When we speak about laboring bodies in class I am instantly aware that my relationship to labor is vastly different than that of my classmates. While I have worked in retail, food service, and other odd jobs, the majority of my work experience has been in sex work. I want to flesh out some of these differences, specifically in my experiences of being a stripper for the past four years. Continue reading
In everyday life, women’s bodies are constantly being policed and judge by not only men, but by other women as well. Continue reading
Love, trust, communication, intimacy… All are just a few staples of a healthy relationship, but what is to come when the intimacy leaves the building? Continue reading
The first thing a lot of people ask me always been, “Why do you walk on your toes?” They might try to hide it in questions about whether I do ballet or something, but I always kind of know what they’re getting at. “You don’t walk like a normal person. Why is that?”
My dad used to work in the coal mines of West Virginia. This was before I was born and right around the time my parents got married. His father and uncles were coal miners as well and my grandfather wished for my dad to work anywhere but the mines. Continue reading
A few inabilities are a greater number of clear than others. Numerous are quickly obvious, particularly on the off chance that somebody depends on a wheelchair or stick. In any case, others — known as “imperceptible” inabilities — are most certainly not. Individuals who live with them face specific difficulties in the work environment and in their communities. Continue reading
That was a question told to me in the 6th grade. The children often snickered about my obese teacher. One day in class the children were making “fat jokes” about the teacher and I still remember a girl in my class telling me that fat people make themselves fat, so we shouldn’t feel bad for them. I immediately thought how wrong this girl was for saying that, but was she right? Continue reading
I never knew that one’s skin could tell so many stories until I realized that the most common questions I get are about my skin. Continue reading
What does it mean to be a third world woman? Sometimes I feel like I can’t speak because I’m so overwhelmed by everything surrounding me. Sometimes I scream and it feels like lava is coating my throat and I am burning from the inside out. But most of the time, I am too exhausted from the constant fighting to keep pushing, keep struggling. Unfortunately, there is no other option. You can commend me and other marginalised women for our bravery and fight, but let’s acknowledge that there is no other option. I appreciate your support and thoughtful commentary, but not fighting, not being brave is not an option. The only option I’ve ever had was resistance. Continue reading
It’s pretty standard, that the first time I do anything new, I have a panic attack.
Unruly Bodies 