'Why do so many women put so much effort and money in to feminine 'beauty'?

No disrespect ma'am but you don't look like you need to be overly concerned about hair removal.

On the other hand, if I don't remove hair for 2 weeks I become very furry and I had previously been bullied about this as a child even! ("the girl with the tash" is enough to bring any 11 year old to tears. God forbid they saw my arms or legs)

As for the rest of the things you've stated:

~Skin treatments -> Clear skin is a sign of good health

~Hair removal -> Fashion. And soft clear skin is often associated with feminineness (like soft hairless breasts as opposed to hairy hard chests). Not sure if this is a biological thing or a mental deep seeded assumption.

~Eyebrow shaping -> An arched eyebrow is sexy because a) it flatters the face if done correctly b) Highlights womanly features (biologically men and women DO have different faces. And certain things about a woman's can make her appear more "fertile".)

~ Eyeshadow -> Fashion

~ Cosmetics -> Fashion (and can also make your face look biologicially more fertile - e.g. flushed cheeks, cupids bow on the lips - all these things show presence of certain hormones in a lady)

~ Hair colour and conditioners - Fashion and again healthy young looking hair has something to do with balanced hormones. My hair is stringy and "lifeless" because I have a thyroid problem which CAN affect fertility

~ Manicure and Pedicures -> Fashion

In short, it's usually down to a (usually stupid) fashion we've created ourselves. Women in the past never felt the need to do most of these things as they never saw others wear make up etc. Then it started slowly with rouge and then red lips (both fertility indicators). Then the healthy thick hair. And then people's expectations went up and up and women ended up unconsciously competing to be attractive to males, as not agreeing to these standards often left a woman feeling undesirable. And very few women can cope with that.

Oh and as for pubic hair removal, that was a cultural thing , trimming it started for the purpose of cleanliness. And I guess people also decided to raise their expectations on that too.

And finally I would like to state that there are also some tough requirements on men. There's a reason guys who are 6 feet tall have less self esteem issues than those who are 5 feet.

Your prejudice runneth over.

Probably not a coincidence that the very things that you rail against are what you seem to have the least of.

The physical, feminine traits - some of which you list, are hardwired into our psyches.

The hourglass shape, smooth skin, symmetrical features, high voice, smaller shape etc. are traits that men are attracted to without any choice on their part.

It isn't rocket science that accentuating and amplifying these traits will get more attention from more men.

You can condemn it from now until doomsday, but that's the way it is.

I don't get it either...

but we women have to wear makeup but we can't reject guys based on their looks.

I'm a guy + I prefer a woman without make up + with all her natural body hair left as nature desired.

Vanity.

Because it's publically unacceptable to have body hair.

From an evolution standpoint, if women didn't shave, then men would probably pick the least naturally hairy women because it's their preference. Women have simply "adapted" to that preference and change themselves to fit it.

My current girlfriend is the epitome of everything I want in a woman when it comes to physical attraction for me. Natural hair color, full ( as in well proportioned to her body, not huge ) NATURAL breasts, wears makeup VERY rarely and only a little when she does. 2 armpits and a pubic area just as natural and hairy ( maybe even more hairy ) than mine. Shaves her legs VERY rarely and only then in the spring/summer.

So you see, there ARE some of us guys who have no preference whatsoever for hairless, adult females.

To answer your question, sadly there is most likely a small percentage of men who prefer hairless females due to pedophile motivations but in general, it's just because they have been socially brainwashed over the decades to prefer hairless women. Sad but true.

If you don't shave either then thank you and please don't ever change your mind concerning this.

Because they're impressionable and buy into anything that'll make them beautiful.

I'm with you. I hate these stupid expectations that we will be smooth as a barbie doll. I don't shave or use makeup. And despite what the ever so clever SoaRical says, I do not look like a man.

Well I'm guessing you look like a man then....