Bush Gardens, Page 5
PAGE 1, PANEL 1
Rachel makes a comparison between double standards. A hairy "Studly Guy" is shown next to a "Gross Girl" in a bikini.
NARRATION: "Why is it acceptable for a guy to walk around with hair all over his body, but if a woman doesn't look pre-pubescent, she's suddenly 'gross' and 'unkempt'?"
RACHEL: "It's not fair."
CAPTION: "Do you think he shaves his legs?"
PAGE 1, PANEL 2
Historical scene showing men in 1920s suits conspiring.
NARRATION: "People didn't even care about body hair until the 1920s. That's when razor companies said:"
BUSINESSMAN 1: "Why limit our profits to men's beards? Let's cash in on women's insecurities!"
BUSINESSMAN 2: "Jolly good idea, son!"
PAGE 1, PANEL 3
Old-fashioned advertisements are shown.
NARRATION: "Some companies used the same advertising tactics that we find so despicable in alcohol and cigarette ads."
AD 1: "Drink [beer] and have sex!!"
AD 2: "Popular people smoke."
AD 3: "Movie stars have no body hair!"
PAGE 1, PANEL 4
A 1920s-style woman is shocked by a woman with visible body hair.
NARRATION: "Thanks to those brainwashing methods, women and men came to think of female body hair as unnatural and undesirable."
WOMAN: "Hair on a woman?! Oh, the shock!"
PAGE 1, PANEL 5
Timeline showing changing attitudes from "hippy" to "yuppy."
NARRATION: "There was a brief respite during the women's lib movement, but now everyone has retrogressed!"
HIPPY: "My body is beautiful!"
YUPPY: "I take it back! Get me a plastic surgeon!"
PAGE 1, PANEL 6
Rachel looks sad.
RACHEL: "No one equates natural with beautiful anymore."
Very good point. Amanda Palmer has a good track record addressing the issue of body hair (and female beauty stereoptypes in general). I think her song ‘Map of Tasmania’ is one of the more brilliant things she’s ever written. That said, and knowing women got it a lot worse then men, I’ve noticed the anti-body hair shifting to men as well. I’m a rather hirsute dude myself and when I get remarks about it they’re usually negative. Also: is it me or does that guy have the bat-symbol on his chest. Because that is awesome!
You’re right, it does look like a bat symbol! Haha!
I think the anti-body hair movement is being pushed along by people who watch more porn than have actual sex. Real people have hair. Porn stars–who are paid to have sex, mind you, they’re professionals–shave body hair so viewers can see all the details in action.
Maybe we need to sit on the couch watching porn less and make out more.
men started shaving because in WWII if the soldiers wern’t clean shaven there gas masks didn’t seal properly and they would you know DIE. for the record i’m a Harry sob and HATE it i’d get most of it lazered off if i could aford it
I plan on getting my body hair lasered off except for the face (I want the option to be a lumberjack). My mom thinks I’m weird.
I’m pretty sure facial hair is not required for any profession.