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MADem

(135,425 posts)

65. It's Equal Opportunity. It's requiring each gender to do the opposite of the "beauty norm."

Sun Jul 6, 2014, 04:57 AM

Jul 2014

The men are asked to shave everything from the neck down, and the women are asked to not shave anything.

And then they all have to keep a journal about it.

It's not a requirement for the class--it's extra credit.

I'm sure the journals the students are keeping have something to say about "likes or dislikes." I kind of think that's what the teacher was looking for--a personal reaction to going against a cultural paradigm, and how the students felt about it the longer they engaged in the practice.

I'll bet their first entries, once the fuzz got serious, or once the itching mandated another pass with the razor, the wax, whatever, sounded a lot like the "likes and dislikes" conversations here, along with complaints about how people are regarding them or how having to keep up with the "manscaping" makes them feel.

I think the whole point the teacher was going for was the feelings, the "likes and dislikes." Having to live every day going against the cultural paradigm is supposed to make the students think a bit more about the custom.

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Feminist professor offers extra credit to women who stop shaving legs and arm pits [View all] davidn3600 Jul 2014 OP

Funny, in Europe, when I lived there in my youth, the country women regarded women who MADem Jul 2014 #1

I was about to get pretty angry over this yeoman6987 Jul 2014 #27

It's called CLICK BAIT. Your blood pressure goes up, you punch that button to see what's what, MADem Jul 2014 #28

When pink was blue and blue was pink RufusTFirefly Jul 2014 #2

Fascinating read. Thanks. Dark n Stormy Knight Jul 2014 #5

Hence why Gatsby JustAnotherGen Jul 2014 #7

Lol .... Double R Superstar. Iggo Jul 2014 #45

Blue used to signify Repub or conservative areas and Red for liberal or Dems Kaleva Jul 2014 #9

We no longer have culture, just whatever set of marketing ploys work at any given time. arcane1 Jul 2014 #51

Alas, I'm inclined to agree RufusTFirefly Jul 2014 #52

cool! next have them wear special necklaces for a week, then how about a yamaka for 6 weeks snooper2 Jul 2014 #3

I didn't shave the last semester of college and continued not to shave when no_hypocrisy Jul 2014 #4

brainwashed women, doing stuff for fashion and to make men happy lol nt msongs Jul 2014 #6

They are good to us men RobertEarl Jul 2014 #20

most lesbians do it also JI7 Jul 2014 #21

Did you read the part where a woman's friends didn't want to be seen with her? redqueen Jul 2014 #25

Both men and women dress to please others of their own gender. Quantess Jul 2014 #70

It does seem that much of the policing comes from members of our own gender. redqueen Jul 2014 #71

I don't want to put deodorant on hair Skittles Jul 2014 #8

Being blonde makes it much easier not to care. 3catwoman3 Jul 2014 #10

I hear you Skittles Jul 2014 #12

As do I. I would continue no matter where I lived... 3catwoman3 Jul 2014 #17

my hair still grows, but I have a lot less of it notadmblnd Jul 2014 #108

I'm very blonde too so I never shaved (and I'm not too hairy anyway) riderinthestorm Jul 2014 #11

I only ever shaved my legs for a first date Skittles Jul 2014 #13

Oh my yes! Me too! And since I put out on a first date if i liked a guy, riderinthestorm Jul 2014 #15

I hear you Skittles Jul 2014 #16

I still remember when I was about 9 or 10, maybe 11 hfojvt Jul 2014 #22

I've always found it strange Skittles Jul 2014 #30

I've found its absence is a turn-off for a lot of women. Chan790 Jul 2014 #76

aw certainly I don't need it removed Skittles Jul 2014 #118

Oh no, I hate having body hair. Chan790 Jul 2014 #119

My armpit hair soaks the odor and stinks csziggy Jul 2014 #35

Cats love pits. Eleanors38 Jul 2014 #55

Not if they smell like a used litter box! csziggy Jul 2014 #60

I say do what you want to do IronLionZion Jul 2014 #14

I don't mind doing it so long as men do it too treestar Jul 2014 #18

In Islam this is a common practice. MADem Jul 2014 #31

Bad joke or is she unclear on the concept? n/t kickysnana Jul 2014 #19

I'm a dude and I shave my upper body. Inkfreak Jul 2014 #23

I might look into that laser bit if I had tats. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jul 2014 #84

Great idea. Looks like a lot of people are learning about how insidious beauty norms are redqueen Jul 2014 #24

Some of the replies to this thread are just... wtf. redqueen Jul 2014 #26

What is your objection, precisely? MADem Jul 2014 #37

Not objection - observation. redqueen Jul 2014 #41

It's Equal Opportunity. It's requiring each gender to do the opposite of the "beauty norm." MADem Jul 2014 #65

Why are you explaining the assignment to me? redqueen Jul 2014 #72

It sounded, to me, like you didn't read the article. Like you didn't even click on the link. MADem Jul 2014 #80

LOL... you feel sorry for me? redqueen Jul 2014 #81

I was right--you DIDN'T click the link. MADem Jul 2014 #86

You are on your own little planet aren't you? redqueen Jul 2014 #87

What a charming comment--complete with emoticons. MADem Jul 2014 #93

Can you think of something else to say besides "I feel sorry for you"? redqueen Jul 2014 #95

No, I can't--I do feel sorry for you. By your conduct I can see that you're pretty unhappy, and MADem Jul 2014 #100

Your projection and hyperbole are as stale as your condescension. redqueen Jul 2014 #101

No, they aren't. What's stale is your anger-hate-snark cycle. MADem Jul 2014 #104

Well, first, you've got herd instinct. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jul 2014 #85

i doubt people don't get the point Enrique Jul 2014 #58

And the men could shave their pits and legs and wear shorts/tanks. aikoaiko Jul 2014 #29

How overtly sexist. maced666 Jul 2014 #32

You didn't read the article, did you? cyberswede Jul 2014 #33

nope maced666 Jul 2014 #56

and FYI I buy dorco maced666 Jul 2014 #57

You really DO need to click the link, and see who shaves for extra credit, and who doesn't. nt MADem Jul 2014 #38

I guess I cared about this shaving crap when I was in middle school, MerryBlooms Jul 2014 #34

"Why is it worth giving a fuck about what someone else shaves?" Exactly. redqueen Jul 2014 #42

It's beyond MerryBlooms Jul 2014 #43

Again. redqueen Jul 2014 #46

Is that pic really what you fucking meant to post to me? MerryBlooms Jul 2014 #48

The POINT went over your head. redqueen Jul 2014 #49

I don't need you to teach me what the OP is about. MerryBlooms Jul 2014 #50

But your "belittling bullshit attitude" about the assignment is just peachy fucking keen, right? nt redqueen Jul 2014 #53

The point is that too many people DO care what other people do (and they shouldn't). cyberswede Jul 2014 #61

I really don't like the idea of shaving my balls muriel_volestrangler Jul 2014 #36

You could do it the Islamic way....! MADem Jul 2014 #39

I don't even know what 'threading' is and probably don't want to muriel_volestrangler Jul 2014 #40

You take a long piece of thread--regular thread that people sew with.... MADem Jul 2014 #63

Plucking isn't that bad. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jul 2014 #88

'down there' is the entire point about it being painful (nt) muriel_volestrangler Jul 2014 #91

I vote for the hottest fucking wax ever MerryBlooms Jul 2014 #44

Well, it's an interesting cultural touchstone. MADem Jul 2014 #64

Let me guess: This is misandry on par with SCOTUS' Hobby Lobby decision? BainsBane Jul 2014 #47

I sort of wonder if the OP even read the article, or just liked the headline. cyberswede Jul 2014 #62

It's Equal Opportunity politics of hair removal. MADem Jul 2014 #66

I read it BainsBane Jul 2014 #117

Legs? Arm pits? Why stop there? Eleanors38 Jul 2014 #54

so if a guy goes for the extra credit Enrique Jul 2014 #59

Probably a moot question. Chan790 Jul 2014 #78

If his journal doesn't talk about itching in personal areas, he is either not terribly hairy or he MADem Jul 2014 #94

You truly don't get that exprinences with itchiness aren't relevant to a class on gender redqueen Jul 2014 #98

I'm going to give you a link to read, because you probably need more information on the assignment. MADem Jul 2014 #103

I think this is very trivial. Quantess Jul 2014 #67

The American Psychological Association doesn't think it is trivial--they gave the professor an award MADem Jul 2014 #96

How many of our socially accepted "norms" are results of marketing campaigns? retread Jul 2014 #68

Good point about shampoo. Orrex Jul 2014 #74

Why was the original title "Arizona Professor" changed to "Feminist professor"? betsuni Jul 2014 #69

Good question. nt redqueen Jul 2014 #73

What are points for not brushing the teeth...ewwww alphafemale Jul 2014 #75

That's probably already too prevalent. nt Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jul 2014 #89

That's a very interesting reaction - do you see unshaved armpits as unhygenic? muriel_volestrangler Jul 2014 #92

Because you reek! Do you not get this? alphafemale Jul 2014 #99

Are there really people who react like that? muriel_volestrangler Jul 2014 #106

Armpit hairs collect moisture and stench all day. You REEK! alphafemale Jul 2014 #111

Serious, or satire? muriel_volestrangler Jul 2014 #114

heh. alphafemale Jul 2014 #116

I'm actually surprised. redqueen Jul 2014 #113

Well that would suck pipi_k Jul 2014 #77

So then you could do the assignment by not removing your facial hair. redqueen Jul 2014 #79

I read the article pipi_k Jul 2014 #102

Capri pants won't hide leg hair for most women. Thighs are generally less hairy than calves/shins. redqueen Jul 2014 #109

OK, just call me Danielle, 'cause I'm going to step into the lion's den here: Brigid Jul 2014 #82

I think most tuition money ends up wasted. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jul 2014 #90

No--this is not "the course." The journal about the ten week hair/not experience is "extra credit." MADem Jul 2014 #105

I know that. I read the article. Brigid Jul 2014 #121

If you don't care for the major, don't go for it. MADem Jul 2014 #122

One can get the same important insights and much more . . . Brigid Jul 2014 #123

I think it's a mistake to try to tell students what they're allowed to learn. MADem Jul 2014 #124

That's a lot more work for the guys, unless they're naturally pretty hairless. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Jul 2014 #83

It's a mixed bag for men and women, for the hairy and the hairless. MADem Jul 2014 #107

Not totally uncommon for male athletes to shave davidn3600 Jul 2014 #120

do I get extra credit for never having shaved my underarms or legs hollysmom Jul 2014 #97

If this is what prompts a life-changing experience Android3.14 Jul 2014 #110

Can I audit her class.... pfitz59 Jul 2014 #112

This thread reminded me of this redqueen Jul 2014 #115