Monday, March 4, 2013

Changing Standards

People mistakenly believe that whatever society dictates at the moment must have always been the rule.  But that's not true.  With standards of female beauty, what is considered attractive has changed dramatically over time.  Even short periods of time.

As recently as 1930-1950, women were urged not to be skinny.  Thin was not desirable.  Women of normal weight with curves were thought to be the most desirable.  You can see that in photos of early beauty pageants.  You can also see it in some amazing magazine ads that my friend Lorena found.  She gave them to me with a suggestion to post them, which I'm doing.

Look at these ads and tell us what you think.  Is skinny attractive?


 
 

 
 

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22 comments:

  1. freedaMarch 4, 2013 at 5:24 PM

    Big boobs, flat stomachs.... those ladies aren't exactly rotund.

    Compared to a runway model they are huge, but not compared to the average woman of today.

    I really think it's less about size (girth) as it is about the proportions.

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  2. Jennifer FabulousMarch 4, 2013 at 5:45 PM

    I totally agree with Freeda. The hourglass figure was really the ideal back then. Not being curvy so much, as just being curvy in the "right" places. A lot of people point out that if Marilyn Monroe were alive today, she'd be considered "obese" but that's not true. She'd still rock a bikini. She'd probably work at Hooters. Lol.

    I do love these old ads though. I wish the ideal was still hourglass, rather than stick.

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  3. BrendaMarch 4, 2013 at 5:48 PM

    Hi Ally :)

    All those girls have the tiniest waists that I've ever seen. Those proportions aren't any more relistic than the stick thin models of today. The daughter of one of my friends loves retro clothes from the 50's and has bought a few things online until she realised that there was no way that she could fit into them (she's one of those stick thin girls) as even though they fitted her everywhere else, the waist line on them is just too tight.

    Yep fashions change with size as well as clothes just look back to some of the paintings from the 16th century, now there are some curvaceous women!

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  4. AnonymousMarch 4, 2013 at 5:56 PM

    i know especially in times of national poverty (like the depression) weight and curves were thought to show that a woman and her family were well off and more desirable as it was a sign of a stable diet and health.
    <3katya

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  5. Amber of Butane AnvilMarch 4, 2013 at 6:22 PM

    Sadly, cultivating body dissatisfaction has been "in" at least since the dawn of retail commerce. Great discussion as always, my friend.

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  6. Jenarcissist @ the closet narcissistMarch 4, 2013 at 8:38 PM

    One thing I have realized from a blog post I wrote a while back, which I think has more hits than any other post I've written, is that the anti-skinny campaign (and there is one going on present-day as well) makes curvier gals feel more confident...BUT it has the unwanted side effect of making the naturally super-skinny girls feel even more insecure than they already did. Some people wouldn't think skinny girls would struggle with insecurity, but they so do, just as much as average or heavier girls.

    What it really boils down to is most all of us struggle with body image issues, regardless of our size, which is sad, but it's very real and very prevalent. It's so important to try and stop comparing ourselves to other women and learn to embrace our own unique bodies. But it's easier said than done. That's why I write the kind of blog I have. :)

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  7. EmmaMarch 4, 2013 at 8:51 PM

    I've seen these ads before and they always make me laugh. I think the most important things to keep in mind about weight are moderation and health. You don't want to be SUPER skinny, but you also shouldn't just be complacent with being really overweight. Curves are fine, and being thin is fine, as long as you're healthy!

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  8. JodiMarch 4, 2013 at 8:52 PM

    Whoa.. I should have been born back then.. curve were IN!! LOL these are always so interesting to see after the fact. it seems like it doesnt matter what era we are in, there is always some kind of body issue to focus on!! love the old photos!!

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  9. CaraMarch 4, 2013 at 10:06 PM

    It's curves... but skinny curves... and those are still technically in. I've got the skinny down, but those curves? They don't seem to appear regardless of what I do! It's difficult being everything to everyone, so I've decided it's more important to be me!

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  10. Becky March 4, 2013 at 11:02 PM

    Those ladies look good in the ads-- they are slim, yet curvy. I wouldn't complain if I looked like them lolzzz
    Becky :)

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  11. Sage GraysonMarch 5, 2013 at 12:18 AM

    Having curves in the "right" places still seems to be popular. OK to have curvy hips but not OK to have a curvy stomach.

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  12. Lyosha VarezhkinaMarch 5, 2013 at 12:37 AM

    oh I wish I looked like that. If i try to add more curves it's have a curvy belly. as for me, I find this 'ideal back then' body to be perfect always...

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  13. Fashion Confessions of a MommyMarch 5, 2013 at 1:46 AM

    The total Marilyn body but the thing is they are still fit and thin in the right places and curvy in the right ones. I think it still took effort to get those shapes for those women and some curves are just God given. Very attractive looking for sure.
    Daphne.

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  14. The Grande DameMarch 5, 2013 at 3:40 AM

    I always enjoy seeing old ads like these. Funny how things change, we would never see an ad for anything promoting weight gain these days (except possibly protein things for body builders?). (There are ads from the 20's promoting tape worms for weight loss too!)

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  15. The Goodwill FangirlMarch 5, 2013 at 6:13 AM

    Ally, I'm feeling particularly skinny right now :o

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  16. meMarch 5, 2013 at 6:14 AM

    I was born in the wrong era. ;)

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  17. ChatterBlossomMarch 5, 2013 at 9:36 AM

    How interesting! I knew this, but hadn't seen ads like that. How neat!
    -Jamie
    ChatterBlossom

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  18. LorenaMarch 5, 2013 at 9:55 AM

    Thanks for the heads up - i continue to see these with astonishment as I cannot imagine someone in a healthy weight to be told that they're skinny and that they need to add weight.
    It just shows how we are never really contempt with what we have :/ - whatever it is.
    Also, marketing... oh marketing: you will help us find what is wrong with us and then SELL US whatever it is to "make it right".

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  19. Witchcrafted LifeMarch 5, 2013 at 9:57 AM

    So long as one is healthy (aka, not underweight due to illness, an eating disorder, etc), I think that beauty can (and does) apply to thin, average, and extra curvy lasses, but personally love a lass with a little meat on her bones and some great curves. Think Sophia Loren or, dipping further back in time, one of the women from a Botticelli or Rubens painting. I've never been a size zero and wholeheartedly hope that I never am. I love my curves and how well they help my fill out my 40s and 50s garments, many of which were designed with the classic hourglass shape in mind originally.

    ♥ Jessica

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  20. freedaMarch 5, 2013 at 11:35 AM

    Agreed with the negative byproducts of making naturally thin women feel inadequate.

    "real women have curves" ?

    Well, yeah. Some. And some don't. And that's okay.

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  21. AnonymousMarch 5, 2013 at 1:50 PM

    We are beautiful no matter what size we are. I hate when society pushes only one "ideal" of beauty.

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