3. Pubes and porn
Popular culture is influential in how we think about the female body. With the growing availability of pornography, young people increasingly see it as a 'normal' representation of how people have sex. Perhaps you've looked at porn before and thought, wow, is that what I should do and what I should look like while doing it?
Remember, porn is a performance and is highly stylised. It does not reflect our 'real', non-Photoshop world. For example, one of the many reasons that porn tends to show women without pubic hair is that it allows the camera to capture graphic shots.
Read more:
'Are Kegel exercises actually good for you?'
4. Sex, STIs and shaving
Somestudiessuggest shaving pubic hair may increase the risk of getting a sexually transmitted infection. One reason is that shaving can cause micro-tears in the top layer of the skin, which can lead to bacterial buildup and transmission. More research is needed to substantiate these claims.
If you do shave, use a mirror so you can see what you're doing, and take extra care around the outer lips of your vulva where cuts are more common. Make sure your razor is clean and use warm water. Alternatively, you can trim the hair, or wax (while this prolongs hair regrowth it may present other health risks such as infection).
Read more:
'Is it normal for girls to masturbate?'
5. Demanding bodily autonomy!
We are raised to think of our vulvas as our 'private parts', belonging purely to ourselves. The world around us comes to influence what we do and feel about our bodies. What we do with our hair is no different.
Hair has always been a site for political intervention: whether it's the military exercising discipline by shaving men's hair, or the 'body police' mandating that body hair isless acceptable on women than it is on men . To dictate what someone does with their hair is to take away their bodily autonomy.
One of the ways to assert control over our own bodies is to recognise that the ideas and practices available to us as girls and women are often so habitual that they're rarely questioned. Considering how some young women are renegotiating femininity might be a good start. From there, you can negotiate which practices best suit your values and beliefs, which may change over time. And in direct response to your question, shaving before sex is your choice!
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