OK - you asked for it, so here it is.
There are a number of things we (as a species) do that don'y necessarily make much sense but we do them just the same. In the matter of attracting mates, we do a lot of silly stuff. There's no compelling reason for makeup, for example, but everybody does it and we all take it for granted (and the men like it). But you can overdo it (see Tammy Faye Baker), which is a turnoff.
Then there are things that are not so easily reversed - I'm thinking of piercings and tatoos. You'd better be dam sure you're going to like it, and that it will be fashionable for a long time, 'cuz you gotta live with it. You're probably safe with earings - not too sure about tongue piercing.
Finally, there are those things that are semi-permanent. Hair removal is one. I can't believe that female hair (facial, legs, armpits, etc.) was a serious issue up until about 100 years ago, because there was no easy way to get rid of it. Besides, women were mostly covered up anyhow.
I don't know exactly when Western culture dictated that women shall have smooth legs and hairless armpits. Other cultures are not so fastidious, or so I am told. I do know that women who became adults before the Second World War were often apt to be much less concerned about body hair (except for facial hair).
I am led to believe that there are several methods for removal of unwanted hair. Shaving and plucking are mechanical. Depilatory creams and such are chemical. Electrolysis is permanent(and somewhat painful, I'm told).
A "wax" job is apparently the procedure whereby hot wax is applied to the desired area and, when it hardens, it's ripped off and the hair comes with it, roots and all. Is this right? Gawd! That's got to be painful!
The only reason I can see why one would put up with this effort (and pain) is the belief that it makes one acceptable socially and attractive to prospective mates. (Sounds like a sociology professor or something, right?
).
The bikini wax job is meant to remove visible hair from the, er, bikini area. Now, this is only visible if one is wearing clothing (such as a swimsuit) that is really cut away. Hmmmm. I've seen girls as young as 8 or 10 being dressed in extremely high cut swimsuits. What are they being led to advertise? I've seen kids going to junior high looking like they're going to a s1ut convention. Again, what are we telling these kids? Blatant sexual attraction is everything, so start now?
Before a few years ago, the only women I was aware of who had hair removed from the bikini area appeared in porno flicks. Howard Stern used to taunt women about "shaving that thang." I have no idea when it became
de rigeur to be clean shaven, er, there. Please enlighten me.
Is it a turnon/turnoff? Well, you have to know about for it to be one of the other. I suspect that, when it is discovered, it might be a surprise but, because of the "urgency" of the "situation", it will be accepted. Beyond that, I don't think most men will have strong opinions one way or the other. That comment could very well be generation dependent, too.
I suspect asking your boyfriend's advice in the matter would be a turnon. Asking your husband might be a bother.
Running out of time here. This is all just one man's opinion.
[This message has been edited by BigLar (edited 08-11-2003).]