I was pretty surprised when I moved to Berlin, Germany for military service in the early 1980s. One of my first surprises was that people often hung out naked in certain public parks to sunbathe and get fresh air. (Not all Germans do this, but most Germans think the practice is healthy and positive.)

My second surprise was that many (probably most) women did not routinely shave their legs or armpits. (It's pretty easy to tell when they're sunbathing naked outdoors.)

At least at that time, most Germans thought it pretty odd that women should be expected to make themselves hairless. Although, they were hardly fanatics about it.

I took a young woman friend of mine once to a formal reception and ball at the French military's officers club in Berlin.

She wore a stunning sleeveless gown that showed a lot of leg. At one point I realized she had shaved. I asked her why.

"You Americans are so silly sometimes," she laughed, not bothering to explain that everything has its proper place and time.