No, to as we said to each other later it looked great! It looked kind of exotic, just like Frida Kahlo’s moustache it added to their appeal. “Maybe we should let our armpit hair grow” us fan girls said to one another.
Cut to a couple of days later and what’s trending on Twitter? #No Shave November. I clicked on the hash tag to find an ever updating stream of pleas from men begging women not to grow their body hair. It’s not for you, ladies! They implored in increasingly panicked tones. Some women chimed in agreeing because we all know, it is medical FACT, lady body hair is unhygienic. And ugly. “#No Shave November is for males not females ewwwww” went one of the more diplomatic tweets.
No Shave November, or Movember is for a good cause, it raises money for prostate cancer charities. You would think you would want as many people on board instead of excluding half the population with such disgust. And what is the problem with hairy women? Especially if it is just for a month, you know it’s going to end. Just like all the girlfriends complaining about their boyfriends and their month long fuzz, it ENDS. Unless all the newly hirsute decide they look fetching as is. More power to them.
I think I realised when admiring Kathleen Hanna’s hairy pits that they were part of what made her look like a woman. Yes, she’s an adult, she’s gone through puberty and she’s all the hairier for it. Congratulations on finishing puberty Kathleen! And I wonder if maybe that’s why some people get so het up about womanly body hair. EEEW you look like a real grown up!
If this is your worry here are a few things you can do with your bearded pits to make them more fun and girly:
1. Get some wiggle eyes (like these) and stick them on your upper arm. It’s Mister Pitbeard! Looking at you! Hi Mister Pitbeard.
2. Dye it pink. Pink is the favoured colour of all princesses, fairies and girly girls.
3. Let’s be frank (not Mister Pitbeard), how long is your armpit hair? Long enough to style? Have you considered pit plaits?
4. Is the hair under there very black and luscious? Why, then I know what your next tattoo can be of on your ribs.
Personally, I don’t think it is for me if only for the incessant itching. But if, whether for charidee, aesthetics or pure laziness, you do decide to grow your underarm hair… PLEASE consider the above suggestions and send your photos here and start hashtagging #No Shame November
Squeamish Kate
Cut to a couple of days later and what’s trending on Twitter? #No Shave November. I clicked on the hash tag to find an ever updating stream of pleas from men begging women not to grow their body hair. It’s not for you, ladies! They implored in increasingly panicked tones. Some women chimed in agreeing because we all know, it is medical FACT, lady body hair is unhygienic. And ugly. “#No Shave November is for males not females ewwwww” went one of the more diplomatic tweets.
No Shave November, or Movember is for a good cause, it raises money for prostate cancer charities. You would think you would want as many people on board instead of excluding half the population with such disgust. And what is the problem with hairy women? Especially if it is just for a month, you know it’s going to end. Just like all the girlfriends complaining about their boyfriends and their month long fuzz, it ENDS. Unless all the newly hirsute decide they look fetching as is. More power to them.
I think I realised when admiring Kathleen Hanna’s hairy pits that they were part of what made her look like a woman. Yes, she’s an adult, she’s gone through puberty and she’s all the hairier for it. Congratulations on finishing puberty Kathleen! And I wonder if maybe that’s why some people get so het up about womanly body hair. EEEW you look like a real grown up!
If this is your worry here are a few things you can do with your bearded pits to make them more fun and girly:
1. Get some wiggle eyes (like these) and stick them on your upper arm. It’s Mister Pitbeard! Looking at you! Hi Mister Pitbeard.
2. Dye it pink. Pink is the favoured colour of all princesses, fairies and girly girls.
3. Let’s be frank (not Mister Pitbeard), how long is your armpit hair? Long enough to style? Have you considered pit plaits?
4. Is the hair under there very black and luscious? Why, then I know what your next tattoo can be of on your ribs.
Personally, I don’t think it is for me if only for the incessant itching. But if, whether for charidee, aesthetics or pure laziness, you do decide to grow your underarm hair… PLEASE consider the above suggestions and send your photos here and start hashtagging #No Shame November
Squeamish Kate
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