The last post I wrote for this blog was about body hair. I wrote that post, because it felt like a cause I was passionate about. I wanted to contribute to a conversation that I found important. Upon reflection, I think a big reason I am invested in this conversation is likely because my armpit hair is one of my most noticeable forms of gender nonconformity. As someone often perceived as a feminine woman (whether I want to be or not), my armpit hair is something I’m very proud of. What I’m finding, however, is that this pride comes with new challenges. The challenges I’ve experienced is why I wanted to follow up the previous blog post.

I’ve been on somewhat of a hair journey recently.

About a year ago, I decided I would grow out my armpit hair. It was something I contemplated/dabbled in for a while but would always shave off if I was going on a date or wearing something sleeveless. At the end of last summer, I made a pact with myself that I would grow it out and try to push away my concerns over the male gaze and what I saw as my desirability…

Summer boredom recently pushed me to revisit a show I obsessed over in high school, Grey’s Anatomy. Several years back, I trudged through 11 seasons of the show but eventually lost interest. As any good show does, Grey’s called me back into their arms. But, before jumping in, I did my research and read through summaries of the 11 seasons I previously watched. Somewhere along the way, I read something interesting…

Would certain spaces benefit from being restricted to cis-men? Would some conversations be easier if only cisgender men were allowed in that conversation? Could more “progress” be made in those situations? These are some of the questions I’ve been thinking about this week.

I recently read Tressie McMillan Cottom’s book Thick and Other Essays. The book was rich in many ways with its discussion of beauty, race, and their inseparable overlap in today’s society. However, an outcome/realization I had from this book that might not have been as intended was this: I don’t write…