Anyone breaking social norms can often create a reaction from those who follow them or don't!

I think it goes back to Sindy's 'uncanny valley' although the term was used to describe the relationship an objects resemblance to a human being and the emotional response we have to the object. This is primarily to do with how close the resemblance that a robot has to a human. There is point where the resemblance provokes uncanny or strangely familiar feelings of eeriness and revulsion in observers. This is the valley. Either side we are happy to accept. To far from human is fine and really close to human is fine. It's just the gap in between that causes those feelings.

I think those sort of feelings can be created by people who don't follow the social norm. Sindy's example was crossdressers. Some where feminine enough (passable as an ordinary woman) for people to feel comfortable enough in their presences. Others are far enough away to be non-threatening. If you like a joke. But the gap in between causes this feeling of revulsion and shock.

I was picking up some tools from Screwfix the other day and the woman serving had really hairy arms. Far more hairy than any other woman I had seen. My immediate response was a double take. It is so out of the normal that it caused a shock. Then I thought about it. She is only portraying her natural state. I guess her legs. under arm etc all followed the same pattern. But it was still shocking because it was against the social norm.

It made me wonder about how many women on this forum would feel comfortable going 'au naturel'. Is it wanting to feel part of the social norm that stops you or do you not care what other people think because you know it will create shock!

I will see some of the response before I come on to my next point 😀

Katie x