Why leg hair at work is still a cultural taboo

Leg hair at work has become an unexpected topic of discussion in many workplaces. Every summer, men question why they are often not allowed to wear shorts while women can wear skirts or dresses. Yet not everyone is comfortable with the sight of hairy legs at work. Why does leg hair still make so many people uncomfortable?

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Japan encourages employees to wear shorts at work

When it comes to workplace dress codes, companies are generally free to decide what employees may or may not wear. In Japan, however, the government takes a more active approach.

Since 2005, it has promoted the annual Cool Biz campaign, encouraging companies to relax their dress codes during the hottest months of the year. Employees are encouraged to wear open-collar shirts, short-sleeved shirts and shorts. The idea is simple: if people dress more comfortably, offices can reduce their use of air conditioning and save energy.

As temperatures continue to rise, casual clothing becomes more common and people have become familiar with Cool Biz, these relaxed dress codes are increasingly accepted. Yet shorts remain controversial. In recent months, Japanese media have reported discussions about “leg hair harassment.” The Japanese term sunehara refers to the discomfort some people experience when they see a colleague’s leg hair.

Why leg hair is still a taboo

The discomfort surrounding leg hair is not limited to Japan. In many countries, people would rather not see hairy male legs in the workplace. This has a lot to do with the cultural norms surrounding body hair. We often experience a feeling of discomfort without being able to explain exactly why.

In many workplaces, men are still expected to wear long trousers. Shorts are mainly associated with outdoor professions, and even there employers do not always accept them. Women, on the other hand, often show their legs when wearing skirts or dresses, but those legs are usually hairless. Despite growing support for body positivity and feminist movements, society still expects women to remove their leg hair. As a result, most people have simply become less accustomed to seeing body hair in professional environments.

Meanwhile, hardly anyone questions the hair on someone’s head. People do not consider it unhygienic, nor do they strongly associate it with gender. This shows that our perception of body hair is largely shaped by culture. So far, there is no scientific evidence that leg or underarm hair is unhygienic.

Smooth legs and underarms

Negative attitudes towards body hair have not always existed. Until the early twentieth century, visible body hair was completely normal. At that time, Gillette only sold razors for men to shave their beards. When the company introduced one of the first safety razors for home use in 1904, shaving quickly became more popular among men.

Everything changed in 1915, when Gillette introduced the Milady Décolleté, a razor designed specifically for women. Looking for a new market, the company focused its advertising on leg and underarm hair. It claimed that body hair was unfeminine and unhygienic. To avoid associations with beard shaving, Gillette promoted the idea of “smooth legs and underarms.”

When shorter skirts and sleeveless dresses became fashionable during the 1920s, Gillette intensified its campaigns. Other razor manufacturers soon followed, recognising women as a valuable new customer base. Fashion magazines published these advertisements, and society gradually became accustomed to the idea that women should have hairless legs.

The future of leg hair at work

As summers become hotter around the world, shorts will likely become more common in the workplace. As a result, we will probably see more hairy male legs in professional settings. Although some men now remove their leg hair, they still make up a minority.

What do you think? Should we simply get used to seeing leg hair at work, or do you still think it is inappropriate?

Kind regards,

Aileen