What is the history behind women shaving their legs?

Answer by  bubbyboy (9929)

First, about 1915, the heat was put on women about unsightly underarm hair. Then a few years later In the 1930's and 1940's dress hemlines started to rise. The beauty editors of the time started the campaign of womanly shaven legs.

Answer by  milla (27)

When women began wearing hosiery, stockings and tights it became customary to begin shaving their legs. To ensure better fit and visual appeal leg shaving was required. As the hosiery industry skyrocketed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries so to did the custom of leg shaving.

Answer by  PZ (1206)

In the early years of the 20th century, marketers advanced the idea that both underarm and leg hair was undesirable because they wanted to sell shaving products to women. Leg shaving took a big jump in popularity during the 1940s when shorter hemlines and sheer stockings became fashionable.