Would you allow your tween daughter to get a bikini wax or a waxing in general? One waxing franchise is holding a promotion during the month of July -- 50% off of all waxing services for all girls 15 and younger.
The ad has many moms up in arms since it appears to be for a bikini wax (though it specifically says all waxing services), and they think it sexualizes young girls who aren't yet old enough for such a service.
I call bullshit.
As a woman who was a hairy teen, thanks to my Latina genes and hitting puberty, I wish waxing had been more mainstream when I was 12. I may not have had my boobs but I definitely had hair everywhere and it was a real pain trying to hide it. Tube socks and T-shirts over bathing suits only can do so much.
More from The Stir: Disturbing Panties Should Have Never Been Sold in Kid’s Store (VIDEO)
In middle school, swimming was mandatory and my life would have been loads more pleasant if I could have gotten a bikini wax rather than trying to not look like I had a chia pet in a headlock when I wore my bathing suit. It was embarrassing and humiliating to a young teenager.
I don’t think waxing sexualizes girls; it simply gives them a safer alternative to shaving. You don't want to know how many chunks I took out of my ankle when I first started shaving my legs. I'd hate to imagine what damage I could have done with a razor in my pubic area at the tender age of 12 or 13.
The one issue I have with the ad is with this language:
During the month of July, girls 15 and undercan enjoy their FIRST waxing experience and find it NATURAL, SAFE and PLEASANT. [emphasis added]
Let’s be honest, waxing is never "pleasant." Natural and safe, yes, but there is no such thing as pleasurable waxing -- only degrees of pain tolerance. You might want to warn your daughters before they take the plunge.
Do you think it's okay for teen girls to wax?
Tie-Dye for the Fourth of July!
Mom Survives Horrific Domestic Abuse
Kim and Kanye's Baby Name Predictions!
Moms Love Birthday Parties, Too!
Comments 77
I dont know. Its fine if others do it. But I dont know if I would allow my child to do it. But its a bridge I have some years til I cross and I'll reevaluate when I get there. I am a hairy Cuban girl. But I only ever shaved my legs until I almost got out of high school. But I've never been a girly girl and I guess the rest didn't bother me
no.
It may not be unhygenic to have pubic hair, but some people feel icky when their menstual blood gets all in it. I feel that way. :p ANYWAY, I think it's one thing for a teen to get a bikini line wax, but I hope it doesn't cross into brazillians!!!
YES!!! I I too was a hairy tween and it was horrible. DD is 7 but already shows signs of being a hairy gilr, so waxing or depilatory cremes will be our first line of defense. Laser hair removal when she is older. My tween and teen years would have been different had I waxed..... Razors only make it worst.
The title of your opinion about says it all. If they need, and want it, why is that any different than being 30 and needing it and wanting it? Maybe even more so for them since they are SUPER sensitive about hair at that age!
I wanted to clarify my comment earlier about this.
I would never do this nor would I ever let a child of mine get one ever, BUT that is because of the cost for one and also I do not agree with hairlessness down their.
I also want to say that this does not degrade or sexualized tweens at all.
It IS sexualized. For thousands of years, women were not expected to present themselves this way. In the late 20th/early 21st century, women capitulated to bathing suit styles that got smaller and smaller. It was consciously or unconsciously to compete for mens' attention. Most of you have convinced yourself that it is for hygiene, when waxing allows multitudes of bacteria into your body and through the skin, when the hair kept it out. The pheromones the hairs carry do send sexual attraction signals to those whose chemisty might receive it. You are definitely defeating the purpose of being "sexy" by removing it. Someday, I hope you all comfortable enough to live in your own skin (and hair). Please stop transmitting insecurities to your daughters! You HAVE set the womens' movement behind!
If a girl is old enough to want to shave, she should be old enough for the other options. It is NOT about sex. Like someone else posted have a good talk with her on WHY and HOW she wants to remove her body hair. About the upkeep involved, the pain, the downsides and the upsides. Like anything physical beauty/health/hygene related do not pressure her, as that could lead to her thinking there is something wrong with her if she doesnt care about being hairy. I too wish I had access to waxing as a teen and the self esteem to have been able to do it. I STILL dont think I could get a brazilian wax! LOL!!
Historically, shaving is not something new. We used to shave using sharp seashells or obsidian stone. In the copper age, when swords were being made, razors were made alongside them. We also used to go swimming nude in many ages and cultures. Roman paintings have women in something that looks a lot like a bikini when they're swimming or exercising.
Hair has trouble getting rid of mites and parasites. And bacteria love making their homes in hair. The darkness and humidity allow bacteria to flourish. However, if one has good personal hygiene, she wouldn't have this problem. Nor would she have a problem with infections from waxing.
While pheromones wont get to hang around if you do shave, the argument proposed in this article is that waxing does not sexualize tweens. So your point about pheromones only serve to prove this article's point.
Finally, the women's movement is about having freedom of choice. While I do agree that we should deal with insecurities more maturely instead of just applying a simple solution to them (like automatically getting breast enlargement at ages under 25-ish), we should also embrace many forms of femininity, not one rigid form. So believing a female is not a woman if she removes pubic (androgenous actually) hair is setting BACK the women's movement.