Who or what started the trend that women should shave their legs and why?

Weird this question was on Yahoo the other day, anyway here's the question
http://ask.yahoo.com/20060210.html
Hope it helps:D

It all began with the May, 1915 edition of Harper's Bazaar magazine that featured a model sporting the latest fashion. She wore a sleeveless evening gown that exposed, for the first time in fashion, her bare shoulders, and her armpits. Harper's Bazaar ad stated: "Summer Dress and Modern Dancing combine to make necessary the removal of objectionable hair." Then a marketing company who also made razor blades for men, designed a campaign to convince the women of North America that having hair underarms and on the legs was unhygienic and unfeminine. Then the sales of razor blades doubled, the women of that time was conform to this socially constructed gender stereotype. This norm for North American women has been reinforced by several generations of daughters who role modeled their mothers. Women of today shave their legs because they like having smooth legs and it makes them feel more feminine.

Ha, I never knew that! I never even thought to raise such a question. How insightful. :)

So, let's see who shaves what (and I'm talking underarms and legs only). Also what nationality are you? I'm American and shave underarms only.

This is mim's daughter replying: I'm American and I don't shave my legs during the winter... but you already knew that mom. Hehehe, and of course I shave my underarms.

I save my underarms & my legs. I like my legs to be nice and smooth always!

Mim, I am a very feminine woman that likes my skin to be smooth and silky, so I do remove the unwanted hair from my legs and other parts of my body. I'm always around people at work, and I go to a lot of events, therefore, I have to look my best and present myself in a proper manner. I love wearing skirts in all lengths, dresses, tops, fitted jeans, high heels and accessories. And my skin has to be smooth and soft, it's wonderful being a woman.

Hmm you know.. some people don't like to shave/wax etc their body hair... so they just 'bleach' it, since bleached / blonde body hair is considered very acceptable (I mean... if a woman has blonde body hair on her arms that's totally OK.. is equivalent as if she had no hair).

Yes I understand some people do not like to shave and rather bleach there leg hair and armpit hair but its still very notcicable for girls because you can still notice that there is hair and when your wearing a skirt or something that's not to attracted also in the winter I do not shave my legs either but when I know I'm doing somethiing then yes I will shave them

I take umbrage at the insinuation that because I do not shave my leg hair I am not feminine. (Actually, I am not offended. I’m just sad for any person that thinks they have to shave to be feminine) I am quite feminine and my husband definitely agrees. When around people… I choose to look my best and present myself in a proper manner. I love wearing skirts , etc. also. My skin (legs) does not have to be smooth and silky and yes, it is wonderful being a woman, but shaving leg hair has nothing to do with that wonder.

Smooth legs and underarms do not make one feminine. Femininity is an inner quality, an attitude of the heart and mind. There are feminine/effeminate men out there.

I have shaved my legs before. I began shaving solely because after I became a cheerleader I was told that cheerleaders had to shave their legs. In later years I stopped because I hated shaving.

I think no woman on earth enjoys the act of shaving their legs. That is why many choose other ways to remove hair or choose not to remove it at all in the colder months. Why do so many women continue to do what they don’t like to do? Are they afraid of getting fired or no longer receiving party invites or boyfriends/husbands leaving them? Will the world end? Just what horrible thing will come upon us happen if women stop shaving their legs?

It seems to me that females shave because a society magazine said they should IF they want to look “feminine” like the “ladies” in the magazine. Females who cared about looking like the “ladies” in the magazines began the torture of shaving this, that and the other and taught their poor little dear ones after them to endure the same torture. And the only people benefiting are the ones who make hair removal products.

Many years ago females were duped into caring what some magazine said and began the torture of shaving this, that and the other and taught their poor little dear ones after them to endure the same torture.

Who benefits? The makers of hair removal products.

Well you know, most men really don't care if you've got hair on your arms/legs (but would prefer if there wasn't any though). Some prefer that a little (tiny bit) bit of hair is there rather than no hair at all.

But what really really really turns men of is even a strand of hair in your armpits... that is definitely a no no...

I'm not saying it defines you to be feminine or not I'm just saying that it doesn't look attractive

Attractive is a relative term; relative to who is using it. When I was a youth, every time I'd see my aunties hairy legs in her sheer nylons, I thought that was just the prettiest sight. I liked the way the hair looked laying in such wavy patterns. I'd dare say that none of the people who have replied so far have grown up around women that never shaved their legs. I did and never once did I think leg hair was unfeminine or unattractive. I still don't think leg hair on women detracts from her beauty or femininity.
Were women and girls not attractive or not feminine before they began to remove hair from their legs?
Carmenn I realize you only think it is unattractive (according to your post), however, prettynpetite1 thinks it is unattractive AND unfeminine. What will happen to all who thinks this way if for any reason you are ever unable to shave your legs again? Are you going to need emotional counseling? Will you only wear pants or long skirts and dresses the rest of your lives?
Femininity should never be defined by the amount of hair on ones legs.
P.S. I shave my underarms so as not to create a breeding ground for unpleasant smells, not so that I can be attractive to anyone.
Also, sorry if my post sounds mean. It's not meant to be. I just feel sorry for my friends and all women when I hear them talking about how much they dislike shaving or what a relief it is not to have to shave in the winter.
Cultural peer pressure causes people of all ages to do things they hate to do.

Mim, I think you've misunderstood my comment. You wanted to know if we shaved our legs... And I've said that I'm a feminine woman who likes my skin to be smooth, so I remove unwanted hair from my body. Don't assume that I keep my skin smooth to be feminine, I'm naturally feminine and sexy no matter what I do or wear. I'm not waxing and shaving my legs because I feel like I have to, I do it because I like it. Furthermore, I do not think that women who don't shave their legs are less feminine, every woman is feminine in their own way. Most women I know use hair removal methods because it makes them feel better. But that doesn't mean that they listen to what magazines say, women shave their legs for different reasons. A woman have the right to choose what she wants to look like, and if she wants to shave her legs and wear sexy clothes, that's her choice. No one has said that you or other women weren't feminine because you don't like to shave your legs, you do whatever makes you happy. If you choose to have hairy legs, good for you. May peace be with you.

Okey dokey.
Anyone else want to answer the question?
Do you shave legs/underarms and what nationality are you?

Mim I understand what your coming from I just think you take things to seriously I mean other people have their own opinions and if I didn't shave my legs I would wear pants... n I wasn't trying to offend you.

I do not shave my legs, but occasionally my underarms. I'm Asian.
I don't think Asians really care about hairs on their bodies. I grew up around people who never shaved and never once did I think it was weird or unnatural. I didn't take much notice in it.
However, ever since I moved to Canada, there was always this expectation of shaving. I never used to shave anywhere, but now I do my underarms, not for aesthetic reasons though. I still don't shave my legs and I don't plan on it. I've never worn shorts or skirts for around... 8 years? Yeah. I hate how it's considered "disgusting" and "manly" to have leg hair and even though I don't agree with their opinions, I'm not about to step out in public and have people stare at me and laugh. It HAS happened. The women in my family do not shave and my sister wore shorts once and when she walked out of the house, people started staring and pointing. I'm so disappointed at the country that's supposedly so great.

Will people ever start realizing that their cultures and customs are not the only 'right' ones?

I'm fortunate enough not to be very hairy, but I DEFINITELY shave my legs and armpits!:)

I would actually rather not shave them at all and just wax them, because shaving annoys me because of how much you have to do it. I like having hairless legs, but with waxing (which I prefer) you have to wait until the hair grows back enough to wax it again. I have been given looks at school and asked why don't I remove the hair from my legs, and the answer is I did but I have to wait for the hair to grow back. That is why I shave now but don't really want to. But other people want everyone to be that same as them and they refuse to have people with differences in whatever they do.