The Over Sexualisation of Women and Lingerie in Today’s Society: Reshaping The Way We View The Female Body With Haus Duchess
- Innasya Mackenzie
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Within modern culture, the power of femininity has become increasingly overshadowed by the lens of the male gaze and the over sexualisation of women’s bodies. What was once painted as a symbol of fertility, sensuality, and motherhood has slowly been reduced to clickbait and consumption.
Before I ever understood the politics of womanhood, I was raised to view the female form as something synonymous with beauty and power. Each weekend of my childhood was spent lunching at french cafes, wandering boutiques, falling in love with the theatre through ballet, or afternoons visiting the art gallery. The initial reaction of a young, immature mind, stepping into the Grand Courts of The Art Gallery Of NSW and being presented with artworks such as Pablo Picasso’s Deux femmes courant sur la plage is probably shock or a slight giggle. My mum, the elegant, cultured woman that she is, was quick to educate and influence the way I perceived the female body, shaping a perspective on femininity that has remained with me ever since.
Throughout history, the subject of the female body has been the muse for many artists, not as overtly sexualised objects but as creators of life. The various interpretations from Michaelangelo, Artemisia Gentileschi, Sandro Botticelli, to Pablo Picasso paint the contours of womanhood through an artistic lens, challenging traditional views and societal norms.
As the digital age has progressed and sex has become increasingly central to advertising, society has appeared to lose the artistic lens through which femininity was once appreciated.
The popularisation of ‘the male gaze’ began with the depiction in film of women as a ‘damsel in distress’ in need of a heroic man to save them, often focusing on traditional gender roles, by playing characters of housewives or romantic love interests. This conditioning subconsciously shapes the way women understand their femininity, capabilities, and position within society.
Though we have been conditioned to believe that men are more capable than women, it has been scientifically proven that women have a stronger immune system — allowing us to live longer than men, a higher pain tolerance, a greater emotional intelligence, and a heightened intuition.
Living in this patriarchal society, the need for brands such as Haus Duchess becomes more and more important. Lingerie, not made simply to please the male gaze, but created with female empowerment in front of mind.
Haus Duchess is crafted in limited-run collections. Built on detail, discipline, and desire Isabella has created couture-level designs, each piece with intention. From the burgundy satins, lace detailing, pearl chains, and rose gold hardware they’re more than your average, mass produced lingerie but a luxurious addition to your everyday life. She has made intimacy architectural, an Australian label made slowly.
Recently added to my wardrobe, the Valentina set. While, of course, an angelic silhouette, the lingerie goes far beyond the look as it was created to move with the body, each detail chosen for how it feels on the skin. There is something so incredibly powerful about wearing lingerie with no intention of it being seen by anyone else but myself. This delicate act of private self-love is a softness I carry with me throughout my day.
I love lingerie in the most artistic, non sexual way possible and in the words of Haus Duchess, I wear my lingerie as a ritual, not a costume.