Quote Originally Posted by Grog
I'm sorry to be such a sociologist, but I don't think we can say that we are doing "exactly what we want". When there will be women with hairy legs and armpits featured in magazines and television on a regular basis (not just a one-time thing like when Julia Roberts flashed a hairy armpit at an Oscar ceremony or something like that), I'll tend to think that there is really a choice. At the moment, there is still pretty strong social opposition to hairy legs for women (and elite men cyclist), coming much more from other women (or other elite men cyclists), by the way...
There will always be a "social opposition" factor - most people are looking for rules to follow. However, we do have a fair amount of choice as to which folks we follow. I work at a school and so I have to figure on the social reality that people make judgements based on appearances, period. If I were to dress in Mennonite garb they would make certain assumptions; there are lots of other subtle assumptions people make, sometimes conscious and sometimes not. One of the agendas of many of the instructors is to get students to examine the assumptions they make and the forces that steer them towards how they prepare their appearance.

I don't wear makeup because I don't want to (I have to spend that time loooking for my keys, and I figure I've saved MESSES of dollars, I figure it *can't* be good for the body, not to mention animal cruelty issues) - but I did wear some when I taught in a school ssytem where it would have been, simply, confusing - teachers just dressed more like church than school there and it would have sent the message that I didn't care for myself at several levels.

At the college level (where I am now), individuality is more expected, though I still confuse people because they can't categorize me. I like that :-)

Shaving? Same issues. I like smoothness and it communicates "mainstream" ... but I'm lazy. Eventually people figure out I'm the "absent-minded professor" type in female manifestation and help me when something's hanging out that shouldn't be, and to put on the right appearance for conferences and what have you. I figure that's like dressing for any other cultural ceremony, even if it's not religious.