*Yes I realize that the title is an overstatement but at least I’ve got your attention.

                In no more than 10 years the standards for boys has changed completely.  Shaving your body (including legs, arms, chests, and backs) was seen only on body builders and professional swimmers. Hair use to be a sign of “manhood” but where has this notion gone?

Men and teenage boys especially are waxing, trimming, and shaving all the hair off of their bodies like plucked chickens. The typical man with hair on his body creates uproars of “EWW” or laughing and pointing behind his back. I can’t speak for all girls but I can say that many girls agree with me on this statement: There is NOTHING wrong with boys having hair on their bodies! Some girls may say that yes they like it when boys shave, but the truth is if you are a boy why should you care? It is very much a stereotypical boy characteristic to “sluff” off all the things that girls say and just be their own person; we end up liking you anyways. Mainly all I can say is that although there are other changes the main change from boy to man has a lot to do with their capacity to grow body hair. Therefore boys shaving the hair they have is preventing them from looking like the man that they long to be. Forget what girls say about shaving, it is your choice to join girls in this practice.  Although I will admit, shaving may result in you losing your “man card.” 

Shaving isn’t the only thing that is shocking me about boys. Recently the term CHICK- flick hasn’t been very chick oriented. Only the other day I was in a group of boys where we discussing the movie The Last Song. In this discussion I was chastised by the boys for not liking the movie as they exclaimed that “it had made them cry.” It seems that now the men are more soft then the women (or I’m more manly than I think). Yes, it is true that not all men are like this and maybe this is a teenage boy stage that they will grow out of but it still worries me. I fear that I’ll be the one chasing the burglar out of the house with a bat: I believe that’s the man’s job. If men can’t even handle their emotions with a chick flick, then how are they going to get up enough courage to fight off an attack?  

For those who are like the boys that I described, don’t get me wrong. I don’t think you are feminine I just feel that it is more manly and attractive to be natural. Be what you want but don’t feel that because some girls feel that shaving is attractive that all girls feel that way. Also don’t feel obligated to enjoy the chick flick you take your girlfriend to. If you liked it that’s great, but if you didn’t you’re fine to say that it was “alright.” Overall “be what you want and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind” –Dr. Seuss.