What Our Views on Pubic Hair Reveal About Our Attitudes Toward Sexuality

Throughout history, pubic hair has been linked to sexuality and beauty in many cultures.

Ancient Romans, such as those in Pompeii, associated hairy genitals with warmth and stimulation, while the Tiv people of Nigeria and the Kwoma people of New Guinea viewed thick pubic hair as a sign of female beauty.

Literary examples, like Shakespeare’s Venus and Adonis and the 18th-century erotic novel Fanny Hill, also celebrated pubic hair as an attractive feature.

This association stems from the biological link between pubic hair, sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen, and libido.

The article notes that in cultures with open attitudes toward sexuality, pubic hair was often considered sexy simply because it signaled sexual maturity and health.