Feminist Selfie

 

Selfies may be interpreted as a feminist act due to the method in which the image was taken. It is a “self” which has organized the image and chosen how it will be represented to the world. Selfies seize the control of portrayal as their very own. The image is one that the person is so comfortable with that they don’t mind sharing it with the world (usually via social media).

      Farmer’s article states that “the selfie…promotes the idea that representation is open for the insertion of the self. The inclusion of the female figure by the woman herself, and the resulting displacement of the male gaze have important implications for gender equality today.”  In other words, throughout history the portrayal of an individual has been designed by a photographer or perhaps a painter. People have been stuck in the gaze of others. Modern technology allows the individual to take control of the image for themselves.

     I chose this selfie because it is the closest I could get to a full bodied picture. Many of my insecurities have developed from a low self-esteem and negative body image that I’ve only recently begun to overcome (though the process is far from complete). I’ve captured my own image away from every media depiction that said such a figure is undesirable. It was also important for me to pick an image where I am wearing a particularly vivid shade of lipstick. I love lipstick and it is rare for me to be seen without it. I’ve had a family member mention that red (my favorite) is far too bold for me. I have even read an article stating how bright lipstick is inappropriate to wear out during the day and is only meant for clubs or bars. I’ve elected to ignore that and continue to wear it whenever I wish. It is not meant to please anybody else.