LOS ANGELES—Asian plus-size performer and PaddedKINK producer/director Kelly Shibari will be speaking to a class of students at Pasadena City College in Pasadena, California on Wednesday, April 11. Shibari will be speaking to the "Navigating Pornography: Humanities 3" class at the college, which is taught by gender studies professor and contributing writer for Jezebel, Hugo Schwyzer.
Shibari, whose performances has garnered projects several AVN nominations and an Urban X Award over the years, produces and directs PaddedKINK, the Feminist Porn Award-winning website that celebrates plus-size fetish performers.
"I'm delighted to have been asked to speak to Hugo's students," said Shibari. "I've admired his work for years and to have the opportunity to speak to his class about the adult industry and body image is an honor. The traditional image of the Asian adult performer, and Asian women in general, has been of fragile, delicate, submissive flowers. Being able to discuss the issues that come with that stereotype, and how we can associate strength and confidence with attractiveness rather than size will be an amazing experience. "
In addition to courses on women’s history, men and masculinity and gay and lesbian history, Schwyzer developed the Pasadena City College's first interdisciplinary course focusing on “Beauty and the Body” in the late 1990s, a class he continues to offer today, and which focuses on the historical roots of contemporary eating disorders and distorted body image. His articles have also appeared in the Guardian, the Los Angeles Times, the Huffington Post, Alternet,Role/Reboot, Mamamia, Modern Mom, The Frisky and many other sites. His essays are featured in the anthologies Men Speak Out and Best Sex Writing 2012.
"Kelly's body of work—and her remarkable insights into the way that issues of body image and ethnicity intersect with sexuality—make her an important figure in the adult industry, and an ideal candidate to speak to my students," said Schwyzer. "We're very excited to have her join us!"
Attendees are limited to those taking the class. For media inquiries, please contact Kelly Shibari at [email protected].
