Body politicking and the phenomenon of ‘passing’

Abstract

The author takes a transdisciplinary approach to the study of body politics. She careens through topics of feminism, religion, social capital, stigma, heteronormativity, whiteness, colorblind racism in her discussion of access and acceptance granted or denied. This access and acceptance are based upon how the female bodies of two women are perceived differently in the same setting, although neither woman is part of mainstream society. Using a journey with a colleague to juxtapose visible otherness from hidden otherness, the author discusses the phenomenon of ‘‘passing.’’