The year is 2015. And so far, we're seeing something of a hair trend. We're not talking sombre or silver dye jobs, though. We're talking body hair.

More and more women are choosing to reclaim society's stance on the matter. Armpits, legs, brows, nether regions -- these days, we're definitely seeing a few more razors being tossed.

And why shouldn't we? After all, it's just body hair. We've all got it. Still, for some reason, the larger consensus on female fuzz -- even among otherwise progressive, open-minded people -- is that it's kind of, well, icky.

Which is why, exactly? Turns out, the answer is complicated. A recent study showed that most American women are quick to nix their body hair for a myriad of reasons, from romantic partners' negative reactions to an internalized feeling of "dirtiness."

All hair has "symbolic meaning," explains Breanne Fahs, PhD, a professor of gender studies at Arizona State University. "For women and body hair, it can symbolize a threat to the existing social order ... choosing not to adhere to traditional standards of beauty."

Body hair on women hasn't always been so loaded. "Women really didn't start removing it until the widespread circulation of fashion photography in the 1920s," continues Fahs. But even today, going hairless isn't the norm everywhere -- only in the U.S., Western Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Dr. Fahs says that here, shaving is so popular, "we forget it's actually a choice."

Though not all of us have. We talked to 17 women across ages, cultures and time zones who don't shave due to laziness, razor burn, rage against The Man and more.

Credit: Ben Hopper

Katie, 21, Sydney, Australia

"I hit puberty at a really early age and had body hair before a lot of other kids, and was bullied for this ... My mum used to painstakingly pluck and wax my bushy eyebrows for me because I was so worried about fitting in. Now I just let them do their thing."

Aisha, 25, New York, New York

"I had my first serious boyfriend at 19. Being in such close proximity to a man, I watched how much freedom he had in his body. It was amazing. It was the difference between him being able to get up, run his hand through his hair and be entirely acceptable in public -- handsome, charming -- and me not having that freedom....

Still, as a women with body hair, you're aware that you're crossing a line. So there's fear there. When I see other women who haven't shaved, I love them so much. I just think to myself you're brave, you're so brave."

Elvira, Los Angeles, California

"My hair on my head is praised for being so long and beautiful, but my body hair is seen as 'disgusting.' Why? They both grow out of my skin.... If someone is offended or disgusted by my natural body hair, then in all honesty, I'm glad it repels them from my life."

Lucy, 32, New Zealand

"I haven't shaved regularly for about 15 years -- I was even a hairy bride nine years ago ... I love my body hair. Hairy pits and hairy legs are a shrugging off of a sad, unnecessary expectation of women's bodies, but they are also sexy ... [My husband] feels that all of my body, including my hair, is alluring."