Female power
The poem as a whole celebrates female power. The speaker is a highly confident woman who revels in both her physical and inner beauty. She knows that her qualities make her very powerful, as she attracts the attention of both men and women and baffles them with her exquisite aura. She has power over men in both a sexual and intellectual sense, as they find her alluring but fail to really see her inner beauty. She is also more powerful than other women who may disregard her beauty out of jealousy and act petty toward her.
Individuality
The poem is also a testament to one’s individuality. The speaker does not fit the standard conventions of beauty and rejoices in her uniqueness. She suggests that both her physical characteristics and her personality are what make her phenomenal. She is proud of the fact that men cannot touch her “inner mystery”—the qualities that make up her personality and make her so special. Women cannot replicate her beauty either, as the speaker’s inner beauty is unique. The poem therefore celebrates the individuality of all human beings.
Cultural/societal stereotypes
The poem addresses the definition of beauty as defined by society. The speaker explains that she does not resemble a “fashion model”; she therefore does not adhere to what society deems beautiful. While race is not explicitly mentioned in the poem, one can also surmise that Angelou is also referring to cultural stereotypes of African-American women. As Angelou is writing from her personal experience, she is actually describing what it feels like to be a phenomenal black woman. As the men and women depicted in the poem look at her curiously, it may be argued that some of these stares come from white people who judge the physical attributes of an African-American person.
