Looks matter, but how often do you think about the politics of being pretty? It's kind of bizarre how much the way a person looks can afford them certain rights and priveleges in the world, or on the other side of the spectrum, make them a target for discrimination. Well, "The Politics of Sexy: Race, Trans, Love" delves all the way into that. In it, performing artist, writer and social worker Kai Cheng Thom sat down with LoveIntersections to talk about the power of beauty and how not all of us will ever benefit from "pretty" in our life time.
Thom is a trans woman and also talks about the "uncomfortability" of transness, if you're not cis passing.
"Being trans is uncomfortable. I look at myself now and think 'I have too many chin hairs!'"
She goes on to thoughtfully express the fact that unless you are willing and able to fit white beauty standards, you are going to be aesthetically poor. And she stresses how powerful the currency of beauty really is. But don't let me hold you any longer. Watch the super insightful video for yourself!