It’s impossible for me to catalog all the times I’ve been in a professional setting when someone thought it appropriate to tell me about my appearance. In the signing line afterward, a woman complimented me on my remarks and said she was excited about my book. My skin’s not especially pale, and even if it were, this would be weird, and diminishing. Aside from the colorist comments about my skin, some of these words — adorable, cute, silky, shiny — could be taken, incorrectly, as compliments. I am talking about my profession, not about my hair or skin or any perceived cuteness.

Source: New York Times March 23, 2019 18:22 UTC