Why go out of your way to look less masculine?

[Paa_Paw]

So often we hear from young men who are having serious problems dealing with Gynecomastia. When they get around to posting pictures they are waxed, sugared or shaved.

Nothing looks more feminine to me than a hairless torso. In many men, their small breasts or puffy nipps would be totally hidden if they would simply allow their body hair to hide it naturally.

Just the musings of an old man, but I really do wonder about this sometimes.

[hammer]

I've got a good song for you to hear Paa_Paw, I'm not sure if your a fan of country music, but google Brad Pasley "I'm still a guy". I think most of us old guys can identify with the song very well. We may have boobs but we still are men and can grip a tackle box. Even though I may have lost my pair I've got a gun in my truck! When you hear the song you'll understand that line.

[jimmyC]

I somewhat agree with what your saying. However as a result of the media's portrayal of the ideal modern male, a lot of women don't find overly hairy men appealing and a lot of men don't feel comfortable with a lot of body hair. As a relatively hairy mofo I wish this wasn't the case but maybe it will be fashionable again oneday haha.

[hammer]

So, if the media said it was cool to cut of your left hand would everyone do it?

I grow up in the 60s and 70s and never followed the cool thing to do, I've always did things my way and dance to the beat of a different drummer as the old saying goes. I've never gotten into drugs, trouble with the law, in fact I was on the other side. I may not have had all the COOL friends but most of the are in the cemetery across the street from my house and have been for years. 

So, if you were to leave the hair grow on your chest, you will meet the girl who is willing to dance to the beat of her own drum and love you for who you are and not because you follow  the "in" group and do as they do!

[jimmyC]

I don't agree with it but its the reality of the situation. Why do women shave their legs?  When there is constant pressure from the media and in turn society to look a certain way, if you look different, much like gynecomastia, most people want to do something about it and fit in.

[hammer]

Jimmy, I will refer back to my other post! No one is physically twisting anyone's arm! All through the generations there has been pressure, I know that it is tougher now with the texting, Facebook ect... But I have some of my own children who have decided not to be pulled into that BS and to do their own thing! I have one daughter that did fall into it for awhile but now after 4 years of college and now in the Navy has now learn it is better to do it her way!

It takes being strong, good self esteem and self confidence to be able to do this. There are plenty of us men in this world that have lived with gyne all our life and not let it stopped us for a full and happy life. I can't remember not having boobs. I served my country eleven years, four Navy as a diver and many other duties then seven Army reserves. I had five children and three grandchildren and breast that have grown to DDs. My health went bad making them grow that big, but it doesn't stop me from enjoying life as well as I can as much as a can.

There are plenty right here on the forum, others that don't even know that there is a name for the condition of big breast on men. They live full lives not thinking twice about "being different".

I heard Jenifer Lawrence from the new "hunger games" say that in her line of work she is considered over weight! She has decided not to fall for there BS, " not her exact works but close enough".

Maybe it is time that everyone tells the media, screw you, I'm not falling for the trap, I'm doing my way as I'm a individual and I'm going to just be me!

I've live by the two following all my life and I believe in them very strongly,

I am who I am and will change for no one!

I would rather be hated for who I am, then loved for who I'm not!

[jimmyC]

I agree with you that people should say screw you to the media and I agree that people should be the individual they are. But as for the original question, that is just my personal opinion on why it may be the case that people shave their chests these days

[Paa_Paw]

Please don't try to tell me it is done to please the ladies. My wife gets upset when they shave off more than they need to when they do an EKG.

It does seem to me that the trend is to either look juvenile or to look feminine. A hairy chest is neither of those things.

[hammer]

Jimmy I deal with it with my kids! I have one daughter that is 23 and another that is 21! They both are 4 year college degree graduates, the 23 year old is now married has a 1 1/2 boy and a dairy farm, the 21 year old is in the Navy!

I also have 2 sons 33 & 29. 33 year single but the 29 married with 2 boys of his own.

So I may not deal with today's girls as far as dating or for girl friends but I'm not that far dis connected from them because my daughters friends also love hanging around our home also and have come to calling my wife and I mom and dad.

And no, no one pulled my arm to serve, I would do it all over again, in fact in was one of the best things I did in my life that helped myself for my future, and if need be even at my age I would stand up and still give my life for my country, and countryman!

[GynoWonder]

So often we hear from young men who are having serious problems dealing with Gynecomastia. When they get around to posting pictures they are waxed, sugared or shaved.

Nothing looks more feminine to me than a hairless torso. In many men, their small breasts or puffy nipps would be totally hidden if they would simply allow their body hair to hide it naturally.

Just the musings of an old man, but I really do wonder about this sometimes.

Why are you so concerned about what is and what is not masculine in another man?

[hammer]

So often we hear from young men who are having serious problems dealing with Gynecomastia. When they get around to posting pictures they are waxed, sugared or shaved.

Nothing looks more feminine to me than a hairless torso. In many men, their small breasts or puffy nipps would be totally hidden if they would simply allow their body hair to hide it naturally.

Just the musings of an old man, but I really do wonder about this sometimes.

Why are you so concerned about what is and what is not masculine in another man?

I have to tell you, Paa_Paw isn't the only older guy here that thinks about this! I've ask myself, my wife and my daughters and their friends where have all the men gone? The real ladies tell me that it is very hard to find a real man, but a hard man is real good to find!

You still can find these kind of men in a country boy, and there are a few found in city boys too, but I've heard there far and few between.

[Benign]

in bodybuilding... aka any form of muscle gain, no body hair helps show how defined the muscle is. I personally don't shave my bodyhair regularly, and the last time I did was for my gyno surgery.... but I have lifted for a few years and it is quite obvious that shaving ur chest makes it look bigger/more defined. for me anyway... I like having chest hair though, so I'm kind of contradicting myself lol

[Alchemist]

There has been an international organization from Holland, Smoothies International.  They have been around for decades.  This whole body shaving business has been been a matter of discussion and practice within the textile free world for at least 50 years or so that I am aware of.  I'm going to give my opinion of "why now?" as well as "why?" at all.  Let me set a little context.

I had to body shave for attachment of latex body "makeup" for a play.  That was back in the late 60s.  Even at that time a few of the ladies were doing pubic shaving.  Being trustworthy, a decent photographer and having a darkroom, I had girls ask me to do photography portfolios including nudes.  What they didn't want to be seen with was a bad or stubbly shave job.  What a butcher job I did on parts of myself and my girlfriend did on the rest.  The trimmers of the time pinched delicate skin. The standard "safety razor" caused lots of razor burn and nicks.  Body shaving was definitely a blood sport then and not for the overly delicate.


As trimmers and razors, electric and blade, improved, and waxing became available more people tried it.  My partner and I decided to start pubic shaving 9 or 10 years ago.  At that point the only shaved chests (or waxed, etc) were on body builders and some models.  At the nudist hangouts body grooming is much more important than it is in the textile world as that is what you are showing to the world.  I think that there is a larger percentage of tattoos,  certain types of jewelry in some parts of the country are popular such as anklets, necklace, a necklace type thing around the waist and then there is body jewelry of the piercing variety.  For a while shaved to shape pubic hair was popular, hearts for the valentine's day dance for instance.  The older girls and young women often have totally weird hair colors; green, purple, magenta etc.  These can be seen at the supermarket when it is the hair on their heads.

The kids love temporary tattoos.  Even nudists get gussied up in ways that don't make sense in a lot of ways. 

About 5 years ago some really good body trimmers and razors came out making it easy and taking the pinch and blood out of shaving.  Suddenly the male chest shaving started getting popular.  It looked like it hit about 50% last year, and all ages, from teen to the over 65 crowd.  I started shaving my chest and stomach also about 3 years ago.  I like the way it feels.  It is very sensuous.  I had a massage last night.  I like the feel so much better.  I don't itch all over from the hair.  And my hair was "blotchy" you might say.  My legs are neuropathicly slick anyway and have been for 30+ years.  Most of my body hair was light brown or blond except in places where I had "pebbled" skin from RSD with coarse thick black hairs.  I had neuropathicly slick areas of skin on my torso from damaged nerves. 

Do I think that body shaving is to look more feminine or juvenile? It might be for some, but for me? Hell no.  That's silly. Is it to be in "style"  Not really.  It is a style, all choices are whether it is bathing and combed, coloring or shaving or trimming or ...  I had a beard full beard for about 20 years.  A shaved body is more comfortable when one is in and out of the water a dozen times a day. It is far more sensuous for sex, massage and even just enjoying the feel of the water, sun and wind on skin.  Many who try it like it.  I'll continue until I am no longer able to maintain it.  Then it is an "oh well" since it doesn't really matter and is a personal preference and comfort.

So have fun.   

In a more public situation it may have a little more shock value.  People who might have made bully comments just let their jaws drop in blessed silence.  Being up front and in their face changes everything.  They end up on the defensive, not me.