Bearded lady challenges norms; takes pride in her facial hair

Jennifer Miller can be called several things -- performer, award winner, lesbian, juggler, clown, NYU professor, social activist. Yet for all of her accomplishments, the thing about Miller that draws the most attention from those around her is her beard.\nAddressing a crowd on campus Wednesday as part of a gender studies lecture, Miller recalled her life as a bearded lesbian and discussed gender ambiguity with those in attendance. \nMiller said at age 17, she began to notice a change in herself. Not only did she come out of the closet as a lesbian, but she also began to notice the growth of excessive facial hair around her lips and chin.\nAlthough many women would consider such a thing a terrible burden, Miller said she takes pride in her beard and uses it as a tool to separate the norms of masculinity and femininity from the actual meaning of gender.\n"Having a beard says nothing about your sexuality. It says nothing about your gender. It says nothing but 'body hair,'" said Suzanna Walters, chair of the Department of Gender Studies, who worked to bring Miller to campus. \nMiller opened her lecture with the documentary titled "Juggling Gender," which focused on her own life in 1992.\nThe documentary shows Miller doing many daily activities and includes several shots of her performing in the Coney Island Circus Sideshow, where Miller revealed herself and her beard to the public as "The Bearded Lady."\n"Certainly, as I've grown older, I think it's become easier to be myself," Miller said.\nA particular scene in "Juggling Gender" shows Miller nude in a bathtub. While the documentary played, Miller noticed an uncomfortable look sweeping across the faces of many people in her audience. Miller addressed the scene in the lecture following the video.\n"I think we were looking for a certain kind of honesty that comes only from vulnerability, and this time, we found that in nudity," Miller said.\nOne of the key points in Miller's lecture was the evolution in her life and in the world's views of gender since the early 1990s. Miller recalled walking into lesbian bars 10 years ago and being met with hostility and a lack of understanding from the people she expected to understand her the most.\n"So many things that happened then happened because it was a different time." Miller said. "I was in a performance world."\nOn many of the topics discussed, Miller's views seemed to be relatable to those in the audience. \n"I heard a lot of resonance in her lecture regarding the things I'm trying to work out with visuals and performance," said Nick Clarkson, a senior majoring in gender studies.\nDuring a question-and-answer session at the end of the lecture, Miller was asked if she experimented with the style of her hair and beard.\n"I've changed my looks before," Miller joked. "I had one short-hair phase, but then I was like all nose"