No-Shave November at a Single-Sex School

By Elizabeth g. '21

No-Shave November is an annual cancer awareness event in which people refrain from shaving, waxing, tweezing, and any other form of hair removal. By embracing our hair, we draw awareness and start conversations around a cancer patient’s inability to grow hair during chemotherapy-- a form of cancer treatment. The No-Shave November organization, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness for cancer and collecting money for charity, runs No-Shave November annually. Although a pre-existing tradition, No-Shave November was adopted by the Hill family from Chicago in 2009. They started the No-Shave November organization after the eight children of the family lost their father, Matthew Hill, to colon cancer in November 2007.

The No-Shave November organization urges participants to donate the money they would have otherwise spent on hair removal to their cause. As of November 24th, 2020, they have raised $622,145 from 6,627 members, 589 teams, and 123 organizations. It partners with The St. Jude Children’s Hospital (a Baltimore organization!), Prevent Cancer Foundation, and FIGHT Colorectal Cancer Organization.

Traditionally, when picturing “No-Shave November,” the image of a middle-aged man with a thick beard comes to mind. Often women are unaware that No-Shave November is for them as well. Cancer awareness impacts all genders, so why do we associate the male gender with this charity event?

When conducting interviews among Bryn Mawr students on their knowledge of No-Shave November, there was an evident lack of knowledge about this event, why it takes place, and how they can participate. Fortunately, everyone knows that No-Shave November exists, and they also know that men do not shave their beards to raise awareness. Unfortunately, when asked, “Do you know why we do not shave during November?” many people responded with specific cancers such as breast cancer or prostate cancer. They were also unaware of the significance of not shaving. When prompted, deductive reasoning leads them to the correct answer, but it is clear they were not previously aware of why some people do not shave during November.

When asked if women can participate in No Shave November, I received some interesting responses that all amounted to “yes!”. There is the argument that some women can grow beards-- trans women are the primary example of this, but many biological women also grow facial hair-- and that there are “other body parts,” namely legs. Essentially, this is an incredible charity event, and men are not the only ones who can participate. Next year, if you want to throw away your razor for a month and donate money, go for it! Women should be equally encouraged to participate in this event, and while the No Shave November Organization states that truth, society has failed to perpetuate it.