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Summary
With its humorous title, “Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow” by Damilare Kuku addressed the traumas and unfair treatments that societal beauty standards placed on women. It's also revealed how male perpetrators used beauty standards to harass women.
Damilare’s creative style of using humour to speak the truth is a clear feature that makes her stand out as an author. The title of her book, “Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow,” addressed the obnoxious societal beauty standards. While many argued that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, they failed to acknowledge that women are the victims of systematic unfair beauty standards. In this book, Damilare humorously reveals the patriarchal power behind beauty standards through Temi (the protagonist) and her female relations.
Temi’s declaration of an alteration to her body is a confrontation addressed to the biased societal beauty standard. Her decision to undergo a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) is a reflection of how society denies women autonomy over their bodies, having been body-shamed by family, friends, and classmates since she was a child. Temi might seem impulsive and illogical, but her declaration opens the door to the shared painful experiences of the women she shares a relationship with– Hassanat (her mother), Ladun (her sister), and Aunty Jummai. All these women have been confined by society and the inherent patriarchal structure that even denied them the right over their bodies.
The novel critiques how society enforces narrow beauty standards, making women prey to male perpetrators, further promoting patriarchy. Ladun is the definition of the ideal beauty, but male gazes upon her body make her insecure, forcing her to wear baggy clothes. Even at that, she is still harassed, and society only questions her instead of punishing the male perpetrators. Damilare does not crucify BBL, but highlights how societal expectations encouraged it.
At times, Temi’s complaints may seem over the top and baseless, but her character reflects the real struggles of women and how their bodies shape their lives. Damilare ultimately advocates for women’s autonomy over their bodies, not succumbing to men’s desires and societal beauty standards.
