Female Pubic Hair Removal and Sexual Prejudice

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Other Title
  • 女性のアンダーヘア処理と性的偏見
  • ジョセイ ノ アンダーヘア ショリ ト セイテキ ヘンケン

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Description

Pubic hair removal has become very normative in recent years, especially for young women in western countries. It has also influenced contemporary Japanese women in their twenties and thirties. On one hand, “Hygienina,” which is derived from “Hygiene（originally means cleanliness）”, has been a focal point of cleanliness and fashion in Japan. On the other hand, many Japanese women are hesitant to remove all of their pubic hair because of the stereotype that they are forced to remove it. Further, removal of all of the hair is seen as lewd and instigates social prejudice. My research was investigated Japanese women’s experiences of pubic hair removal and social awareness about female genitals and pubic hair removal in Japan. I interviewed 65 women who have removed their pubic hair, and found that the half of interviewees had experiences of removing all of their pubic hair, and hair removals were performed for the sake of cleanliness and not for reasons related to sexual activities. I also concluded that in comparison with western countries, Japan has a strong social norm not to remove all pubic hair and sexual prejudice against people who deviate from that norm. Furthermore, my research clarified that these women are not only overwhelmed by social norms, but they are also actively engaged in trying to change social awareness. They are also building self-esteem through enjoyment of pubic hair removal experience.

Journal

  • Gender and Sexuality

    Gender and Sexuality (9), 91-112, 2014-03-31

    国際基督教大学ジェンダー研究センター

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