patriciaalvarado:

pt. 1 of a series entitled “I thought you said you liked long hair…”

women in our society grow up believing that body hair is unnatural, and that the removal of hair is a ritualistic practice to be done as often as possible. we see ads for shaving creams featuring long, lean, hairless legs being caressed by a man. we see hairy women being automatically labeled as man hating feminists or as being unkempt, dirty, and lazy. we want women to look like girls; hairless, fresh, clean, and new. we’re scared of aging, of growth, of change, and so we shave, and we wax, and we pluck. body hair makes society cringe, and so we put in the work. 

In “I thought you said you liked long hair…” I attempt to address the problematic ways in which society views hair. Long hair is the ideal, but only if it’s in the right place. So to the countless men who have told me that they prefer women with long hair, you’re getting what you’ve asked for.

© Patricia Ann Alvarado 

(via doulaness)