Daring photo series challenges female body hair standards

One of the most in-your-face and thought-provoking photo-series is challenging one of the most engrained taboos of beauty that concerns female body hair.

As the series of dramatic photographs progress, photographer Ben Hopper, in his project, yet titled, Natural Beauty, takes the bold initiative in asking the question, why does armpit hair on women still

cause such uneasiness (and asks his viewers to contemplate on how, and why the ideals of our ideals of beauty have developed in the manner that we are currently accustomed to).

The removal of unwanted hair has been practiced almost without controversy throughout the millennia, and one may equate removing hair with cleanliness, femaleness and beauty. It winds its way back to the Medieval Age when the Stone Age people, men and women:

both of them were using seashells, rock-sharpened instruments, as well as any other primitive things to depilitate their bodies. However, the message is not that much different:

As the tools have changed, their goal remains the same: smooth skin equals sexy and hair-free skin, especially when it comes to women, is something to get rid of at any cost.

Another step toward the cementing the idea was the modern era itself and most especially through the prism of Charles Darwin and his theory of natural selection. Darwin implied that humans who lost body hair became more attractive which was illustrative of a higher form of evolution;

the consequence of which, hairlessness gained additional social currency, that of beauty, privilege, and sexual desirability. These quack scientific notions slowly seeped into the cultural mainstream to become the unyielding beauty ideals that we know today.

By the early 20th century, hairlessness as a feminine norm was being entrenched by advertising campaigns and women fashion trends- not least the popularization of sleeveless attire. The armpit hair not only was not wanted but was practically scandalous and the stigma prevails today.

It is this inner shame which Hopper sets to address. The photographer, with the base in London, started working on the project of Natural Beauty in 2007 with a single and shocking discovery: how shattering a taboo on female armpits hair remains.

According to Hopper, the armpit hair is very disgusting, non-hygienic, repulsive, grotesque or very masculine. His photography is trying to break that story up by depicting women as they are: with body hair, but through a high-fashion perspective, free of retouching and artificial elements, allowing their strong and confident natures shine through.

The result photographs (many stark black and white) present a contrast in terms of visual representation with historical notions of feminine beauty presented against what the society continues to perceive as the unconventional. Most of the subjects, who are actresses, models, or artists, open up in supporting thoughts of their experiences with body hair and the judgment of society.

A model named Kyotocat, who did shave before she decided not to, wrote that it was liberating: It was like being able to breathe. I also experienced a confidence and boldness coming back in me as I was reclaiming some sort of primal strength.”

Subversive Joy of Going against the Grain Let live by SOPEH ROSE Another model talked about how it was fun to be going against the grain. At least, it was empowering, she said. It is helping you because it

makes you feel stronger that you do not give [in] to being the way you have come to be told to be.” I had a blast when people would make face turning away in disgust it was amusing.”

The decision of Gabriela Eva to grow her hair was more an experiment on an individual level. In her words, it made her feel natural and vulnerable in the beginning and ultimately empowered. and by taking it off now I would feel somewhat naked.

Members who participated in choice did not see a political undertaking in their choice. Another subject Sienna said, “I do not think that an act of women not shaving should be radical per se.” Naturally, it is

one more method with which the women can reject adhering to the ideas of the patriarchal beauty, yet I do not want my body to be always discussed as a political area.”

That is what Swedish actor Emilie Bostdt wrote when she put her armpits to the test: “That the idea of letting your armpit hair grow is essentially a statement or a political statement in this society, is strange, and that is a reason to grow.”

Hopper makes it clear as to what he intends. He is not promoting the idea that all women should not use the razors anymore; he wants to make the issue be discussed. He simply believes that it is possible and it should not be dismissed by people. I would like people to let the entire thing come into question [beauty standards].

It has now changed into something beyond a series of photography, it is now a movement as each collection serves as an eye opening matter in starting discussions and breaking conventionality. One that asks people to take a second glance, take a second thought, and change the definition of beautiful.

Hopper has achieved not only the artistic statement with the picture, but also a mirror of the culture with the picture titled as Natural Beauty. And that reflection may be shocking to many, since maybe it is the first time in which women appear without the veil of the illusions that they are told to reflect.