Growing up I was discouraged from taking care of myself and my hygiene properly, but now that I’ve taken control of my life I’ve found I really enjoy my hygiene routine!
I recently took the book “The Power of Parting” out from the library. In it, the author faces a very similar situation to my own where he wasn’t allowed to shower often or even with hot water. I sat there and stared off into the distance for a good long while and finally thought “huh, that really wasn’t alright what my dad did to me.” Abuse can happen in many ways and I’m only just, as a mid-30s person, realising that.
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↓ Comic Transcript
“Reclaiming Hygiene” a comic by Jey Pawlik, is done in mint greens, grey blues, and choppy black lineart. Jey is a nonbinary transmasc person with a chubby build, top surgery scars, short cropped hair, and a tiny bit of facial hair.
Page 1
Narration: Hygiene is very important to me.
We see a bathroom, it’s clean and inviting with nautical theming.
Narration: In a busy, stressful world, it’s one constant that’s always there for me.
Jey’s back is to us as they take off their t-shirt in the bathroom.
SFX: Shhhhh
Jey turns the shower on and the hot water creates clouds of steam.
Through the bathroom’s mirror, which is slowly steaming up, we see Jey make their way into the shower.
Narration: And I have complete control over it.
Page 2
The whole page is a wash with steam, with flashback sequences in a lighter colour within the steam.
Narration: As a kid, I wasn’t taught or encouraged to care about my hygiene.
A flashback of young teen Jey being told off by their father, who’s holding a water bill with unreadable numbers on it as he says “Keep showers to once a week!” Jey is confused by the bill, they’re only a kid!
Narration: This caused a lot of problems with my body
Flashback of young teen Jey sitting on a chair, they’re scratching their head saying “That doesn’t look good…” while looking at their foot. Text pointing to their head reads “Terribly itchy, oily scalp” and text points at their foot that reads “Fungal growths” with visibly noticeable issues with it.
Narration: and my social life.
Flashback at school where two fancy girls are standing over little Jey as they work on their schoolwork. The two girls are laughing and plugging their nose and wafting away the smell coming from little Jey. The two girls say “Ewwwww~”
Flashback of little teen Jey all alone in silence.
At the bottom of the page, current Jey is washing their hair as they think on these flashbacks with a concerned frown.
Narration: But that’s all in the past.
Page 3
Narration: Now, I’ve reclaimed hygiene for myself as retaliation and meditation.
Current Jey is washing their upper half with a loofa and a smile.
Narration: The sounds of the water washes away the noise of the outside world.
Narration: In its place, I’m alone but I’m free. I’m free to work through unfiltered ideas and thoughts.
Jey is standing under the shower and grinning as they think about a scene from a comic they’re working on. The steam shows a nude Lupin and Jigen just about to smooch. Jey thinks “OH! That’s what I’ll draw next. I’m a genius!”
Narration: It’s where I can learn about and love my body.
Jey washes their foot with a soapy sponge, the same foot they looked at earlier as a teen, and says “Lookin’ good~” and soap covers their lower bits.
Narration: Giving myself the time and care now that I was denied in the past.
Page 4
Jey comes out of the shower, steam all around them with an extremely pleased expression. “Ahhhh~” is in big cursive text behind them as they pat their face with a towel.
Narration: I take my time, relishing in the act of building the me I choose to be,
A view from the mirror, Jey paps some shaving cream on their face.
Then begins shaving their face with a razor carefully.
Narration: ready to take on the outside world
Jey rubs their t-gel onto their arms and shoulder, as they sparkle and their face shines in it’s smoothness.
Narration: as my best trans self.
SFX: Bzzzzzzz
Brushing their teeth as they wait for their t-gel to dry on their arms, the buzz of the toothbrush circles around their head.
Page 5
Away from the mirror, Jey puts on a big cozy pullover. Steam still puffed around them.
They run out of the bathroom happy and cozy in their pullover and house pants. Steam flows out from the bathroom behind them and follows them in little puffs. Jey says “Max, I’m doneee~”
Immediately with a “NYOOM” Jey’s spouse Max flies into them at high speed on xer office chair and gives Jey a big hug with a “FUMP!” Jey let’s out a quiet “oof!”
The two embrace, while Max is still sitting in xer office chair xey say “You smell nice~ How do you feel?”
Jey smiles sweetly and says “Much better ❤️”
Narration: It’s a simple thing, but I’m so grateful I have it.
Reclaiming Hygiene by Jey Pawlik was transcribed by Jey Pawlik on March 20th, 2026
Page 1
Narration: Hygiene is very important to me.
We see a bathroom, it’s clean and inviting with nautical theming.
Narration: In a busy, stressful world, it’s one constant that’s always there for me.
Jey’s back is to us as they take off their t-shirt in the bathroom.
SFX: Shhhhh
Jey turns the shower on and the hot water creates clouds of steam.
Through the bathroom’s mirror, which is slowly steaming up, we see Jey make their way into the shower.
Narration: And I have complete control over it.
Page 2
The whole page is a wash with steam, with flashback sequences in a lighter colour within the steam.
Narration: As a kid, I wasn’t taught or encouraged to care about my hygiene.
A flashback of young teen Jey being told off by their father, who’s holding a water bill with unreadable numbers on it as he says “Keep showers to once a week!” Jey is confused by the bill, they’re only a kid!
Narration: This caused a lot of problems with my body
Flashback of young teen Jey sitting on a chair, they’re scratching their head saying “That doesn’t look good…” while looking at their foot. Text pointing to their head reads “Terribly itchy, oily scalp” and text points at their foot that reads “Fungal growths” with visibly noticeable issues with it.
Narration: and my social life.
Flashback at school where two fancy girls are standing over little Jey as they work on their schoolwork. The two girls are laughing and plugging their nose and wafting away the smell coming from little Jey. The two girls say “Ewwwww~”
Flashback of little teen Jey all alone in silence.
At the bottom of the page, current Jey is washing their hair as they think on these flashbacks with a concerned frown.
Narration: But that’s all in the past.
Page 3
Narration: Now, I’ve reclaimed hygiene for myself as retaliation and meditation.
Current Jey is washing their upper half with a loofa and a smile.
Narration: The sounds of the water washes away the noise of the outside world.
Narration: In its place, I’m alone but I’m free. I’m free to work through unfiltered ideas and thoughts.
Jey is standing under the shower and grinning as they think about a scene from a comic they’re working on. The steam shows a nude Lupin and Jigen just about to smooch. Jey thinks “OH! That’s what I’ll draw next. I’m a genius!”
Narration: It’s where I can learn about and love my body.
Jey washes their foot with a soapy sponge, the same foot they looked at earlier as a teen, and says “Lookin’ good~” and soap covers their lower bits.
Narration: Giving myself the time and care now that I was denied in the past.
Page 4
Jey comes out of the shower, steam all around them with an extremely pleased expression. “Ahhhh~” is in big cursive text behind them as they pat their face with a towel.
Narration: I take my time, relishing in the act of building the me I choose to be,
A view from the mirror, Jey paps some shaving cream on their face.
Then begins shaving their face with a razor carefully.
Narration: ready to take on the outside world
Jey rubs their t-gel onto their arms and shoulder, as they sparkle and their face shines in it’s smoothness.
Narration: as my best trans self.
SFX: Bzzzzzzz
Brushing their teeth as they wait for their t-gel to dry on their arms, the buzz of the toothbrush circles around their head.
Page 5
Away from the mirror, Jey puts on a big cozy pullover. Steam still puffed around them.
They run out of the bathroom happy and cozy in their pullover and house pants. Steam flows out from the bathroom behind them and follows them in little puffs. Jey says “Max, I’m doneee~”
Immediately with a “NYOOM” Jey’s spouse Max flies into them at high speed on xer office chair and gives Jey a big hug with a “FUMP!” Jey let’s out a quiet “oof!”
The two embrace, while Max is still sitting in xer office chair xey say “You smell nice~ How do you feel?”
Jey smiles sweetly and says “Much better ❤️”
Narration: It’s a simple thing, but I’m so grateful I have it.
Reclaiming Hygiene by Jey Pawlik was transcribed by Jey Pawlik on March 20th, 2026