Gasp! Women Are Waxing Their Pubic Hair, Declares Timely 'Atlantic' Article

The Atlantic, a magazine we usually pore over for its innovative intellectual content, posted a story today on a "staggering" new trend: women are waxing off their pubic hair.

Ashley Fetters pens the story, titled "The New Full-Frontal: Has Pubic Hair in America Gone Extinct?", which examines how women -- and some men -- are braving the pain of hot wax being dripped on their privates in order to be bare "down there."

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? Here are some of the article's revelations:

• Women are getting waxed for themselves, not men.
• Carrie Bradshaw did it.
• The J Sisters opened a famous salon where YOU can do it.
• Mostly 20-something women do it.
• Waxing hurts! Some people take Advil before hand.
• Most people who do it are sexually active.
• Men generally like it.
• This might have something to do with porn.

Not to make fun of Fetters, who writes well; we're just saying, this reads like a trend piece that the Atlantic had lurking around in the coffers since 2004. (In other shocking trend news, people are wearing watches and college students like trendy dress.)

On the other hand, if you want an extremely comprehensive look at the details and repercussions of Brazilian waxing, this is the story for you. We also learned about 30 new synonyms for "vagina," so, there you go.

Read the original article over at the Atlantic.

Comments

[Katie]

01:26 AM on 01/02/2012

Well I am 51 so count as "the older generation," I read the Atlantic article and honestly my feeling is, I am just grateful that I came to age in the 70's. I went to an all girl's high school and remember the skinny dipping parties, we thought our unwaxed, unimplanted, un-spray tanned bodies were gorgeous. And you know what? They were! Now these beautiful young girls are convinced that their bodies are dirty and have to be Barbie-ized through painful salon treatments....you will have to take my word for it but people enjoyed sex very much before all these plastic porno standards were in place.

[LastAngryWoman]

07:53 AM on 12/23/2011

So...haven't heard much from the ahem, "older" generation.

These are pressing questions. Inquiring minds, and all that.

So...is there an age limit? Clearly it is at least fifty as per the sexandthecity gals...but how about sixty? Eighty? Actually, there prolly isn't much need to wax by that time...nature has a way of thinning stuff out. What about the wrinkles? and the droopies? wouldn't a nice busyness down there assist in a well, like bangs. You know...sometimes, bangs are nice, just a few, to counter act the forehead lines. Is it esthetically pleasing to see a ninety year old completely bald? Just curious about these deep questions.

[Grinling Gibbons]

11:38 AM on 12/16/2011

I can't imagine the pressure of being a young girl today. I think I'd opt for celibacy rather than try and meet the incessant demands created by porn.

[Grinling Gibbons]

10:40 AM on 12/16/2011

I am amazed that this uncomfortable, inconvenient, unnecessary and unnatural trend has become so popular - at least from what I read in the media. I think if I were a young girl today I'd just resolve never to have sex. It's incredible that with all the stuff women ALREADY have to put up with - shaving pits and legs, starving to thinness, keeping face constantly covered in a mask of makeup, coloring and treating and styling hair in expensive salons, wearing excrutiatingly painful shoes, etc...they've now been brainwashed into the most intrusive and uncomfortable "beauty treatment" yet.

Newsflash: this is not a practical lifestyle for many women, especially as life gets busier, kids come along and jobs become demanding. But it's so great that now they have a new way to think of themselves as disgusting in their natural conditon. Thanks, pornographers!

[Robert Frank]

06:05 PM on 12/15/2011

hair anywhere around a woman's sweet-spot looks disgusting and monkey-like....except for a little around the top and away from the lips...I use dental floss for my teeth not pubic hair

[Grinling Gibbons]

10:35 AM on 12/16/2011

Great example of how a new inconvenience imposed upon women has further degraded and shamed women for the natural state of their body.

[Robert Frank]

09:28 AM on 12/17/2011

if men can keep their hair trimmed and/or shaved then so can women..it has ZERO to do with degrading women

[Katie]

01:29 AM on 01/02/2012

I agree and am glad that I came of age when men were men and not babies acting like hair was kryptonite or something. Big oh brother and advice to the young ladies: these guys who act like they are God's gift to oral sex and demand all these porno standards, are showing their egotism insensitivity and are unlikely to be truly great lovers.

[qazwsx123]

05:08 PM on 12/15/2011

Writing an irrelevant article to point out the absurdity of the existence of another irrelevant article. How I do love irony.

[Temsi]

04:43 PM on 12/15/2011

"Some people take Advil before hand."

Before hand and beforehand do not mean the same thing.
If you need Advil before hand, you're doing it wrong.

[leiaswift]

12:19 PM on 12/15/2011

How is this anything new?

[Tom Weidermeijer]

03:13 PM on 12/15/2011

I think that is the point HP is mocking.

[Katie]

01:31 AM on 01/02/2012

It is new - if you are a very young person perhaps not but if you look at Playboy magazines or porn from before 15 or so years ago you will see that people used to get along quite well with their natural bodies.

[FlipMode]

12:18 PM on 12/15/2011

This is so 10 years ago. The landing strip is making a comeback.

[kinogod]

09:27 AM on 12/15/2011

Pie tastes better without bush.

[butchcliff]

06:36 AM on 12/15/2011

Personally don't like the little girl look. Find it kinda creepy. If a woman wishes it that way, that's their choice of course. But again personally...'Pan down, pan down, we want bush'

[Temsi]

04:45 PM on 12/15/2011

Speak for yourself.
I've never found anything "little girl" like about it being clean. I just don't like hair in my mouth.

[butchcliff]

07:06 PM on 12/15/2011

Wondered if anyone would recognize the ..Pan Down.. quote. Guess you didn't

[sentimentiques]

01:40 AM on 12/15/2011

I knew I'd get the 'pending approval' on that last one!

[sentimentiques]

01:39 AM on 12/15/2011

The mods must love this whole topic~~has anyone had a comment censored? This stuff is pretty racy, which is why I'm surprised about the censor thing, or lack thereof. No, I'm not being a prude. I guess I'm just not comfortable with yet another 'private' aspect of women's lives being so 'out' there.

[njo2351]

04:00 PM on 12/15/2011

you're a prude!!!.......

[sentimentiques]

04:17 PM on 12/15/2011

And you're a jerk! I already anticipated someone saying that, and stated that I'm not~~just because I believe in some aspects of women's bodies being private doesn't mean anything other than what I said, and that is the way I feel.. so stuff it!

[sentimentiques]

07:42 PM on 12/15/2011

Once a jerk, always a jerk! Try finding that rock you crawled out from under~~your home is calling to you.

[rp2par]

04:22 PM on 12/15/2011

I agree about the private aspect of women's lives/bodies. A few years ago there was nothing on television at a certain time so I started wathing an awful show called Sex and the City. In one episode there was a 'waxing' of private parts. I was disgusted and never watched the show or it's 'stars' again.

[sentimentiques]

04:28 PM on 12/15/2011

Thank you, my dear friend, for understanding the point. I appreciate your favoriting so many of my comments! :-)

[greeneyes51654m]

01:15 AM on 12/15/2011

Why is this even news?

[Francois Bergeron]

03:09 AM on 12/15/2011

vadge news.

[Hair ShirT]

11:46 PM on 12/14/2011

I would argue the pendulum has started to shift back to the furry side. Not full out afro style but just a bit for the "I am a lady" look.

[Francois Bergeron]

03:10 AM on 12/15/2011

braids?