Body Hair Is The Pits! Seriously?

The British nation stood shocked this morning. No, it was nothing to do with us being back in recession or terrible results in our recent local elections for the ruling parties. The horror resulted from a woman, yes a woman, daring to be hairy on daytime TV.

Student Emer O’Toole was exhibiting the product of an 18 month long experiment of growing her body hair on British chat show This Morning.

The usual gutter press came out to condemn O’Toole pretty quickly and there was a mixed reaction on Twitter to her as well, with some people in support but most coming out against hairy women. And 80% of the show’s mainly female viewers came out against O’Toole.

Although I don’t buy into the whole “hair removal is anti-feminist” argument, I can’t help but think it’s ridiculous that in the 21st century there is such extreme disapproval of a woman who dares to have hair! Words such as “disgusting” and “revolting” when used in connection with domestic violence or female genital mutilation are fair enough.

But in response to hairy legs? Really?

Bizarrely, a beauty salon owner brought on to oppose O’Toole on the segment of the programme quickly became in awe of her, telling her she had incredible respect for her and wished she could sprinkle some of O’Toole’s self confidence on the breakfast cereal of her two young daughters.

She went on to say that O’Toole was doing something the majority of women were just too frightened to do because of fear of gossiping or bullying and implied O’Toole was a pioneer.

Seriously? All because of some hairy pits?

With everything that is going on in the world – poverty, disease, corruption -  isn’t it about time we all just got a life and stopped worrying about what other women are doing in the privacy of their own bathrooms?!  Hair removal should be a choice – it’s fine to do it, but it isn’t compulsory!

Contact the author here: jmw@morningquickie.com