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Originally Posted by Strangler Lewis
As GD points out, I would not limit the phenomenon to women. However, this thread started out with a discussion of women and appearance standards. I still submit that 1) underwear up the ass v. underwear not up the ass, 2) ass hanging out the top v. ass not hanging out the top and 3) pubic hair v. no pubic hair are fashion shifts of rather cosmic proportions, and I am curious about the cultural moment that birthed them. Was it Pamela Anderson getting her a****** waxed? Something else? Should the progenitors be haled as liberating pioneers a la Kinsey? Or is somebody out there having a good laugh?
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If you really are curious about such things (and really are a woman - I admit I'm not sure on that count) you should try these things. I used to decry every one of the things you've mentioned, as well as bras, nylons, heels (of any height), shaving legs, wearing skirts. What a pain in the ass it is to be a woman, I thought.
Slowly but surely my tomboy past has been stripped away (heh) and I'm fully on the other side of the fence now. I do not do these things because it is expected of me - everyone who knows me knows that I do what the hell I want - I do them because I enjoy it.
I wear a thong sometimes because it makes me feel sexy and flatters me better in certain outfits. I shave my nethers because I tried it once and - shock of shocks! - liked how it let me feel everything during sex. I've done waxing and I really wish I could afford to continue it but it's just too expensive. Believe me Strangler, there's NO WAY IN HELL I'd go through the bother of keeping that trimmed just because someone else prefers it that way.
You can add me to the list of people that is rather annoyed when someone tries to tell me that I'm only doing these things because of societal pressures. Like has been said above by others, I'm pretty lazy, and it takes a lot to motivate me to do anything, never mind things like this.
Conversely, here's an example - I'm not into manicures at all and personally think I'd look ludicrous in long nails. Does this mean I have a huge problem with other people doing their thing? Jeez, I'd seriously have to get over myself if I thought I could tell other people what to do with their fingernails.
Low rise pants is an interesting case to me because it's just the latest in a long history of shockers. The miniskirt, tube top, Daisy Dukes, see-through blouses, go-go boots, stillettos, the bikini...eventually low rise jeans will either be humdrum or completely passe. I may as well start not caring now.
I understand about the struggle with kids and don't mean to trivialize that, but it's my feeling that EVERY generation has it's pressure to dress cool and the parents are always driven nuts by it.