Young Chinese women dye armpit hair as fashion statement and expression of bodily autonomy

Some young women in China are dyeing their armpit hair, transforming a once-stigmatised trait into both a fashion statement and an assertion of bodily autonomy. The trend is not without precedent. Lady Gaga made headlines with green underarm hair in 2011, while brightly dyed armpit hair and “glitter pits” – underarms embellished with glitter – have since surfaced on social media worldwide. In recent years, Chinese social media has played a pivotal role in popularising the trend among younger...