Sandra Manther’s erotic novella “Selfies” tells the story of a young woman who learns to accept her body and sexuality through an unusual challenge set by her student fraternity. The story touches on central themes of female identity formation: overcoming shame, the path to body positivity and sexual self-empowerment.
The struggle with shame
The protagonist Selma comes from a strictly religious environment in which the female body is seen as something that must be covered. Body-hugging clothing is considered “slutty” and sexuality is a taboo subject. This conditioning has left deep marks on Selma’s self-image. When her sorority gives her the task of walking around Hamburg in a transparent bodysuit and taking selfies with strangers, she has to overcome not only external resistance but, above all, her own deeply rooted shame.
The path to body positivity
The story impressively shows that the right to wear body-hugging clothing is not reserved for celebrities or people with “perfect” bodies. Selma learns in the course of her challenge that her body is just right as it is. She realizes that the critical looks of others say more about their own prejudices than about themselves. Her initial shame gives way to growing self-confidence and the realization that every woman has the right to feel comfortable in her own skin and to show it.
Sexual self-empowerment
A central aspect of the story is Selma’s sexual awakening. The challenge not only forces her to deal with her body, but also to perceive and articulate her sexual needs. The story shows how important it is to get to know one’s own desires and limits and to communicate them. This is a difficult but necessary learning process for many women who have grown up in an environment characterized by shame and taboos.
About the book
“Selfies” is the fourth volume in Sandra Manther’s sorority series, which revolves around the fictional sorority Gamma Xi Delta in Hamburg. The novella can be categorized as erotic literature, but goes well beyond mere eroticism. It addresses socially relevant issues of female self-determination, religious influence and sexual liberation.
The target audience is primarily women who are interested in a sex-positive, emancipatory perspective on female sexuality. The story is particularly appealing to those who are themselves seeking a way out of restrictive moral or religious beliefs and are longing for a liberating perspective on physicality and sexuality.
Manther manages to tell an erotic story that also conveys an important feminist message: every woman has the right to a self-determined relationship with her body and sexuality. The path to this may be challenging, but it is worthwhile.
