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In need of a little grade boost? Toss your razor!

At least, that’s what one professor at Arizona State University is suggesting. Professor Breanne Fahs offered female students extra credit if they agreed to “stop shaving their legs and underarms for ten weeks during the semester while keeping a journal to document their experiences.” Fahs, who teaches gender and women’s studies, hopes to get students to think critically about gender roles and what’s considered normal in our society.

She offered a similar option for men, suggesting that any male student willing to shave any and all hair from the neck down for the same length of time could receive the same extra credit.

Strange as Fahs’ social experiment may be, one student, Stephanie Robinson, claims it was a “life-changing experience.”

“Many of my friends didn’t want to work out next to me or hear about the assignment, and my mother was distraught at the idea that I would be getting married in a white dress with armpit hair. I also noticed the looks on faces of strangers and people around campus who seemed utterly disgusted by my body hair. It definitely made me realize that if you’re not strictly adhering to socially prescribed gender roles, your body becomes a site for contestation and public opinion.”

Men in the class reported having a much easier time with the experiment.

Despite her unconventional assignment, professor Fahs received an award from the American Psychological Association for her experiment. She also says “faculty members at other universities are considering using the exercise in their classes.”

So one question: Who run the world?

SOURCE: Think Progress | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images