Discourse of Commodification vis-a-vis the Female Imaginary: An Irigaryan Reading of Rupi Kaur and Warsan Shire’s Poetic Voices

Abstract

Rupi Kaur and Warsan Shire are two emerging diasporic poets coming from comparably similar cultural backgrounds who combine personal and familial experiences with immigrant and refugee narratives to amplify marginalized voices of women and challenge traditional femininity. This paper tends to read their recently published poetry based on the critical notions proposed by Luce Irigaray, a highly regarded feminist philosopher known for her extensive research into the themes of patriarchy and commodification. Irigaray critiques the dominant phallogocentric discourse and advocates for developing a feminine language that allows women to express their unique experiences and subjectivity. Her focus on the body, her exploration of sexual difference, and her emphasis on the necessity to challenge traditional linguistic structures not only posits her as a significant figure within feminist theory, but also as an excellent lens to examine the depth and intensity of Kaur and Shire’s feminist praxis. The article will, therefore, seek to provide a more profound comprehension of the challenges women encounter within patriarchal societies, as well as the potentials for empowerment and liberation, through the medium of poetry. In order to accomplish this, an examination is conducted to clarify the intersection of Kaur and Shire’s literary works with Irigaray’s conceptual framework, particularly regarding the commodification of women and the significant role that female imaginary plays in shaping women’s subjectivity. 

Received: 18 January 2025 / Accepted: 8 March 2025 / Published: 10 March 2025