LOS ANGELES — Asian BBW performer and PaddedKINK.com producer/director Kelly Shibari will be speaking to students at Pasadena City College in Pasadena, California on April 11.
Shibari will address the "Navigating Pornography: Humanities 3" class at the college, that is taught by gender studies professor and contributing writer for Jezebel, Hugo Schwyzer.
The performer has received several industry nominations and awards including the Feminist Porn Award for PaddedKINK that celebrates plus-size fetish performers.
Shibari is also a monthly contributor to XBIZ.net, focusing on marketing psychology for adult online professionals.
"I'm delighted to have been asked to speak to Hugo's students," Shibari said. "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.”
She added, “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."
Shibari said that 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 1990's. The class continues to be offered today and focuses on the historical roots of contemporary eating disorders and distorted body image.
"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," Schwyzer said. "We're very excited to have her join us."
Attendance is limited to those taking the class.