icon
Home icon

Home

Jobs icon

Jobs

Reviews icon

Reviews

Network icon

Network

Resources icon

Resources

|For Employers icon

For Employers

logo
about
careers
FAQs
privacy policyterms & conditionsfor employers
112k
20k
icon
© 2022 Fairygodboss. All rights reserved.
My ProfileMy MessagesMy NetworkMy SettingsGroupsEventsMy PostsLog Out
Mystery Woman
Tell us more for better jobs, advice
and connections
YOUR GROUPS
Discover and join groups with like-minded women who share your interests, profession, and lifestyle.
COMPANIES YOU FOLLOW
Get alerted when there are new employee reviews.
YOUR JOB ALERTS
Get notified when new jobs are posted.
Your post is published!
Lenna
star-svg
500
Dog mom. Super into wellness, biking & reading
03/04/20 at 8:40PM UTC
in
Style & Beauty

Not shaving legs — Anyone else?

I wear makeup and present "feminine" (as in, I wear clothing marketed for women), but I haven't shaved my legs in a very long time. Sometimes, I see colleagues pause when my legs poke out of my cropped pants, or with skirts. Do you think it's unprofessional? Who else is a proud non-shaver?

Share

Join the conversation...
SusanA526
star-svg
38
A true HR pro from my degrees to my experience.
03/10/20 at 7:16PM UTC
It's a personal choice and some people will pass judgement. You can't control that. I just read a story that a women's basketball coach told a player she couldn't play until she shaved her armpits. I certainly don't agree with that.
Denise Downs
star-svg
297
Positive Psychologist
03/06/20 at 4:27PM UTC
One day at work I was in a meeting with all women. The air conditioning stopped working and it was August in NYC. I wore a sleeveless shirt and had to wear a lightweight sweater to hide the fact that I hadn't shaved my armpits. Well, someone in the meeting asked why I was wearing a sweater. I told them because of a hectic couple of days with the kids I hadn't had the chance. Several of the women made a similar confession and we all had a great laugh! I think you'd be surprised how many people aren't shaving!!!!!!
Mandy Trouten
star-svg
765
Everything at www.mariese-skincare.com
03/08/20 at 1:55AM UTC
That's a large part of why I love loose knit blouses. The kind I have are short-sleeved and sufficiently loose-knitted that you can see through it, so I only wear them over a cami or other tank top; but, they're nice enough that I wear them professionally.
Rebecca Jones
star-svg
201
Automotive finance
03/06/20 at 1:08PM UTC
I have been wearlong pants lately, but I have let leg hair peek out a time or two. My hair is light so no one noticed. My employer also tries to be very friendly towards dress codes, gender expression, etc. We have some androgynous looking coworkers, and it is totally ok. Now, if I wore a short skirt, sat on a desktop and licked my lips at a coworker, that would be different. No one seems to care about leg hair though. If anything, the guys are jealous because they want to wear shorts. I tell them they can wear a skirt and then they drop it.
Mandy Trouten
star-svg
765
Everything at www.mariese-skincare.com
03/04/20 at 11:44PM UTC (Edited)
People pause b/c it's uncommon, not b/c it's an actual problem. I present "comfortable," as in I wear women's underwear and a bra; but, those and all other clothing choices are based primarily on what's comfortable. I wear men's or women's pants, depending on what I'm doing and what's available, but primarily women's tops. This is simply b/c men's pants are made to cover the lower half of your body in a normal manner, whereas women's pants are almost always made to "flatter"--or, at least, someone thinks they're flattering... Professionally, I usually wear men's dress pants; but, I have several pairs of leggings that I wear otherwise. Likewise, generally, I wear women's tops; but, I also have 1-2 men's shirts--again b/c they're comfortable. Lastly, I generally wear men's walking shoes b/c women's shoes exist according to what's "in style," whereas decent, comfortable men's shoes can be found year-round. I haven't shaved my legs or armpits in years, I think, and almost never shave. The only exceptions are when I'm going to the beach/lake or somewhere else where I'm going to be wearing shorts and showing off my armpits, and even that isn't a given. Men usually don't shave and no one expects men to shave. I see no practical reason for why I should have to on account of my genitalia being different. However, I do shave my peach fuzz b/c facial hair is more masculine than I'm prepared to claim. I also trim my eyebrows as necessary, including basic shaping before important events.
Denise Downs
star-svg
297
Positive Psychologist
03/04/20 at 11:28PM UTC
really? do you think they just notice your legs or are they passing judgment? two different things.
ShellyB
star-svg
607
Passionate about equality for all at work!
03/05/20 at 6:15AM UTC
Relevant reply- thank you for weighing in!
Denise Downs
star-svg
297
Positive Psychologist
03/06/20 at 4:25PM UTC
I have scoliosis and so my right ribcage sticks out more than the left ... it's twisted. Sometimes I notice people noticing it. While I feel awkward and sometime embarrassed about it I think people are just looking and not judging. It has taken me years to get to that place.
ShellyB
star-svg
607
Passionate about equality for all at work!
03/08/20 at 12:39AM UTC
Good for you- let it go! Show your beautiful self (inside and out) - no one is judging that! :)
Susan Smoter
star-svg
1.46k
Burning desire to make the working world better
03/04/20 at 11:25PM UTC
Do what you want to do with your own body and ignore everyone else!
Miss.JanelleK
star-svg
12
Music Supervisor in training....
03/04/20 at 10:12PM UTC
I hate shaving! Especially my pits. Went without shaving for a long time as well and recently shaved, 'cause I have a hard time seeing my own hairy pits O_O. I love the feeling of being smooth. Didn't like how my leg hair tickles in the wind when I walk. Feels like a spider. And yet I hate shaving.... I want to become more comfortable with how I see my own legs and pits with hair. It's a total head game.
ShellyB
star-svg
607
Passionate about equality for all at work!
03/05/20 at 6:14AM UTC
This makes sense to me... (too!)
Lisa
star-svg
45
Business Development Manager
03/04/20 at 9:36PM UTC
I'm a proud non-shaver. I don't wear skirts though but will do crop pants sometimes. Honestly, they shouldn't be looking at my legs and if they are, they deserve to be offended by my leg hair. Don't feel like you have to conform to make other people comfortable.
Anonymous
03/04/20 at 9:01PM UTC
I don't but I'm also not very hairy and have very light coloring! Meaning I can walk around without shaving and I think nobody notices (or at least I think so).
ShellyB
star-svg
607
Passionate about equality for all at work!
03/05/20 at 6:13AM UTC
This makes sense to me...
Emily Gurney
star-svg
131
03/04/20 at 8:59PM UTC
Sometimes I shave my ankles or parts of my leg that might show through my pants, otherwise not very often. It isn't so much a choice of expression or defiance against the status quo as much as I am lazy and can't be bothered with it. But good for you! I personally don't have the confidence to rock a hairy leg.
ShellyB
star-svg
607
Passionate about equality for all at work!
03/05/20 at 6:13AM UTC
This makes sense to me...

You're invited.

See what women are sharing on Fairygodboss.
What's new today
wand-button
Personalize your jobs
Get recommendations for recent and relevant jobs.
Employer Reviews
GE Power
No ratings yet
GE Power respects and treats its employees very well....
BroadPath
2.0
I have been here for 5 years. Have had 4 promotions during...
Recent Content
Have You Been Waiting Out a Long Overdue Promotion? Try This Approach to Speed Up the Process
How Northwestern Mutual Helps Me Succeed as a Working Mom
‘It Is Truly the Best Job in the World’ — Why This Working Mom Loves Her Compassionate Company
icon
© 2022 Fairygodboss. All rights reserved.
  • about
  • careers
  • FAQs
  • privacy policy
  • terms & conditions
112k
20k