the woman who was kept on a shelf

The story "The Woman Who Was Kept on a Shelf" is an episode from the 2022 series "Roar." It follows a supermodel named Amelia who meets a millionaire named Harry and moves into his mansion. Harry builds a giant shelf in his office and wants Amelia to sit on it all day so he can gaze at her while he works. Amelia eventually agrees and spends three years sitting on the shelf, becoming nothing more than a decorative trophy wife. Over time, Harry grows distant and indifferent, and Amelia becomes isolated and unhappy. When she finally decides to get down from the shelf, she finds it difficult after years of immobility. She eventually leaves Harry and destroys the shelf. The story explores themes of objectification, isolation, the loss of autonomy, and the dangers of sacrificing one's independence to satisfy someone else's desires. Despite leaving her husband and starting her own beauty business, Amelia continues to struggle with being seen only for her beauty, symbolized by sitting on a shelf in her store as a kind of trophy. This ending highlights the complexity of fighting internalized misogyny and sexism, suggesting that the battle for female autonomy and respect can be ongoing and subtle.