I recently came across someone at a iftaar party (which are all the rage these days – who would’ve thought breaking your fast would become a fad in itself). I’ve spoken to this person numerous times before, and shared pleasantries, made some chit chat. This time something interesting cropped up.
During our conversation she mentioned that her 7 year old daughter doesn’t like the hair on her arms or legs. She said her daughter feels self-conscious at school, and around her friends and so she helps her daughter to feel better. How does she do this I bet you are wondering? Does she tell her she is beautiful as she is? That she isn’t hairy in the slightest?
No, she waxes her daughters arms and legs for her. Waxing. A 7year old girl. And now her daughter likes her limbs like that as she has accepted that she is hairy and so needs it.
I was shocked. What kind of a mother seriously thinks it is normal and acceptable to have her 7 year old daughters arms and legs waxed because she (and the daughter) think she is hairy? What 7 year old doesn’t have hair on their arms and legs?
What the hell….!
Praise the Lord. What worries me here is not the waxing, but why it’s being done. It is one thing for someone to wax because they prefer that aesthetic effect with wax rather than without, and quite another to do it because of peer pressure.
I have an old friend (female) who, in an unshaven/waxed/etc. state has a coat of curly blonde wool on her legs and long (8 cm – about 3 in) silky hair on her arms. She’s about 1.84 m (slightly over 6 ft), could be a model if she wanted (but she isn’t the type). I admit to being sad when she decided to shave off her wool, because it was so nice, evenly distributed, etc.
However, for someone who has scraggly hairs on their legs scattered here and there, sticking out in weird directions, they may prefer to remove them, for the same reason that men with scraggly beards often shave them. And there’s also the point that clothing feels different on a shaved leg than on an unshaved leg, and some may prefer the shaved feel.
So I would say that if a person is old enough that hair removal can be carried out in a safe manner, and it reflects their personal preference rather than someone else’s, and they are able to feel good about themselves regardless of how their legs look, then why not?
Ouch!
Some children are very hairy. My son has hair on his back and girls tease him when they go swimming in school
He feels really bad about it but well what can you do!
I was just horrified to hear she was putting such expectations of what is beautiful and acceptable on her daughter from such a delicate age.
That is horrible. 7 yrs old is very young. Imagine how her self-esteem will be effected now that she knows her mother believes she is too hairy and needs to wax!
I feel sorry for this young girl.
It’s normal. My cousin who is 8 years old, she is extremely hairy. She’s got dark black hair on her back legs and arms. And my khala has been waxing her hair since she was 6. Only because, she says that this will reduce hair growth till she’s a grown up. My mother herself started the routine when I was 10. I used to cry back then and now that I’m married I thank her for that.
Yeah, if only mom let me do that, I would have been able to wear shorts in the summer when I was 18! I love my mom, but this little tiny resentment is still there.
Kids that age tease each other on a regular basis whether it be hair, teeth, skin color, speech, built, etc. How far will parents go to make their child “perfect” in the eyes of others? I personally think waxing (specially done because of peer pressure) at such a young age is wrong.
It is easy to judge for someone who is not hairy. Well I am hairy and I was so self conscious about it until my mom let me shave around 14. It was awful to be made fun off. My mom could care less because she was never hairy with her light hair. I took after my dad, dark thick hair. Now, my husband is hairy and I am hair and imagine how hairy my daughter is!! I totally feel her pain, she knows she beautiful, because I tell her every day. Her self esteam is rock solid, but just told me that in class on a hot day she does not want to roll up her pants like the rest of the girls because she is hairy. I told her my story and offered wax, not shaving, I explained to her that it hurts, but with time it will hurt less. I gave a choice. I also said she might be too young to get waxed. I don’t know, if my mom let me wax when I was young, I think would not have that trauma. I also look at this way, she will be dressed more modest as the time goes by. All I know, it drove me crazy!!!