title: "I think gorilla-like back effusions of hair are rather a turn-off": 'Excessive hair' and male body hair (removal) discourse.
abstract: Men's hair removal practices are becoming mainstream, seen as a consequence of changing masculine norms and men's relationships to their bodies. This is often presented as a straightforward 'shift' from men's ideal bodies as naturally hairy, to increased hairlessness, and the consequence on men's body concerns as inevitable. This paper analyses qualitative survey data from Aotearoa/New Zealand using critical thematic analysis, and describes three themes. Two themes capture contradictory ideas: that men's body hair is natural, and that men's body hair is unpleasant. A third theme introduces the concept of 'excess' hair, which allowed sense-making of this contradiction, mandating men's grooming of 'excessive' hair. However its vagueness as a concept may provoke anxiety for men resulting in hair removal. This paper adds to a body of research demonstrating a cultural transition: the ways changing masculinities, increased commodification of male bodies, and shifting gender roles impact on men's hair removal practices.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Person Centred Research, School of Clinical Sciences, AUT University, Private Bag 92006, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. Electronic address: gareth.terry@aut.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Gareth
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Terry
authors.affiliation: The School of Psychology, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand. Electronic address: v.braun@auckland.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Braun
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology*; D006204:Hair Removal / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D057228:Masculinity; D009520:New Zealand / Q000208:ethnology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body hair removal; Masculinity; Men; Qualitative survey data; Thematic analysis