Why do women shave their armpits

[kmichels]

Why on earth do women shave their armpits? Is it because Gillette and others like them are extremely good marketers; because women are suckers for this kind of social manipulation, or are the men suckers for social manipulation, being told that their women should have shaven armpits?

[jdcfc]

? are you german ?

[andy hughes]

Women shave their armpits because western culture has decided that underarm hair on women is unsightly, and apart from some European countries, women have adopted this attitude as being the norm. It's a case of 'majority rules' in a similar fashion, beards on men are a minority fashion - it's just the way societies adopt different attitudes, and less an instance of marketing manipulation, although I'm sure the Gillette advertisers would be very flattered to think they influenced thinking to that extent!

[incitatus]

It is part of social manipulation, but not by Gilette. It goes back to the cult of youth, which became part of european culture in elizabethan times. Shaven legs and armpits on women makes them appear girlish, and so attractive....if you sign up to the cult. Men, too are suckers for this sort of thing....facial hair is shaven off, with extreme discomfort in some cases, simply to satisfy a social norm. Back to the armpit thing though...one proven fact is that shaven armpits are less smelly. Though why it should be just women who want less smelly pits is beyond me.

[MrBen5]

Hmmm, i wouldnt like it if i was with a woman and she hadnt shaven her armpits, or legs even...

[ummmm]

I think they may have had the answer to this question....unless they have been waiting for the last 5 years

[Llamatron]

Men, too are suckers for this sort of thing....facial hair is shaven off, with extreme discomfort in some cases, simply to satisfy a social norm.

Er, I shave because beards are horrible and itchy.
Or is that what society wants me to think?

[Tashi]

Being Indian I do have to do a little bit of grooming at times, not a problem to be fair.