Body Image and Queer Intersections...

We know that body image is an issue that affects everyone in different capacities. From diets to disordered eating to liposuction and breast implants, people are constantly in search of the "perfect body."

I write this post because for many women, black women in particular, expectations for the "perfect body" are a bit different than what would be considered the American standard of beauty. Women are taught that to be desirable by men (yep, forget about all of the queer women out there), they have to be:

Blonde

Skinny

Busty

Fair skinned

Blue eyed

Long haired

....white.

Better known as Barbie. Now we know that Barbie has some multi-colored friends, but in reality women of color are not expected to fit this same mold. Women of color are often dehumanized and overly-sexualized. Black women in particular need to be aggressive, readily-available for sex, kinky, wide-hipped, light-skinned, long-haired, and have a large butt. Nicki Manaj describes herself as the black Barbie, and many girls idolize her, especially women trying to make it into the rap scene.

Meet Claudia Aderotimi:

Claudia, an aspiring rap artist, recently passed away after receiving illegal silicone injections to enlarge her buttock. Her friends closest to her told reporters that Claudia had become convinced that a larger butt would equal rap success. Let's be honest, there is a lot of pressure in the media for women of color to look like this ideal black Barbie.

This story is sad and eye-opening in terms of body image in and of itself, but where it also intersects with queer experiences is with transwomen. Transwomen, particularly transwomen of color and lower-socio economic status, have been risking their lives to receive silicone implants and injections for purposes of gender expression for years. Cosmetic surgery is expensive and very rarely covered by issuance, even if it is for gender-identity purposes. While Claudia's reasons for having this surgery were different, the fact remains that silicone injections are dangerous and often unmonitored.