Mackenzie Carlson Howard

This past November, I took upon myself a challenge.  More like a test, I should say.  It was a journey toward greater self-knowing, an adventure to lands far outside my comfort zone.  It was a trial to prove to myself, and others, that the importance of physical appearance is far less substantial than that of internal character.  It was the magnificent challenge that is No-Shave November.

I’ve always wanted to participate in this seemingly males-only event.  Females do, of course, occasionally hold similar special events, like No-Makeup Monday and Fasting Friday.  However, while No-Shave November often seems to enhance the physical appeal of the participating males, these female-oriented events seem only to be detrimental to the appearance of the partaking ladies and the general well-being of those around them.

Perhaps it is because males have been created to be more adventurous and self-confident than their female counterparts that this phenomenon occurs.  Almost no sane female would deign to participate in No-Makeup March or Sweets September.  Although, in every female’s heart, the idea of participating in one of these events is enticing, the reality of what would happen to her physical appearance (and, therefore, self-worth) is enough to keep them confined to single days of insanity.

And let me say, before continuing on any further, that this description does not fit every female.  There exist, occasionally, those brave souls who face the world with a bare and natural face, and who eat sweets on Saturdays, and on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, too.  If you are one of those rare women, stop reading this now and congratulate yourself with a chocolate bar.  However, as a female myself and as an observer of humanity for 17 long years, I feel this general observation of the female sex is accurate.

Thus, while some extraordinary women have progressed far enough in their journeys toward self-confidence they would have no problem participating in these events, most of us haven’t.  And that is why No-Makeup March and Sweets September do not exist.

Males, on the other hand, seem to find their worth in actions more than in physical appearance.  To be the starting point guard on the varsity basketball team or to score an 800 on the SAT mathematics section is to be worthwhile.  To work out and have the biggest calves among all the guys or to get a Saab for a birthday is to be worthwhile, to a guy.  Therefore, No-Shave November seems almost like a friendly competition for males, not an awkward day of insecurity like similar female extravaganzas.  The male who is able to grow the best beard is, at least in some sense, “cooler” than the others.  (Unless, of course, that particular male was born sporting a beard.)

I may be totally wrong about the male sex.  After all, I am only a spectator.  17 years of being a female is barely enough time to begin to understand the opposite sex.  Again, though, I am basing my assertions on generally accepted notions.  If you are a male who particularly cares about matching your shoes to the color of your shirt, stop reading this now and buy a pair of black shoes (they go with pretty much everything).

All that to say, No-Shave November isn’t really for females.  The idea and motivation behind this event seem to originate in male culture and is socially looked down (or quizzically) upon in regard to female participation.  However, like I said before, I have always been interested in partaking in this event but could not muster up the courage to do so until this past November.  I figured there is no better time than senior year to try something crazy.  Of course, my goal was not to grow a beard.  This feat, except in rare cases, is impossible for the female sex.  Instead, my goal was to not shave my legs.

This challenge promised to be particularly difficult for me because, as a female of strong, hardy European stock, my hair grows incredibly fast.  Thus, I find it necessary to shave at least every other day, if not every day.  To go a whole month without shaving, therefore, would be to grow a winter coat on my legs.  And although this new outerwear may be useful, especially when considering the approaching winter months, an entire month without the razor would be just crazy.  So, my goal was to go as long as possible sans le rasoir.  A dear friend of mine set the minimum at 10 days, which, even though barely a week and a half, looked like eternity to me.  However, I had announced to my friends and family my razor-less plans and was determined to accomplish my goal.

I made it 11 days.  My European stock proved to be hardier than even I expected, and my “winter coat” was almost fully grown by then.  I couldn’t take it anymore.  I shall spare you the gruesome details, but I must say that even some of the guys were impressed with the amount of leg hair I had.  “Comparable to the fur on a grizzly bear,” one honest male stated.

And although my No-Shave November stint lasted only 11 days, its effects have stayed with me.  My goal in this endeavor was to prove to myself that physical appearance does not determine worth.  As a female, in high school, with a gorgeous sister only two years my junior, I have always struggled with that notion.  No-Shave November was a chance to understand what it means to be judged by character and not complexion.  I must admit it started out as a crazy idea during some summer afternoon siesta.  As time went on, though, and as my hair grew longer, my motivation for doing this experiment turned into a challenge toward furthering self-confidence.  Interestingly enough, despite my furry legs, my friends stayed my friends, and my family still let me eat with them.  I was not deemed “worthless” or of lower value because of my unshorn legs.

Although it seems silly, I think many females do base their self-value on petty things like nicely-shaven legs.  The world tells women that to be “worthwhile” is to wear fashionable clothes, weigh less than a koala, and wake up with perfectly-curled hair.  However, we are reminded in 1 Samuel 16:7 that “man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  As fallen human beings, our first instinct is to judge based on physical appearance.  Yet, as Christians, created by God and saved through His grace, it is important to realize we are not of this world and therefore should not live by the world’s standards.  The world is concerned only with the physical, but God cares about character.  Is it not more important to please the Creator than other creations?  Although the concept is simple, most females (and even most males) struggle with realizing this idea.  I know I do.  Only when we step out of our comfort zone, be it through No-Shave November or not, do we realize that value is based upon character.  And so, though it was short-lived, No-Shave November impacted my view of values and worth in a way that nothing else in my 17 years of life has.