This article is about the pubic wig. For other uses, see Merkin (disambiguation)

A merkin (with flashlight) worn by a woman to cover her pubic area

A merkin is a pubic wig. Merkins were originally worn by sex workers after shaving their mons pubis, and are now used as decorative items, erotic devices, or in films, by both men and women.

History and etymology [ edit ]

The Oxford Companion to the Body dates the origin of the pubic wig to the 1450s. According to the publication, women would shave their pubic hair for personal hygiene and to combat pubic lice. They would then don a merkin. Also, sex workers would wear a merkin to cover up signs of disease, such as syphilis.[1][2]

The Oxford English Dictionary dates the first written use of the term to 1617. The word probably originated from malkin,[3][4] a derogatory term for a lower-class young woman, or from Marykin, a pet form of the female given name Mary.[4]

Contemporary use [ edit ]

In Hollywood film making, merkins can be worn by actors and actresses to avoid inadvertent exposure of the genitalia during nude or semi-nude scenes. The presence of the merkin protects the actor from inadvertently performing "full-frontal" nudity – some contracts specifically require that nipples and genitals be covered in some way – which can help ensure that the film achieves a less restrictive MPAA rating.[5]

A merkin may also be used when the actor has less pubic hair than is required, as in the nude dancing extras in The Bank Job. Amy Landecker wore a merkin in A Serious Man (2009) for a nude sunbathing scene; bikini waxing was not common for 1967 when the film is set.[6][7]

References [ edit ]