hairy

Infographic print for Hochschule Augsburg University of Applied Sciences
figure drawing course: "Everyday Life" with Michael Loose.
      This project is comprised of survey answers from students of the school. The survey was open
to every student in every faculty. Students answered questions about their shaving habits.
Process: mock movement, image study, sketch, scan, Illustrator, Photoshop

*Some responses have been translated from german*

1

"I do not like it because it's unnecessary and takes up time. I think the hair is in these
places because it is useful (warmth, protection, etc.) but i feel compelled by society and
fashion to shave"

“It´s strange that hair is somehow considered unhygienic at certain body parts. I think that was taught to me somehow, my parents never really gave me any opinion on that, I think it was more the puberty thing, others are doing it and the consensus was that it was not fashionable in a way. My dad especially was very much against my sister and me shaving our legs because he never wanted us to follow these trends but we wanted to do it, probably not to be an outsider in a way because it´s very obvious whether you shave or not at some parts of your body of course. Now I am way more relaxed and focused on myself and what I want."

" It takes so much time and it is exhausting to do it thoroughly."

"It is so common in society and i do not feel feminine with hairy legs. It is also uncomfortable and embarrassing for me to show myself as a woman with hair. After shaving, I feel neater and more feminine."

"Society or others' judgments exert too much pressure on individuals. You should not feel obliged to shave and not be ashamed if you do not shave at all the usual body parts or other people from time to get the unshaven legs to face. You should just feel comfortable in your own body."

"I do not want people to look at me funny when I'm wearing skirts or shorts. Besides, I'm in a relationship where at least shaving is part of it."

"I think it slowly started at the age of 13, legs, genital area, armpits..."

2

"I feel more comfortable when i'm
well-groomed."

"I find it good and strong that more and more women are now using their body hair, but even I do not want to do it anyway and would not feel well myself. I know that this is a way of thinking learned from social constraints, but somehow you can not get rid of it. And unfair, I find that women's hair is seen as a stigma, while it's not an issue for men ...
same old story.”

"My hair grows thicker and the sight of hair on the female body is considered unfamiliar, ugly and abnormal. That's exactly how I feel. Personally a few hairs would not bother me unless I looks like a bushman. However, society seems to be bothered."

"I feel more comfortable, because I think it looks more attractive. Cultural norm I guess?"

"I don't actually want to do it. Most of the time it's very annoying, and takes a lot of work, and I don't usually like the result. Stubble is always still there after shaving. But I do not feel well in the public unshaven."

"I would like to stop shaving, and feel comfortable with it."

3

"Long pubic hair simply annoys me because it feels messy to me, but I never shave all of it, just enough to feel comfortable."

"My boyfriend does not mind any kind of hair on me which I personally think is the only way to look at it. If he would require me shaving I would leave him or I would not even have gotten together with him. So now I feel like it's my decision even though it definitely came or still comes from a certain kind of attitude. I think everybody should decide on their own and ask themselves how they like their body without any kind of weird common opinions about it. But that's a world we will probably never live in."

"I think many girls shave sooner if they
have a boyfriend."

"I think that the pressure for girls to shave at a young age (basically as soon as they start
to grow body hair) needs to stop because it contributes to the sexual abuse of children and teens."

"It feels hygienic."

"It is time and money consuming. Overall, it is largely a social convention that is expected of women and that they are praised for [it].
If they do not stick to it they may feel they don't belong."

"I do it because I want to. Also, I have sex, and I wouldn't want a bush of hair in my mouth."