This is a picture in the threading salon I regularly go to. Threading is a form of facial hair removal. As a trans woman, facial hair removal of my upper lip and eyebrows is important to feeling confident and empowered in my body. Yet, I can acknowledge that societal implications play a role in this. 'Passing' is important to most trans women for our safety. Sometimes it feels like the world isn't ready for openly trans people and conforming to norms is important for societal acceptance. While I do threading and facial hair removal for myself, I realize that I am unconsciously taking standards from society of women being hair-free and applying them to myself. I feel more masculine and unattractive when I have bushy eyebrows and upper lip hair. Additionally, my ethnicity plays a role in this. Many Indian people are ashamed of naturally having darker facial hair because of eurocentric standards.