Little Bear Schwarz

Kinksters, I am not here to shame you. I am not telling you not get your rocks off. I am simply advocating introspection.

“I actually like women who look like you.” How do I begin to explain what is wrong with that statement?

I appear to be someone whose queerness, hairiness, and chubbiness has been wholly embraced and celebrated. I must have the answers! I don't.

No, nothing will make you less of a woman. But nothing will make me more of one, either.

So the result, therefore, is a culture of “fans” considering us Sideshow Freaks — bearded ladies included — to be “neat” and “fun,” but not actually real.

I can’t just eat in moderation—at least not yet. But I am fine-tuning and honing and perfecting my body with the honor, respect, and love of a hand-crafted sword.

If the world told me that I would never land a career, a love life, or happiness as a woman, with a face & body covered in hair, is it not empowering (and to a degree, feminist) for me to flip them the bird, grow it anyway, and prove them wrong?

I’m not brave because I’m shameless, or superior, or strange. I’m brave because I’m afraid.

You can’t just sit there and post links; you can’t just talk a big game. You have to walk the walk. Want to make the world a better place for us? Start listening to — and stop stonewalling — the women by your side.

At its core, body-autonomy—and feminism itself—is about giving women the benefit of the doubt that they can make up their own minds.