Harriet Potter and the war on body politics

I would be called Harriet Potter, and I would be an inspiration to women everywhere. Alas, that is entirely delusional because life is made up of shades of grey and Harriet Potter would never sell as well as Harry Potter because, hey, why read about the complex narratives around women’s body perceptions when you can read about magic and dragons. Fair enough. This does not, however, stop me from wishing that it was that simple – that with the wave of a wand, women could stop the competing dialogues in their minds and just accept who they are as being OK.

From makeup tutorials to “plus-size” models, women are bombarded with ideas about how to be a woman every day. As valuable as this global conversation is, I sometimes wonder if we are left with any choice at all that is unburdened by some sort of ideology around femininity. Can a woman shave her legs and still call herself a feminist? Can she wear makeup and still not succumb to the stereotypes that a patriarchal society creates for women? What if a woman enjoys playing into a stereotype – is this empowered behavior or is she simply living under the illusion of independence? Are my pink pajamas really my arch nemesis, keeping me locked in a prison of constructed femininity?

I actually feel sorry for Caitlyn Jenner. I hope she knows what she’s got herself into here. I’ve been a woman for far longer than she has and I can confidently say that I still wouldn’t burn my bra just because I can’t figure out whether it will help or hinder the feminist cause beyond freeing my own boobs. That family just seems to love engaging with the concept of the feminine; the huge furor about the fact that Kim Kardashian’s butt photo harks back to Saartjie Baartman and the objectification of women’s bodies is just bang on target for the debate.  Once again, the female form is sensationalized and the politics of being a woman are activated. Should she have done that? Why not? Is that fair? Is her butt naturally that size? Why would she change it or did she change it? What does that mean for my butt? Is my butt not butt enough?

Women cannot deny that, although Kim K’s butt may have “broken the internet”, it also certainly broke out some arguments that would otherwise have remained in academic discussion – for this reason alone, I can confidently say it was useful. We shouldn’t have to wait for an event like this one to engage with who we are as women and how we are influenced by the context in which we live. It is a deeply personal and valuable conversation we should be having on a regular basis. The commodity in all of this is, of course, choice itself – and it should never be taken for granted. Arguably, the answer is to simplify the conversation inside our heads and to allow the complex conversations to exist outside, allowing only the thoughts that will inspire us to be better versions of ourselves to enter and settle, while we wage war on the outside, breaking down the limitations on who we, as women, can be.

So where are we? Do we love our thighs, our curves…or our lack thereof? I find that sometimes, in moments of overwhelming confusion, sagely wisdom pays off; Harriet would say “It’s all the same when you’re lying down, baby”. Except shaving, that’s a personal preference.

Cover Image: Victoria’s Secret