Shaving and Gender Construction

As we have seen, a physical analysis (see Classification & Analysis) of twentieth-century razors reveals a consistent and striking differentiation between models intended for men and those designed for women. What is imporant to recognize is that the symbolic elements which define these categories are reflective of Victorian views of masculinity and femininity - a sensibility which is completely at odds with our modern programme of non-discriminatory, individualistic equal rights, especially between the sexes. In this context, the persistence of these visible cultural signals of differentiation warrant close attention. What I have attempted to suggest in this presentation is that the locus of this symbolic perpetuation actually resides in the workings of the grooming ritual, where the razor mediates between the 'self' we are constructing and the ideal self - as presented in advertising - we are attempting to emulate.

As a final note, I would like to suggest that each new generation learns from the cultural imagery all around us that they need to shave, and in most cases this is a skill they will learn from an experienced shaver, using the same time-honoured rituals and objects. This is a powerful moment for many teens, combining a kind of coming-of-age ritual with a shared moment with a same-sex role model and the gender-specific set of ritual artifacts. As he look sin the mirror, he sees a potential man in the making, an image to be constructed in accordance with the norms passed along by the both the familial or peer role model and the entire weight of public and entertainment figures of masculinity. But there is one other object in the reflected image - the razor itself, and in order to fit the paradigm, it too must be seen to reflect the values he is trying to recreate in his own identity. In such an environment, it would be surprising if the symbolic values of that experience were not retained. But by passing along these rituals and symbolic goods, we are also perpetuating a cultural compliance with the extreme gender differentiation they embody. Here is that partial list again:

MEN	WOMEN
elongated	rounded
rectilinear	curvilinear
dark	light
sober	frivolous
efficient	decorative

Last updated: 29 December 1997