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Business & Money

Women banned from public shower shaving

Published: 16 Nov 12 07:34 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/44458/20121116/

Women will no longer be allowed to shave in the showers at some of Sweden’s public swimming halls after a number of visitors saw red and complained.

“This goes for all our swimming halls. We don’t want our guests to shave in public,” Josefin Kejder, who manages a pool in Växjö, southern Sweden, operated by Medley, told Sveriges Radio.

Medley, a company which runs public swimming pools in several locations across Sweden, placed signs in the ladies’ showers in all their facilities a few months ago after disgruntled customers had complained that they didn’t like having to watch other women shaving in the showers and changing rooms.

“They felt uncomfortable watching other women shave in public and think that they should be doing that at home - and the company agrees,” Kejder told the broadcaster.

However, no similar signs are up in the men’s changing room, something Kejder told SR was due to no men having complained about public shaving.

Kejder explained that shaving in public appears to be a more of a problem for women than men.

“I think women shave more than men in general. And it is also a question of hygiene with hair getting stuck in the drains," hetold the broadcaster.

The Local/rm (news@thelocal.se)

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12:41 November 16, 2012 by Flutterbye
Who the hell would want to do this in public, is nothing sacred any longer.
14:09 November 16, 2012 by Frobobbles
Flutterbye, I had no idea shaving was sacred. What religion do you use?
14:30 November 16, 2012 by Youdee
I suspect that the complaints targeted body parts other than legs and arm pits.
14:51 November 16, 2012 by Stromsberg
Frobobbles, I think it must be Hairy Krishna :p
15:48 November 16, 2012 by Borilla
Let me understand. It is okay for Swedes to pee in public, in any hiss or on any street corner but these same people are offended by someone shaving in the shower? Give me a break.
18:54 November 16, 2012 by eurobloke
I am sorry Ms Kejder, if you ban women from shaving in the changing rooms, you should ban men from doing it as well.
17:35 November 17, 2012 by Nikki Lindqvist
It makes sense to me that both sexes should have the ban and as for me (a woman), I'd really rather not see other women shaving ANY body parts in a public locker room or whatever. Can't really say there's anything wrong with it... but still, I don't want to see it. Do it at home. But that's just me.
19:52 November 17, 2012 by hilt_m
well I guess they could come into the mens shower room and shave, problem solved
20:39 November 17, 2012 by skogsbo
hopefully they'll still shave at home, spider legs stick out from under swimming costume, isn't that sightly!
01:57 November 18, 2012 by Ugh!
When the article stated that people were seeing "red" I assumed it was referring to blood in a cleverly worded way. No such cleverness on the author's part. However, cutting yourself and bleeding in public would be my primary concern. It should be others concern as well. Blood is a biohazard and wet areas are a breeding ground for many bacterias. I'm also guessing that pool and bathroom areas aren't cleaned that well. If you're that hairy just tell people you're french or getting your fur coat ready for winter..
12:46 November 18, 2012 by AussieAndy
How ridiculous.
19:45 November 18, 2012 by Flutterbye
14:09 November 16, 2012 by Frobobbles

Flutterbye, I had no idea shaving was sacred. What religion do you use?

Maybe try to engage brain before opening mouth......"is nothing sacred anymore" is an expression, try and find out what it means.
21:01 November 18, 2012 by Rebel
I think the one thing that is not being mentioned would probably change the context of the discussion. For years women have shaved under their arms and their legs in the shower. I suspect middle-aged women are a bit freaked out when the younger women go about shaving the pubic areas.
21:29 November 18, 2012 by Gretchen
In our community swimming hall I saw this several times and it is disgusting! And I am not middle aged. Pulic pools are far dirtier here than I am used to and the toilets are often so dirty my children asked me if they can just pee under the shower as they refuse to use the bathrooms. Its a good improvement. Everyone can shave before they go to the pool.
16:07 November 19, 2012 by mcarroll1
Filthy and disgusting shaving body parts in public. I dont like men shaving in the sink I am about to use either. Most dont clean up the filth after themselves. Imagine men shaving pubic areas publicly - it is unconscionable. Shaving is I believe a private ablution best carried out at home and akin to cleaning nose, ears and other unmentionables. Keep your hairs at home not to mention blood spills in public unsanitary conditions. Its incredible that some Swedes who are so cleanliness conscious at home can be so dirty in public.
12:48 November 29, 2012 by Stolpskott
As a (pretty hairy) man, I personally have no problem with public shaving. Indeed, as I worked as a travelling consultant for several years, there have been numerous occasions when a quick trip to a public washroom for a shave to remove the 5 o'clock shadow on my chin before meeting a client has been necessary (and implicitly condoned by the washroom providers, as many provide charging sockets for shavers).

I would therefore have no objection to others shaving, as long as they clean up after themselves.

Blood from cuts would be a potential issue, but the objections in this case seem to be more about the "unsightly" nature of the act of shaving itself.
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