Korean Job Discussion Forums

[politica]

Okay, long story short- I'm a girl and I don't shave. Haven't in years. I've really had no problems with this whatsoever until today . . .

I raise my hands a lot in class, and today I was wearing a short sleeve shirt. Well, apparently there was a miniscule amount of hair sticking out. I didn't notice, I don't know how anyone could have. But of course the boys in the front group noticed . . . and started ripping paper and stuffing it up their sleeves. Eventually, I took the ring leader out into the hallway and gave him a lecture about how what he was doing was rude, distracts from the lesson, etc. Nevertheless, the kids kept on doing it, so I starting ignoring it.

Questions:
1. How would you have handled this situation?
2. Have you ever been teased/mocked by your students for anything (being hairy, fat, etc.)? What did you do about it?
3. Why are the boys so fascinated with it? I admit, I would have expected this from an American 6th grade class, but for whatever reason, it caught me off guard here. Do all Korean women shave their pits? Do they even have hair in that region? Do men? I apologize if these are stupid questions . . . or were the boys just trying to get under my skin?

Whatever the case, I'm pissed about it. Not simply because it was a personal attack, but because it wasted considerable time during my lesson and further distracted students.

Btw, if you're gonna tell me to shave, you can go f*ck yourself

Have a lovely day.

Many thanks,
stubborn hairy b*tch (aka politica)

[Roving_gypsy_gurl]

I think you handled it just right. You made it clear it was unnacceptable, and when it became clear that the students were willing to contnue being unnacceptable in order to obtain attention, you withheld that. Well done.

I've had students notice my tattoos when I lean over a bit too far or when a short sleeve rides up. I usually just saythat lots of Western women have them, and yes it hurt, and no, I don't regret having them. I shave, but if I didn't I'd just take a similar approach. Some Western women have hairy pits, no, it doesn't itch, it's not a big deal in your world. Then move on.

[DRAMA OVERKILL]

[raketbaler]

OP, what country do you come from?

[politica]

[politica]

[Stevie_B]

[creesschaef]

I think you handled the situation well. The kids are often shocked by the most minuscule differences between Koreans and native speakers. Such occurrences should subside, but the degenerates might continue to bring it up. Make sure to set the punishment and stick to it.

I haven't been mocked, but I have dealt with inappropriate questions. I blame this on the low level of vocabulary and an inability to recognize and abide to their societal norms while speaking English to a foreigner.

The boys were fascinated with my pit hair and I'm a guy. Women here do have hair there, but I have yet to see one who doesn't shave. I'm sure there are some, but they probably do a good job of hiding it.

I think the boys were trying to test you, plain and simple. I'm just surprised you weren't hit with the latest fad, the drawings of middle fingers and Puk U written next to them.

[politica]

I doesn't bother me at all. I just won't tolerate it distracting from my class . .

[raketbaler]

[Lekker]

You should have raised your arm, then with your free hand, grabbed him by the back of the head and rammed his face into your arm pit while saying "How ya like that?!!!"

[ytuque]

The kids and even adults will always react this way to hairy armpits or legs on a woman. I don't think there is anything that you can say or do to stop them. Koreans just seem to have a strong reaction to body hair. Unfortunately, it often disgusts them.

You aren't going to shave, and their not going to change. Your choices are rather limited.

[Draz]

I laughed weird in class a couple times and they imitated it.

I made eye contact, letting them know that I know they are doing something naughty and I'm not particularly impressed, then ignored them. They always knocked it off right away. (Middle school.)

Er, I also started monitering myself so I don't laugh like that in class any more. Hasn't happened for awhile. (I know, I know. Why should I change? WHY??)

[Otherside]

3. Why are the boys so fascinated with it? I admit, I would have expected this from an American 6th grade class, but for whatever reason, it caught me off guard here. Do all Korean women shave their pits? Do they even have hair in that region? Do men? I apologize if these are stupid questions . . . or were the boys just trying to get under my skin?

Heck, girl's not shaving their pits is pretty uncommon in the West (where feminism, same-sex marriage and Jerry Springer have all taken off), how can you imagine it's gonna go down in Korea, where women wear high heals to go hiking, don't leave the house without makeup and all in all value appearances...

You have made your decision (for whatever reason) and I think we all respect that, but you will get additional negative attention based on this. Korea's the place where someone will tell you "you are fat" just to state the obvious - change, get used to the attention or move on.

PS - I'm really curious, why don't you shave your pits? The first time I saw a woman who didn't shave her pits was when I was 17 in Belguim...(apart from the arm hair thing..which didn't quite work for me...she was very well dressed a total knockout )

[raketbaler]