Franziska Koohestani's 'Hairy Queen' Links Hair Removal to Colonialism and Capitalism
Journalist Franziska Koohestani, who has an Iranian background, explores the politics of body hair in her book 'Hairy Queen: Why Body Hair is Political' (Ullstein, 2024). Drawing from her own experiences with shame and hair removal, she traces the history of depilation and its connections to racist-colonialist, capitalist, and sexist structures. Koohestani argues that decisions about shaving are never truly free, as beauty standards are deeply internalized. The book examines how even digital filters on Zoom automatically soften arm hair, reflecting pervasive ideals. The interview was conducted by Anna Raab for der Freitag.
Key facts
- Franziska Koohestani is a Cologne-based journalist with Iranian background.
- Her book 'Hairy Queen: Why Body Hair is Political' was published by Ullstein in 2024.
- The book links body hair removal to colonialism, capitalism, and sexism.
- Koohestani argues that the decision to shave is never truly free.
- She shares personal experiences with shame and hair removal methods.
- The interview notes that Zoom filters automatically soften arm hair.
- The article was written by Anna Raab for der Freitag.
- Beauty standards are described as internalized power structures.
Entities
Artists
- Franziska Koohestani
- Franziska Setare Koohestani
Institutions
- Ullstein
- der Freitag
Locations
- Cologne
- Germany