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To Shave or Not To Shave

Date: Mar 06 2007

Themes: Fashion, Health

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Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

norms
offend

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Expectations of women vary greatly around the world, from behavior to dress to… body hair.

In the US, most women shave their legs and armpits, but usually only when they are going to be showing. Generally, American women don’t shave their armpits much in the winter. But once they are wearing tank tops, they shave. By contrast, in Europe, it is more common to see armpit hair on women. But we never see any body hair on fashion models, whether American or international.

The subject of body hair is not something people generally talk about. It’s more often something girlfriends talk about among themselves. But listen to Mason and Amanda get up close and personal on the subject of shaving.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Mason

Amanda

Mason: Can I ask you a blank question?

Amanda: Yes.

Mason: Do you shave your armpits?

Amanda: Sometimes.

Mason: Sometimes.

Amanda: When it’s convenient for me or when it’s warm outside and I’m wearing something that reveals my armpits. Otherwise...

Mason: Uh huh.

Amanda: ... No. Why bother?

Mason: But when you’re saying when it reveals your armpits.

Amanda: Mm hm.

Mason: I’m not saying I’m a fan of armpit hair on, on women but it obviously is there. Uh, why do you think that when it’s exposed that you need to be clean?

Amanda: I don’t want to offend anyone who may be offended by that sight. But what’s interesting is when I travel internationally, I don’t have to worry about that and it’s fabulous.

Mason: Yeah.

Amanda: It’s the most liberating feeling that I’m not going to offend anyone.

Mason: Why do you… why do you care, I mean…

Amanda: That I don’t have to shave for anyone.

Mason: Offend who? Like, that just seems silly.

Amanda: It is silly. It… and it’s vain. I agree.

Mason: I’m OK with vanity.

Amanda: I’m working on it and I would like to one day be OK with the fact that…

Mason: This doesn’t just happen.

Amanda: Oh, really?

Mason: Yeah.

Amanda: That’s art. Just how it’s…

Mason: Oh, yeah. It’s sculpted like a Chinese Garden.

Amanda: Do you want me to sculpt my armpits?

Mason: You know, maybe that’s what you should do. You should just have fun with it.

Amanda: Well, I’m gonna need to buy a stencil kit.

Mason: Mm hm. I can recommend a place.

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Discussion

The introduction says that Mason and Amanda get “up close and personal.” This is an expression that means two people share personal information with one another. “Up close” implies that there is very little physical distance between them. “Up close” is the opposite of “far away.” If you look at something “up close,” your eyes are only inches away from whatever you are looking at.

When Mason says “blank question” he means “frank question.” He means he wants to ask Amanda a very direct and somewhat personal question.

Amanda knows that in the US, most women shave their armpits. That’s why she shaves hers. She knows this is silly but it is difficult to go against social norms.

When Mason says “This doesn’t just happen” he is referring to his facial hair. He shaves it in a certain pattern. He and Amanda joke that she should do the same thing with the hair under her arms!

Do women shave their armpits in your country?

Comments

CatcheR

Iceland

Some yes some no. It is depend on what are they wearing. But now very little people wearing tank top in mmy country. But some people said that they are used to shave their armpits. Just weird when seeing women with their body hair on hhhhh

mahbubeh92

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I think mason is a busybody boy for that blank Q.

Ofcourse that women shave their armpits ..what a question! as others mentioned its personal hygiene especially our religion ISLAM recommends it to be clean.

Even if your armpit is not exposed i think you have to shave it for the sake of hygiene.

I M P E R I V M

United States

I like hairy Girls really!

Old Yeller

United Arab Emirates

Both men and women must shave it and remove it , and dont left it more than forty days without shaving

foz12

Saudi Arabia

Yes in my country the women shaving and use wax

nice topic :)

odaii

Syrian Arab Republic

In my country it’s the norm 4 women 2 shave everything,including neighbors’ armpits! That was a joke dummies! But it’s like i think its great to be hair free regardless of gender.

Lenaaa

Russian Federation

Actually, I’m surprised to know that most women in Europe and the USA don’t shave their armpits regularly. I do it in summer and winter, doesn’t matter what I wear. For me it’s, first of all, hygiena. And I know that most women here, in Russia, do shave their armpits regularly. But of course it’s everyone’s own business to shave or not.