Self-love
Self-love is one of the most important themes in "homage to my hips." Despite her hips not conforming to the beauty standards at the time the poem was written, Clifton is able to love herself and her "big" and "mighty" hips. Oftentimes, people change themselves in order to fit in with the beauty standards of the time; some exercise, others have surgery. Nevertheless, by embracing the uniqueness of her hips, Clifton shows that she loves herself tremendously. In fact, she embraces every aspect of herself—warts and all—which is a hallmark of someone who truly loves themselves. Ultimately, the poem argues that loving oneself is incredibly important in ensuring long-term contentment.
Female autonomy
Clifton's hips, which are described as being atypical but "powerful," are symbolic of female freedom, agency, and autonomy. Clifton's hips seem to have a mind of their own and "do what they want to do" and "go where they want to go." This is not only an example of personification; it underscores the right women have to personal choice and autonomy in an oftentimes patriarchal, restrictive world that frequently attempted—and often succeeded in—restricting women's freedom. The hips, which are obviously attached to women, have a mind of their own and assert their own space, which mirrors the broader struggle of women to assert their rights and identities in societies which are often oppressive.
Identity
One of the most substantive lines in the entire poem is "they [Clifton's hips] don't fit into little petty places." Previously, Clifton told readers that her hips were rather large and implied that they had a personality of their own, suggesting that her hips (and, by proxy, herself) can't be confined and put into a box. Clifton underscores the idea that her hips, which represent her identity, cannot be boxed into restrictive societal norms. Throughout the poem, Clifton shows that identity is a very complex subject, and that people can't be easily categorized.
