Shaving arm pits and legs

[Joe.]

So I'm in a bit of a dilemma at the moment. I hate shaving my arm pits and legs because it reminds me once again that I'm a girl. About a month ago I just stopped because I can't face it anymore, I absolutely hate it. My mum keeps nagging me to shave but I simply don't want to but at the same time, because I'm not out to everyone, people will think I'm just a really hairy girl and a freak which I don't want. To get past this I'm just wearing long trousers and hiding my arm pits as much as possible. I don't know what to do. Do I do the unthinkable and shave again so that people don't think I'm weird, or do I leave it and continue hiding it until I'm out? Has anyone else ever felt like this?
Joey

[AdamMLP]

I'm sort of like that.  When I was still at school I would only shave when I was playing rugby and we had to wear shorts, the rest of the time I just wore tracksuit bottoms or tights (yeah I had to wear a skirt at school...).  I wouldn't have done it but I got teased a lot when I first joined there at 12 because I didn't shave anywhere.  Now I've left school the only time I shave is if I think that I'm going to be in a position where anyone will see it.  I might manage to shave my arm pits, but there's no way I'm shaving my legs.  My mum's looked a little disapproving/awkward before but I don't really care what she thinks tbh.

[Siege]

Honestly, it's no one's business what you do with your body. If you really don't want to shave, don't.

It's their problem, and they need to get over it. As long as you're comfortable and happy, they need to not stick their noses in your business.

[Simon]

I think it's a ridiculous notion that anyone has to shave. It should be left as a personal choice and not a societal "demand". If they don't like it they don't have to look, imo.

[Joe.]

That must of sucked wearing a skirt Alex. I simply told my school on several occasions that if I was made to wear a skirt I'd drop out, no questions asked. Yeah if I know I'm going to be in the position where I have to shave I literally have to force myself. When I was a couple of years younger than I am now I stopped shaving and my brother made remarks with his girlfriend so I go so self concious I shaved my legs but they weren't wet enough and really messed up my legs for a while, another thing that puts me off shaving. I'm the same with my mum, her opinion doesn't affect me half as much as it used to.
You have a very good point there Siege.
That's true Simon, in my family and community it would be weird for girls not to shave, even though like you said it's a personal choice. I wish it was as easy as them not looking if it bothers them but sadly where I live people always find something to pick on you for.
Joey

[Simon]

That's true Simon, in my family and community it would be weird for girls not to shave, even though like you said it's a personal choice. I wish it was as easy as them not looking if it bothers them but sadly where I live people always find something to pick on you for.

I grew up and still live in the deep Southern USA. I understand what you're dealing with. It just comes to a point where you have to choose. Your happiness or theirs. That is all transition boils down to when others start poking fun or saying no.

Just remember, people are going to talk and run their mouths no matter what you do. I've lived by this saying a long time, "As long as they're talking about me at least they're leaving somebody else alone."

Do what you want.

[Joe.]

Yeah my teacher said that about choosing my happiness over other people's. That's a good saying, I'll think back to that in the future.
Joey

[DriftingCrow]

I don't shave my pits or legs either, and I've never gotten a problem for it. Some people back in high school probably thought it was weird, but I think everyone either just accepted I was weird long before or just had better things to deal with.

At least right now, it's winter and A LOT of cis-girls don't shave in winter (at least the legs). There's really no reason for it, since it's often too cold to wear skirts or shorts.

Just do what you want, don't shave. People will get over it soon enough.

[Joe.]

I think people think I'm weird anyway so that can just be another one to add to their lists haha. That's true about the winter actually. I think I'm not gonna shave for the time being at least. If I feel comfortable like this and people have a problem with it then I need to realise that that's their problem and stop making it mine.
Joey

[Faun]

I know it doesn't help, but I know a lot of men who shaves their legs/pits/chest etc ;> It doesn't make you any less of a man if you shave c:

[Joe.]

I know, it's just one of the only things that makes me feel like I am :/
Joey

[Biscuit_Stix]

I had the exact opposite problem with my pits. I kept thinking I was less of a man because I want to shave them, so I'll just grow them out. They got really scraggly for a while. Like, giant hairy caterpillars. And I thought it was just gross. But I fought with myself about not shaving for months. And then I just said screw it, this isn't worth the stress, it's hair. Do what you want with it. So I shaved the fuzzy bastards and the world didn't end, and I didn't magically turn into a pretty pretty princess. I still felt like regular old me. So they stay shaved, or at least trimmed. It's hair. Who cares. Do what you will with it. If you like it, keep it, if you don't, cut it. It'll just grow back.

[michelle gee]

I like to wax the armpits it seems to do a better job and less skin irritable.

[Devin87]

I hate shaving my legs and armpits so much.  I never shave my armpits except for the one time last summer I went to a water park with my work and did the board short/rash guard thing with a tight Nike sports bra underneath (I'm small chested and the tight sports bras make me flat enough to be comfortable in most clothes).  I shaved my pits just in case they made me take off my rash guard.

I do shave my legs, though, as much as I hate it.  I have to wear shorts for work all summer.  Well, I could chose to wear pants, but I'm running around outside all day, and it gets hot, so I wear shorts.  Since at work I'm more andro than anything else (female pronouns, but no one really treats me like a "girl" because I'm so masculine) and I don't want to offend anyone since I'm there to rock at my job, not make a statement, so I just shave them.  In the winter I let them grow, though.