With Valentine’s Day and its associated anxieties just behind us, and International Women’s Day on the horizon, I find it timely to explore a poem which delves into the intertwined themes of love and womanhood.
Maya Angelou’s ‘Phenomenal Woman’ defies classification as a typical ‘romance’ poem. Instead, it challenges the social pressures placed upon women in the modern world, while simultaneously offering an empowering perspective on the authentic essence of female beauty. For me, this 1978 masterpiece is a powerful expression of self-love, a feeling which is arguably more important than romantic passion.
From the very opening stanza, Angelou’s assertive tone can provide the boost in self-confidence that so many of us need around February 14th. Her repetition of the word ‘phenomenal’, as both an adverb and adjective, in the established refrain ‘I’m a woman / Phenomenally. / Phenomenal woman, / That’s me’, is striking. Though overt declarations of personal pride are scarcely heard in this day and age, Angelou’s voice is so convincing that as readers we are reminded of the terrible ‘lies’ which have come to dictate the definition of beauty in the fashion industry and which undermine female confidence every single day.
Yet, as the poem continues, Angelou moves away from her definition of what beauty is not, or ought not to be, focusing instead on a powerful description of what an incredible experience it is to exist in a female body. Though the pressure of the male gaze is profoundly anxiety inducing for many women, the character which Angelou constructs seems to revel in it. She struts through the poem, expecting men to ‘stand or fall down on their knees’ as she passes. She adores the ‘span of her hips’ and the ‘curl of her lips’, taking immense power from the shock and confusion which her ‘inner mystery’, overt self acceptance, causes for the men around her. She does not seek attention, but rather finds strength in the oppression she must endure.
As women we are aware that Maya Angelou is a cultural icon. She spent her life championing women’s rights as a poet, memoirist and civil rights activist. She was an inspirational figure for the women of her time, winning awards for her courageous voice and unwavering resilience in a man’s world. Life has changed since the second wave feminism which Angelou took part in. However, at times of uncertainty and personal doubt, it is still important to look to strong women, past or present, for encouragement. ‘Phenomenal Woman’ is timeless. It deals with the universal theme of empowerment, and will serve as a source of courage for many years to come.
“Maya Angelou” by vision63 is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
