Marilyn Monroe, society’s timeless beauty icon, was a size 8. Adriana Lima, arguably a new Marilyn, is a size 0. There’s no question that the ideal body size for women has been reduced to literally nothing. The proof is everywhere: in our magazines, on our social networking sites, on the runways, and on our television screens. But was Monroe’s body type any more attainable than Lima’s? Monroe’s waist was reportedly 22-23 inches and her bust was somewhere between 35-37 (that’s a 36D). Despite her being curvier than icons surfacing in more recent decades, Monroe’s body still displayed impossibly hard to achieve proportions; and even she’s considered “fat” by today’s industry standards.
So, when did it become normal to look abnormal? And when did women start holding themselves to standards other than their own?
Maintaining a slender figure became important for women in the 1900s. Exercise and athletics were emphasized, and body weight became something that could and should be monitored. The S-shaped or health corset was also introduced in 1900, which formed a women’s body into an unnatural, yet desirable, ‘S’ shape by pushing a women’s bust, butt, and hips out and up and compressing her stomach and waist in.
The 1920s took a drastic turn in the other direction. Flappers’ slim figures became the ideal. Women began binding their breasts to achieve their flat, boyish figure. And being thin was now seen as desirable and a sign of wealth.
Jump to the 1950s and we have Marilyn, adding yet another dimension of perfection to the mix. Now, women were supposed to have curves again, but only in the right places: bust, butt, and hips.
In the 1960s Barbie dolls were made, and we all know the damage that their mythical figures have caused. Twiggy also stepped onto the scene, a legendary super model with a flapper body paired with 1960s style. Modern Twiggy types, most even twiggier, still dominate high-fashion runways today.
The 80s brought Jane Fonda’s aerobic obsession, and being tight and toned was now a requirement. The 90s glorified Pamela Anderson’s Baywatch bathing suit body, exaggerating Marilyn’s measurements to the extreme.
And now we have Victoria’s Secret Angels like Adriana Lima and Alessandra Ambrósio, who are not only size 0s, but toned, tall, and tan.
So, my question is: why do we continue to worship women like these Victoria’s Secret Angels when we know very well their body types are as unearthly as their name suggests? And, if we’re already at 0, how much further should we really push ourselves for something that we’re not all built to achieve?
Sources:
http://jezebel.com/5299793/for…
http://historiful.wordpress.com/tag/s-shaped-corset/
http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/perceptions-of-body-image-throughout-history–8
http://www.thesite.org/healthandwellbeing/wellbeing/bodyimageandselfesteem/bodyimagetimeline