As an avid gender theory consumer, I chronically analyze my interactions with men through a critical feminist lens… which men are generally not appreciative of when I ask them to psychoanalyze why they can not hold a tote bag without being homophobic or why their inability to eat vegetables is misogynistic. As such, I found myself seriously mulling over the gender implications of the Cornell 2025 Performative Male Contest.
For those not in the know, the “performative male” is often a cisheterosexual man who downs matchas, downs feminist literature, and is down to eat you out. He is characterized by his desire to appeal to the female gaze, which is often not the case of traditional depictions of masculinity. There is much to unpack with the “performative male” caricature — I recently spotted a performative male in the wild, wearing corded headphones and acting nonchalant at a frat party — but what stuck out to me at the contest was one of the questions posed to the contestants: “bush or no bush?”
Discussions on how to maintain or shave pubic hair is not one that I shy away from, if anything, it is one of my go-to get to know you questions. However, I found myself, and continue to be, shocked that in front of 500 people, men were given a platform to discuss women’s pubic hair. Pubic hair: something that women are taught to be ashamed of and privately “take care of,” a punchline at the annual fad contest. Do not get me wrong, I absolutely loved the conversation and was proud of the winning answer (“Whatever she wants!”), but it made me reflect on my own internalized shame. In spite of how “feminist” and “progressive” I am in theory, I still feel a need to coddle and appeal to men in sexual situations.
I have always been of the belief that I would prefer to avoid the hassle and discomfort of shaving my pubic hair, and would only feel compelled to if the man I was seeing would prefer it, with the caveat that I hope to never be with a man who felt he had authority over how I present my body. However, I still always hold my breath when I undress in front of a new guy for fear that he will shame me for not looking like the hairless women he might see in porn.
And to him I say “fuck that!,” which is always easier said than done. But whether you prefer to keep it bare or let it grow, “bush or no bush” should be your choice. You are allowed to explore different grooming techniques or styles that suit your fancy.
My go to grooming strategy has been to trim the hair with small beauty scissors whenever it gets too long and unruly. But I have friends who shave every few days, use a ball razor for precise trimming, get a Brazilian wax, undergo laser hair removal, and do not touch the hair at all! If you are trying out waxing or a hair removal cream like Nair, I would suggest reading the label closely for directions and testing it out on a small part of your skin if you are worried about allergens.
Pubic hair is not only something that we do not have to be ashamed about, but also something that can be fun. From a landing strip to a heart, there are different shapes and “hairstyles” you can arrange your bush in.
It is not necessarily unhealthy if you and your partner want to discuss preferences on grooming. But at the end of the day, if your partner makes you feel uncomfortable in your natural body then use your unshaven legs connected to your unshaven pussy to kick them to the curb.
Robin McClit is a senior at Cornell dedicated to exploring sexuality through a critical feminist lens and supporting women’s wrongs. File a complaint at rmcclit@cornellsun.com.
