Most days i’m beautiful: A reflection on skin and body hair in Cambodia (personal reflection)

Abstract

Most days I’m beautiful. Like today, as I sit in the market next to an elderly little grandmother who grins toothlessly at me as she strokes my arm. “Look how beautiful her arm hair is!" she hollers to the woman selling iced coffee nearby. Ming, or “Aunt," as most sellers are called here, nods appreciatively before frowning and loudly answering, “But she’s gotten k’mau! ".