The Merkin: A Cultural & Historical Analysis

A short and curly story about a hairy societal phenomenon.

Pubic wig seller, 1860 — “Serving the discerning pudendum since 1827” (Pudendum: a person’s external genitals, especially a woman’s). (Source: link).

The merkin - a pubic wig - is a seemingly unusual and quite peculiar aspect of human history and culture — or so you would think! However, it has been a part of human civilization for centuries and has a rich cultural and historical significance.

Origins of the Merkin

From its origins as a solution for pubic lice and syphilis to its use in the entertainment and sex industries, the merkin has played a vital role in the evolution of human sexuality and body modification. (I am guessing the shape of the sellers beard in the photo above is not a coincidence).

The origins of the merkin are difficult to trace with certainty, but it is believed that it first came into use during the 14th and 15th centuries in Europe. At that time, the European population was in the midst of a major syphilis epidemic, and the merkin was seen as a contributing solution to the problem.