DeepSummary
In this episode, Laverne Cox shares her reflections on her relationship with her body, examining it through various lenses such as her transness, blackness, internalized fatphobia, and ageism. She discusses the milestones of her medical transition and how access to gender-affirming care has allowed her to love her body at this stage of her life.
Cox delves into the complexities of colorism and anti-Blackness in the context of beauty standards and how her perspective on her physical appearance has evolved over time. She acknowledges the internalized misogyny and scarcity thinking that can arise when considering desirability and marketability in a fatphobic and ageist society.
Throughout the episode, Cox emphasizes the importance of self-acceptance and embracing one's body beyond external validation. She highlights the need for spaces where trans people can navigate their transitions without being dehumanized or objectified, and advocates for having conversations about bodies in a way that affirms the humanity of the trans community.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Embrace self-acceptance and love your body beyond external validation.
- Recognize the intersectionality of identities and how they shape one's relationship with their body.
- Challenge internalized biases and societal norms around beauty, desirability, and acceptability.
- Advocate for creating spaces where trans people can navigate their transitions without dehumanization.
- Prioritize self-care, access to healthcare, and taking care of one's body, especially as one ages.
- Find balance between professional ambitions and personal fulfillment.
- Engage in open and honest conversations about bodies in a way that affirms humanity.
- Celebrate the milestones and journeys of self-expression and self-acceptance.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “And I want to challenge myself to talk about things that I don't talk about publicly a lot as much as I've shared. I think there's some things that should be private, particularly as a trans woman, because my humanity as a trans woman and the humanity of my trans siblings is always sort of called, called into question.“ by Laverne Cox
- “Our bodies matter. Paraphrasing Judith Butler in that iconic book from the nineties. And, like, when I say my body, I mean, we're talking about my nervous system. I'm talking about my skin, my nails, my secondary sexual characteristics, my energy levels, my cortisol release, my adrenaline. My thoughts are a part of my body. All those things matter.“ by Laverne Cox
- “And access to healthcare to take care of these bodies as you get older. As I've gotten older, I'm like, oh, my God, it's so important to, like, take care of this body, you know, if I want to be around for a while.“ by Laverne Cox
- “I'm just really excited to, like, play dress up for myself and to see my boyfriend and spend quality time with him and to have a life outside of work and not be overly defined by, like, my job.“ by Laverne Cox
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Episode Information
The Laverne Cox Show
Shondaland Audio and iHeartPodcasts
8/17/23