"White Palace" is one of my favorite movies, and I am amazed at the negative comments about Susan Sarandon's armpits. Sarandon should be complimented for her effort to achieve authenticity in the part.
Gillette created the woman-shaving fad in the 1930's in an effort to increase their razor sales (which doubled). Then in the late 60's, the influence of the hippie sub-culture and the style changes it brought caused young women to stop wearing makeup and to stop shaving. A few years later, the cosmetic companies unleashed a media blitz to get people away from this "natural look." They were successful and big shoulder pads, heavy makeup (even cartoonish), and shaving became fads again.
Now women have completely bought into it. American advertising is designed to make women feel insecure and unattractive, and then tells them they can only be beautiful if they wear the latest (and most expensive) gunk, and each day scrap off every hair below their eyebrows.
There are millions of American women who don't shave. For an instance: go to any Gay Rights parade, and you will see most (if not all) of the women are unshaven. Unless lesbian women are working as sex workers or in the fashion industry, they mostly don't shave. And that's at least 10 million American women right there.
As far as the rest of the world, women shaving is definitely an American phenomenon. England, Canada, and the big city women in France are flooded with American-style advertising, and they mostly shave, as do many of the Scandinavians. Half or more of the women in Germany, Poland, Greece, Italy, Spain, etc., don't shave. Eastern Europe, Russia, and especially all the Moslem countries are unshaven, as are most of the women in India and Pakistan. 500 million women in China are unshaven, and so are most women of South and Central America. I don't know about Africa, but since many Africans are struggling to stay alive, they probably don't worry too much about American-style fashion fads.
You should get off your sofa and look somewhere other than at your TV, if you want to talk about "the whole world."
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huckfunn
19 years ago
"Now women have completely bought into it. American advertising is designed to make women feel insecure and unattractive, and then tells them they can only be beautiful if they wear the latest (and most expensive) gunk, and each day scrap off every hair below their eyebrows."
Tommykins, I like the cut of your jib! I don't know where you get your stats, and I'm not sure about all of them, but they ring true. Thanks much for the lesson in fem body hair.
Your assessment of American beauty advertising directed at women is right on the ill-gotten money. I'm not opposed to some makeup (most women and older girls can enhance their looks and appear more youthful with it) and good hygiene, but the shaving of pits and pubes is RIDICULOUS! You want to know how ridiculous? My 12-year-old daughter has started shaving her nether region (something I learned from my wife, btw; she certainly doesn't have my endorsement) -- and her friends supposedly are doing it as well.
I can't wait for this ugly trend to reverse itself. I may move to Latvia.
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kinchradio
18 years ago
NUTS! Hairy armpits are gross- Susan did a great job, but needed a shave.(tumbleweeds are not sexy) He must have really loved her.
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brewhouse
18 years ago
All I got to say is WHO CARES? Susan Sarandon was hot in that movie!
Foreman's not as easy as Cameron. But, of course, who is? -- Dr. House
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soggybottom
17 years ago
This thread is hilarious!
I didn't even notice the hairy pits, but I say that if guys are allowed to have them, then so should the gals!
I totally agree with KPrasad--Why would that make a woman less attractive?
And it does go well with the character. She can't even throw away her half-eaten sandwiches or cigarette butts for cryin' out loud!
I think that she should focus first on disposing of all of the rotting food lying around the house before being concerned about a little hair sprouting underneath the arms.
One bite of that nasty sandwich would've totally killed the mood!!!
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sfrsez
10 years ago
great post tommy! make up and shaving is for suckers.
peer pressure and propaganda is alive and well and the cause of many miseries.
I myself never buy anything that has been advertised. no name always
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huckfunn
9 years ago
great post tommy! make up and shaving is for suckers.
My wife and I have been after our (now 22-yo) daughter for years to minimize her make-up. She has of course ignored us on this. So, recently, I asked her what would happen if she wore less make-up. Her answer:
"I'd have uglier boyfriends." Makes ya think.
Martha Washington was a hip, hip, hip lady, man.
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