These words are for us all. Beyond Worthy , by Jacqueline Whitney. Sign up for the Thought Catalog Weekly and get the best stories from the week to your inbox every Friday. You may unsubscribe at any time. By subscribing, you agree to the terms of our Privacy Statement.

Do you remember the first time you shaved your pubes? When you were awkwardly bent over in the shower yelling at your parents to stop knocking on the door and asking why you've been in there for so long OK, even if you can't relate, everyone has a preference when it comes to how they maintain their pubic hair. Landing strip. Five o'clock shadow.

The other day a curious question was presented to me: Many women shave their vaginas, so should their hairy-balled boyfriends shave their junk in solidarity? Does shaving your balls make you a better feminist? It was a delightful question. Then I remembered that I had laser hair removal done. Shit, I thought.

Every product is independently selected by obsessive editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission. There is nothing about taking a sharp blade to the area surrounding your genitals that sounds particularly fun, and yet, lots of people — of all gender identities — do it. For many men, the grooming of the pubes is a real part of daily or weekly maintenance. There are rules and rituals, products and tools.