- By ANUM HAMID
There is a girl who just want to be herself. She is comfortable with who she is, and don’t feel the need to change for anyone. However, the people around her has different ideas. They want her to be someone else, someone that they feel is more acceptable or more in line with their own expectations.
Despite her protests, the girl find herself being pushed in a direction that she didn’t want to go. She is young, and don’t have the power to make her own decisions or to reject the opinions of others. The people who are closest to her, the ones who should have understand her the most, are the ones who are causing her the most pain.
It is a difficult situation, and one that the girl don’t know how to handle. She felt trapped, with no way out. She couldn’t be herself, and she couldn’t be what others wanted her to be. She is stuck in the middle, with no escape.
This is a story of Maha who have to make a choice. She could continue to let others control her life, or she could take a stand and be true to herself. It isn’t an easy decision. Maha’s experience is unfortunately all too common. People are often judged and shamed for their natural appearance, particularly when it comes to body hair. In Maha’s case, her family and friends were taunting her for having a “men like face” and being hairy. This type of body shaming can be incredibly damaging to a person’s self-esteem and body image.
The idea that women should have hairless bodies has been around for centuries. In ancient Egypt, women would use beeswax and sugar to remove hair from their bodies. In ancient Greece, women would use pumice stones to remove hair. The idea of hairlessness was seen as a sign of beauty and cleanliness. This idea has continued throughout history, with women often being expected to remove hair from their legs, underarms, and bikini area.
In recent years, the idea of hairlessness has been challenged. Some women are choosing to embrace their natural body hair as a way of rejecting societal norms. This movement has been dubbed “body hair positivity” and has gained traction on social media. Women are sharing pictures of their unshaven legs and underarms and encouraging others to do the same. While body hair positivity is still a relatively small movement, it is challenging the idea that women should be hairless.
Ultimately, the decision to remove body hair is a personal one. Some women feel more comfortable and confident when they are hairless, while others prefer to embrace their natural body hair. It’s important to remember that there is no right or wrong way to have a body. Everyone is different, and everyone should be free to make their own choices about how they want to look.
However, in Maha’s case, there was more going on than just body hair. She was dealing with hormonal problems that were causing excess hair growth. Unfortunately, her mother and sisters didn’t realize this and were instead encouraging her to shave every day. This is a common misconception – shaving doesn’t actually make hair grow back thicker or faster.
It’s worth noting that the idea of hairlessness is not limited to women. Men are also often expected to remove hair from their bodies, particularly from their chests and backs. However, the pressure on men to be hairless is not as strong as it is for women. This is just another example of how societal norms are often gendered.
The beauty industry also plays a role in promoting the idea of hairlessness. There are countless products on the market that are designed to help women remove hair from their bodies. From razors to waxing kits to hair removal creams, there are a variety of options available. While these products can be helpful for some women, they are not necessary. It’s important to remember that you don’t need to spend money on hair removal products in order to be beautiful or desirable.
The societal norms of hair removal can be linked to body shaming. When people are told that they should remove hair from their bodies in order to be beautiful or desirable, it can make them feel ashamed of their natural appearance. This can be particularly damaging for women, who are often told that they need to be hairless in order to be attractive.
When Maha reached to a specific age, she felt that she should cover her face and wear a hijab to hide her facial hair. Whenever she was with her friends or even at home with an uncovered face, everyone would tell her that she had hair on her face like a man. She would go to the beauty salon every five days to have her face threaded, which was so painful that she would cry. But she would never leave a single hair on her face. Sometimes, she would even do it herself at home. It is a common problem in our society, and thousands of girls like Maha face it every day. Despite their best efforts, they are unable to live their lives on their own terms, and instead feel pressured to conform to the expectations of others.
Many of these girls are not even supported by their own mothers, who instead advise them to suffer through the pain and continue to conform to societal norms. This can be a difficult situation, as it leaves these girls feeling alone and unsupported, with no one to turn to for help.
Body hair shaming can take many forms. Women who choose to embrace their natural body hair may be called “gross” or “unhygienic.” Men who choose to keep their body hair may be called “unmanly” or “unattractive.” These types of comments can be incredibly hurtful and can make people feel ashamed of their bodies. Such shaming is just one example of how societal norms can contribute to negative body image. When people feel like they don’t measure up to the beauty standards that society has set, it can lead to feelings of shame, anxiety, and depression. It’s important to remember that everyone’s body is different, and there is no one “right” way to look.
Ultimately, it’s important to be kind and accepting of ourselves and others. We should all strive to create a world where people are judged based on their character, not their appearance.
Maha, is just one girl in thousands who has experienced the painful effects of body shaming and the pressure to conform to society’s beauty standards. Maha’s story is not unique – many people, particularly women, are judged and shamed for their natural appearance. This can be incredibly damaging to a person’s self-esteem and can lead to a variety of mental health issues.
In Maha’s case, the pressure to conform to society’s beauty standards was so great that she would go to great lengths to remove the hair from her face, even if it meant enduring painful threading sessions every five days. This is a common experience for many women, who feel that they must conform to a narrow and unrealistic standard of beauty in order to be accepted by society.
For girls like Maha, this pressure can be particularly difficult to bear. They are constantly bombarded with messages about how they should look, act, and behave, and are made to feel like they are not good enough if they don’t conform to these expectations.
Despite this pressure, however, there are still many girls who are willing to stand up for themselves and fight against body shaming. They refuse to be defined by their appearance, and instead focus on being true to themselves and living their lives on their own terms.
It’s not an easy road, but it’s one that is worth taking. By standing up for themselves and refusing to be defined by their appearance, these girls are inspiring others to do the same. They are showing that it’s possible to be true to yourself, even in a society that is constantly trying to bring you down.
In the end, it’s up to each of us to decide how we want to live our lives. If you or someone you know is dealing with body shaming or other body image issues, it may be helpful to seek out professional help or support from friends and family.
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- ANUM HAMID is a knowledgeable and skilled media studies lecturer in Iqra National University, and journalist with a passion for sharing insights and perspectives on current events and issues.
- anumhamid9@gmail.com