by Maisah Outlaw

 

My host father told me that the two things a lady never has

are dirt under her fingernails,

and hair under her arms

 

The armpit

The center of funk and feminine rebellion

Hair escapes the follicles like slick whiskers or kinky activists

To keep them she labels herself a masochist

The image of her evoking raised fists

 

But am I a martyr?

The corporation says shave it

Your best friend says wax it

Nair says...burn it

What do you say?

Why do you say?

Do you reject your hair because you recall your host father's look of dismay?

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Submitted for Politics of Body Hair / Dec 2016 call for submissions

Blog post thumbnail image taken from http://i-am-madelynn.tumblr.com/post/36489568200/hairy-where-i-wanna-be