Prevalence and correlates of pubic hair grooming among low-income Hispanic, Black, and White women

Abstract

The purpose of this paper was to describe pubic hair grooming behaviors (shaving, waxing, trimming or dyeing) and the extent to which grooming was related to demographic characteristics and sexual history among low-income Hispanic, Black, and White women. Data were collected from 1,677 women aged 16 to 40 years between July 2010 and August 2011 as part of a larger study. Participants completed a cross-sectional written survey. Multivariable analyses were used to identify correlates of pubic hair grooming. Being a current groomer was associated with being White, a younger age, under or normal weight, having a yearly household income > $30,000, and having 5 or more lifetime sexual partners. Overall, we discovered pubic hair grooming was extremely common among women of varying demographics. It is important for health and research professionals to understand pubic hair grooming practices so they can address behavioral and clinical concerns.

035 Prevalence and Motivation for Pubic Hair Removal among Women in the United States

“…Given the wide availability of explicit media depicting pubic hair grooming in women, it seems less likely that education is related to more exposure to popular culture ideals. Similar to other studies, 4,12 we found a difference in racial distribution of groomers, with white women being far more likely to groom than any other racial/ethnic group. This finding has been documented in a prior study 12 and seen as most likely to be related to cultural norms and ideals of beauty among different racial groups.…”

“…Similar to other studies, 4,12 we found a difference in racial distribution of groomers, with white women being far more likely to groom than any other racial/ethnic group. This finding has been documented in a prior study 12 and seen as most likely to be related to cultural norms and ideals of beauty among different racial groups. Our study is unique in assessing the role of the partner in grooming.…”

“…[2][3][4][5] Most studies [2][3][4] to date have used convenience samples that are racially and demographically homogenous. Some studies 4,5,12 have enrolled more diverse populations but have been limited to specific geographic regions and often limited age ranges. To date, there are no nationally representative samples of US women and their current pubic hair grooming practices.…”

Prevalence of Pubic Hair Grooming–Related Injuries and Identification of High-Risk Individuals in the United States

“…This result is consistent with previously published rates of pubic hair removal, ranging from 48% to 87% for women and 33% to 50% for men, depending on age and sexual orientation. 2,3,5,12,14,20 Unlike prior studies that we are aware of examining trends in pubic hair removal, 6,12,20 this survey included respondents from a wide range of ages, geographic locations, and sexual activity patterns that mirrored the current population of the United States. 17 We found significantly greater prevalence of grooming among younger groups.…”

“…Furthermore, the study only captured injuries warranting evaluation in an emergency department and thus likely underestimated the prevalence of all injuries related to grooming. Given the high prevalence of pubic hair grooming (50%-87%), 2,3,5,12 a better understanding of how grooming may lead to injury is warranted. We evaluated grooming behavior by using a survey distributed to a nationally representative sample of US men and women.…”