There’s never been a definitive answer to the question of how often human beings should bathe. Some people may take showers twice per day while others shower only twice per week, but it generally boils down to an individual’s lifestyle and skin type. What is not usually on the table of discourse, however, is what body parts one is supposed to wash while showering—hair not included, obviously, because that’s why god invented dry shampoo.
But that’s precisely what happened when a since-deleted tweet set off a firestorm of a debate on Twitter, when a woman admitted that she doesn’t wash her legs in the shower. The argument for not washing your legs in the shower is evidently the theory that the soapy water runs down and cleanses your limbs by proxy.
A very scientific poll was even conducted, with a disturbing 13 percent of people (out of over 40,000, at the time of this writing) conceding that they do not, in fact, wash their legs in the shower.
Do you wash your legs when you take a shower?
— Conor Arpwel (@ARPWEL) May 9, 2019
The thing devolved into a whole other level when journalist Sophie Weiner admitted that she only washes her armpits and face in the shower, and only showers once or twice per week.
I think this probably also has to do with the fact that I don’t exercise much,” she added. “I was sweating a lot I’d prob want to shower more. But you also don’t need soap to get off sweat! Your body is fine without constant soap.”
i don't like use soap on my whole body when i shower? and i don't think i'm gross? i pretty much just wash my face and my armpits with soap. and i shower like once or twice a week lol. i think it's fine.
— Sophie Weiner (@sophcw) May 10, 2019
Weiner went on to associate cleanliness with class and privilege, which is where things took a sharp left turn:
idk lol if you've met me irl and found me gross or stinky i'm open to feedback but i'm pretty sure that a lot of the obsession with cleanliness is weird classist bullshit
— Sophie Weiner (@sophcw) May 10, 2019
At any rate, the ensuing madness has inexplicably turned into class and race issue, with Black Twitter being firmly on Team Wash Your Damn Body Parts:
“I don’t use soap”
— Doucement, Chérie. (@theemanyati) May 10, 2019
“I shower once a week”
“I’ve never washed my legs when I shower” pic.twitter.com/Dmh2qiLJnJ
https://twitter.com/BigHPrivateEye/status/1126722505878589440
EXPLAIN THIS? Someone please, explain this to me to, please.
— #TheBadInEachOther COMING SOON!! (@tashalharrison) May 10, 2019
Only showers once or twice a week?
ONLY USES SOAP ON HER ARMPITS AND FACE?
Washing your legs every day seems excessive???
WHO RAISED YOU? pic.twitter.com/A7HbepJ1ha
https://twitter.com/baldbaefong/status/1126730074223333377
I am still not over whyte people coming on this here Twitter and proudly proclaiming that they rarely shower and don’t wash their legs. And then implied it’s a form of rebellion against classism. Is this how civilization ends? Is this it for us?
— Evette Dionne (@freeblackgirl) May 10, 2019
And of course, the debate was ripe for a variation on the “I don’t know who needs to hear this” meme.
Not sure who needs to see this, but make sure you wash your legs when you get into the shower today.
— That Ain't The DJ, That's My DJ (@CoryTownes) May 10, 2019
But at least a few Caucasians were brave enough to come forward and take a pro-leg washing stand:
https://twitter.com/modernistwitch/status/1126690255308877824
https://twitter.com/AdamWeinstein/status/1126861395612643330
https://twitter.com/THEkarliehustle/status/1126854540362493952
Lol. We love you Karlie and you have an open invite to the cookout, barbecue, get together.
— Vern (@VChandler10) May 10, 2019
While there is no definitive ruling on whether or not you should wash your legs in the shower, the biggest takeaway here is that this website continues to be free:
This site rules because by tomorrow morning at the latest “Do you wash your legs in the shower?” will have transformed into some kind of politics deathmatch
— Patrick Monahan (@pattymo) May 10, 2019
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