BEING HAIRY IS OKAY

My Good Hair Day.

We've been conditioned to fit into the society, to go with societal standards of beauty. We've not been taught about the importance of comfort. We're a part of a society where girls shave their arms, armpits, legs and what not, as they hit puberty. Some do it by choice, and most of them hate to shave but end up doing it anyway. This is a serious problem. It hasn't been addressed much and it has always been limited to theory. It hasn't made a difference yet. My heart cries at the sight of young girls feeling embarrassed with hairy skin. It leaves a void in your heart when you start feeling miserable of yourself and difficult to fit in. If girls don't shave their hair, it's dirty!? If girls don't shave their hair, it's a "jungle" to look at. Can we not love the hair that grow on our body??

We've accepted this beauty standard with oppression. Every institution of the society knowingly or unknowingly promotes this norm. It promotes the definition of perfect while perfection is an illusion. Yes, shaved legs are beautiful but aren't hairy legs too? The argument is not about shaved and hairy, it's about comfort and discomfort. If you're comfortable shaving your legs, do it. If not, don't think about who will stare at you and how. Don't think about the taunts that will be thrown at you. The stares and taunts are only to be thrown into a bin. Believe me.

Every problem has a solution. Every problem has to be solved. The solution to this issue is very simple. The blame is definitely on the society but the solution isn't the same. So, when you learn to embrace yourself as you are and live the way you like to, societal acceptance won't even matter. Gradually, you will have automatically questioned the mindsets of people and taken a step towards reforming the society. If Good hair day is associated with the hair on the head, can the association not be altered? My goosebumps make me celebrate a good hair day too, this is the change. Have the courage to be who you are without apology. When you understand and implement this, you will have chosen to live the most important principle of life- In your comfort, lies your happiness.?

Being Hairy is Okay, okay? Society will love you when you love YOU.?

Written by a 17-year girl who hasn't shaved her legs and arms and is still a girl.

• I wrote this 2 years back and it makes me feel powerful and loved.