https://doi.org/10.1177/1069397118799298 Cross-Cultural Research 1–23 © 2018 SAGE Publications Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissions DOI: 10.1177/1069397118799298 journals.sagepub.com/home/ccr Article Pubic Hair Removal Practices in Cross- Cultural Perspective Lyndsey K. Craig 1 and Peter B. Gray 1 Abstract The literature on pubic hair removal (PHR) practices primarily focuses on women in Western societies and attributes recent increases in PHR to product marketing, pornography, and pop culture. Here, we explore PHR and retention practices outside the cultural West through content coding of societies in the Human Relations Area Files’ database, eHRAF World Cultures. Thirty-one societies noted distinct PHR or retention practices. Descriptive data on 72 societies provided additional context to the perception of pubic hair and reasons for its removal or retention. Results indicate that women practice PHR more commonly than men cross-culturally and practices are often tied to concerns about hygiene and sexual activity. Findings show that some features of PHR cross-culturally resemble those of the cultural West in which these practices have been best characterized, though these practices cannot be attributed to the same suite of factors such as exposure to pornography or product marketing. We interpret these findings within cross-cultural and evolutionary perspectives. Keywords pubic hair, pubic hair removal, hygiene, cross-cultural, secondary sexual characteristics 1 University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, USA Corresponding Author: Lyndsey K. Craig, Department of Anthropology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Box 455003, Las Vegas, NV 89154-5003, USA. Email: craigl1@unlv.nevada.edu 799298CCR XX X 10.1177/1069397118799298Cross-Cultural ResearchCraig and Gray research-article 2018