[ad_1]
From the curvaceous, ultra-feminine silhouettes of the ’50s to today’s influencers with full lips and tiny waists, the “perfect” body shape has changed over the decades.
This change seems so dramatic that some wonder what caused the change.
One expert told DailyMail.com that beauty standards have always been influenced by a complex mix of cultural, psychological and health issues.
Surgeon Dr. Mark Solomos explained that the post-World War II economic boom, the rise of diet culture in the 1960s, and today’s digital manipulation have all shaped perceptions of what’s attractive. .
“The transformation of the ‘perfect’ body reflects changes in broader society, including advances in fashion, media representation, cultural values and health consciousness,” says the international formation with an A-list clientele. said Solomos, a surgeon who has appeared on TV shows. “10 Years Younger” and “The Price of Perfection.”
“Psychological factors, such as the desire for social acceptance and the influence of the media on body image, also play an important role.”
1950s: Post-World War II boom
Solomos explained that the signature “look” of the 1950s was curvaceous, emphasizing the hourglass shape, which symbolized fertility and femininity.
This image is partly explained by the postwar economic boom (and “baby boom”). It is the return of women to traditional gender roles after a conflict in which many women take on traditionally “male” jobs.
Three million American women quit their jobs, and women’s magazines began to focus on family issues and the idea of being a “housewife.”
“Perfect examples are Marilyn Monroe, Brigitte Bardot and Jayne Mansfield, all of whom were considered the ultimate pin-ups,” Solomos said.
“Their bodies were soft, not as toned and curvy as we see today, and were considered the typical ideal in terms of female perfection.”
1960s: Rise of food culture
The “ideal” woman has shifted to a slimmer, more youthful, almost androgynous woman.
The 1960s saw a boom in the diet industry, along with a counterculture that rejected many of the ideas of previous generations.
Click here to resize this module
According to Solomos, feminism led to a growing rejection of the concept of a “housewife,” and the post-war baby boom meant that the majority of the population was teenagers, and models like Twiggy It is said to symbolize that era.
“This change was influenced by the rise of youth culture, the feminist movement and the introduction of oral contraceptives,” Solomos said.
“The tumultuous ’60s were about hedonism, free love, and rock and roll.
“It was acceptable for women to wear tight pants and still look sexy. Twiggy tolerated being slim and small-breasted, and 60s fashion often favored boyish figures and pixie-style haircuts. It has become the ultimate “clothes horse” that looks good on you. ”
1970s: The rise of body positivity
The ideal body has become more diverse, reflecting widespread societal shifts towards body positivity and acceptance of different shapes and sizes.
Time magazine declared 1975 the “Year of the Woman” and wrote that “women arrived in manly America like a new wave of immigrants.”
“They may be police officers, judges, soldiers, telephone linemen, taxi drivers, plumbers, editors, business owners, or even mothers and housewives, but they are not quite the same lesser creatures as before.”
“This era featured models like Lauren Hutton and Farrah Fawcett who combined natural beauty and athleticism,” Solomos said.
“These women were beginning to take on many male roles, and wore ‘power suits’ to reflect that. They were combining motherhood with work, and with flares and blouses, they were expressing their femininity and It incorporated curves.”
1980s: Fitness boom
The 1980s saw a fitness boom and a shift towards a more “powerful” look for women, typified by the “big shoulders” of 1980s clothing.
Icons like Jane Fonda and Cindy Crawford popularized the idea of a healthy, athletic physique.
This was influenced by the fitness boom and emphasis on health and wellness at the time, Solomos explained.
Most women mentioned the word “healthy” and found that there was a trend towards dieting. Women wanted to look clean, yet feminine.
1990s: Models became role models
Ironically, as the World Health Organization began to warn of the global obesity epidemic, the “perfect” woman’s body became thinner and thinner.
The buzzword became “heroin chic” as “waif” bodies became popular and models championed a body image that was unattainable for many women.
“The ideal body was characterized by a combination of fitness and thinness, exemplified by models like Kate Moss and Jodie Kidd,” Solomos said.
“Boyish, flat chests and muscular limbs dominated the catwalks, reflecting the rise of supermodels and the influence of media promoting thinness as fashionable.” Ta.
“No one wanted big breasts or big derriere. The trend was small flat butts, small breasts, and super-slip bodies with protruding hipbones and sharp cheekbones.”
2000s to present: digital manipulation
Technology is beginning to shape our idea of the “ideal” female body, with looks inspired by airbrushes and filters, and an “almost AI” look.
The rise of influencers has shifted society to a more digital way of thinking about beauty and to competing trends like body positivity and Ozempic that are reshaping the way we think about women’s bodies.
“Social media and digital manipulation play an important role in shaping beauty standards, with influencers and celebrities influencing the perception of beauty. When you think about reality stars today, it’s almost like an AI. There is a common look,” Solomos said.
“The choice of full lips, big eyes, strong eyebrows, a small waist, full but not too big breasts, and a big butt seems to be the look many Gen Zers aspire to, if you throw in some filters and airbrushing. Using photoshop, they look very similar.
“The ideal body continues to evolve, with a trend toward more toned, well-shaped, and slimmer physiques. The ideal word is ‘strong.'”
“While it is difficult to predict with certainty what will happen next, there is a growing movement towards body positivity, inclusivity, and acceptance of diverse body types. , there is an increasing focus on health and wellness.
“However, social trends and cultural influences shape perceptions of beauty in complex ways.”
[ad_2]
Source link