The Feminine Ideal

toonia · 05-17-2007, 08:45 PM

There is a long and broad history of the ideal female body type to require artificially exaggerating some aspect of it. Why is this? Is it the result of women competing based on their appearance, so that any valued feature is taken beyond its natural extreme? Also, some of the alterations by nature make the woman less capable and independent. Many of these images will appear grotesque to our eyes, but consider the exaggerations we are conditioned to value. Consider the following...

Foot Binding:
Ambulatory impairment

Corset:
Circulatory restriction causes fainting spells.

Elongated Necks
Pushes shoulders down.

Breast Implants:
Causes back problem and requires second surgery in 20 years.

Head binding:
(Not sure if this is gender specific)

Weight loss

edit last photo

ptgatsby · 05-17-2007, 08:59 PM

I think it has its roots in sexual dimorphism normally, which is why I don't think weight loss/skinny is a more modern form of an ideal, or at least differs significantly in how it came about. It doesn't target a specific trait... and it seems to come from mass media and fashion designers, generally imposed more by other women than men (men have consistently shown preference for more curves and higher BMIs than women).

The weight issue is similar to suntans - it indicates certain traits that become socially relevent... Suntans on men used to mean money (ala French Riveria) while now it practically means Beach Bum (often associated with poor, non-professional).

The others tend to revolve around emphasising the differences between males and females.

MacGuffin · 05-18-2007, 03:35 AM

So why are women so stupid?

toonia · 05-18-2007, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacGuffin

So why are women so stupid?

Probably because they have to mate with men to carry on the species? It really waters down the gene pool, but that's all changing now thanks to genetic engineering. Soon we'll just clone the women and leave the men to die.

Actually 'women are so stupid' because men have required those behaviors of them for their survival - and you know that. So enough with the trolling remarks, Muffin Man.

MacGuffin · 05-18-2007, 04:11 AM

Like men would last a week without a piece. The whole "patriarchy oppression" is hardly as cut and dried as women's studies would have everyone believe.

Women dress for other women.

Wolf · 05-18-2007, 04:13 AM

Well, I bet you still shave your armpits, arms, and legs, too.

If natural human females are not good enough for you, then there's a problem. Guys don't really care that much. Women never need to change themselves to reproduce, although they might to stand out from other females for the more choice males. If they really needed/wanted a male, there are many of us that are not interesting to females. You can find us all over the place. We're not the biggest, strongest, richest, hottest, or tallest, but women overlook us because we're not what they specifically want. It certainly goes both ways.

That last girl was really icky, like all those pictures, only more with the times...

darlets · 05-18-2007, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolf

Well, I bet you still shave your armpits, arms, and legs, too.

Can you clarify the "arms" comment? Women shave their arms?

Please tell me it's not so.

niffer · 05-18-2007, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darlets

Can you clarify the "arms" comment? Women shave their arms?

Please tell me it's not so.

Hmm...well I know some guy who waxed his arms..

Wolf · 05-18-2007, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darlets

Can you clarify the "arms" comment? Women shave their arms?

Please tell me it's not so.

It is so.

Ivy · 05-18-2007, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolf

It is so.

I don't and I don't know anybody who does.

05-17-2007, 08:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
toonia eventually Join Date: Apr 2007 Type: infx Location: desert forest Posts: 2,484	The Feminine Ideal There is a long and broad history of the ideal female body type to require artificially exaggerating some aspect of it. Why is this? Is it the result of women competing based on their appearance, so that any valued feature is taken beyond its natural extreme? Also, some of the alterations by nature make the woman less capable and independent. Many of these images will appear grotesque to our eyes, but consider the exaggerations we are conditioned to value. Consider the following... Foot Binding: Ambulatory impairment Corset: Circulatory restriction causes fainting spells. Elongated Necks Pushes shoulders down. Breast Implants: Causes back problem and requires second surgery in 20 years. Head binding: (Not sure if this is gender specific) Weight loss edit last photo __________________ a quiet passenger who passed the time looking out the window enjoying this new view of the woods billy collins Ni=Ne=Fi>Te=Ti=Fe>Si>Se

05-18-2007, 03:35 AM	#3 (permalink)
MacGuffin Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Type: xkcd Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 4,308	So why are women so stupid? __________________ Another PowerMad Admin & Ronin Attorney {Flickr photos LJ blog}

05-18-2007, 04:11 AM	#5 (permalink)
MacGuffin Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Type: xkcd Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 4,308	Like men would last a week without a piece. The whole "patriarchy oppression" is hardly as cut and dried as women's studies would have everyone believe. Women dress for other women. __________________ Another PowerMad Admin & Ronin Attorney {Flickr photos LJ blog}

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

05-17-2007, 08:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
ptgatsby Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Type: ISTP Location: Vancouver, BC, CA Posts: 4,091	I think it has its roots in sexual dimorphism normally, which is why I don't think weight loss/skinny is a more modern form of an ideal, or at least differs significantly in how it came about. It doesn't target a specific trait... and it seems to come from mass media and fashion designers, generally imposed more by other women than men (men have consistently shown preference for more curves and higher BMIs than women). The weight issue is similar to suntans - it indicates certain traits that become socially relevent... Suntans on men used to mean money (ala French Riveria) while now it practically means Beach Bum (often associated with poor, non-professional). The others tend to revolve around emphasising the differences between males and females.

05-18-2007, 04:13 AM	#6 (permalink)
Wolf only bites when provoked Join Date: Apr 2007 Type: HPLS Location: Plant Hardiness Zone 10 or 11 Posts: 2,181	Well, I bet you still shave your armpits, arms, and legs, too. If natural human females are not good enough for you, then there's a problem. Guys don't really care that much. Women never need to change themselves to reproduce, although they might to stand out from other females for the more choice males. If they really needed/wanted a male, there are many of us that are not interesting to females. You can find us all over the place. We're not the biggest, strongest, richest, hottest, or tallest, but women overlook us because we're not what they specifically want. It certainly goes both ways. That last girl was really icky, like all those pictures, only more with the times...