Opinion: Sophie Lewis reclaims femininity for feminism
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Sophie Lewis, an independent scholar, argues that some feminist critiques wrongly dismiss traditionally “girly” things and feminine aesthetics.
In her upcoming book, Femmephilia, Lewis challenges feminist ideas that see adornment as unimportant, instead proposing that embracing “femme” impulses can be liberating. Lewis examines visual art, literature, and pop culture to support her argument that femininity holds power beyond patriarchal interpretations.
Lewis reconsiders the myth of Daphne, as depicted in Adham Faramawy’s video Skin Flick, rejecting readings that portray the nymph as a passive victim. She asserts the artwork celebrates desire and pleasure rather than shaming it, and that beauty, though potentially oppressive, can also be experienced in a liberating way.
The author also analyzes Michelangelo’s painting Leda and the Swan, suggesting the artist portrayed a consensual encounter between the queen of Sparta and Zeus, unlike many traditional retellings of the myth which depict rape. Lewis observes that Leda had the power in the scene and actively participated in the interaction, receiving pleasure.
