Society's Ideal Preference
Got a minute? That's all it takes to get a snap shot of how beauty has changed over history.
Whether it’s the kind of gum we buy, or the shampoo that we use; we all have a preference. As we grow older, our preferences can change just as our environment does. The environment we live in can have a huge impact on our ideas and assumptions based on society and its preferences.
One topic that always seems to be a hot subject to talk about is what the “ideal” woman is supposed to look like. Young women today grow up in a society where flat stomachs, sun-kissed skin, and curves are considered desirable. Girls read magazines and see advertisements that sell this idea that in order to be desirable, you have to alter your physical appearance to be visually appealing to others. One of the most disappointing factors in this current situation is the fact that women of all ages buy into what society is selling them.
BuzzFeed, an American news media site, posted a video recently on the evolution of women’s ideal body image throughout history. The video goes through different eras such as Ancient Egypt (c. 1292 – 1069 B.C.), Italian Renaissance (c. 1400 – 1700) and many others for the purpose of showing more than one desired body type. Different societies from different eras had a much wider (literally) variety of what an “ideal” woman looked like. Some of these “ideal” body types included curvy waists, pale skin, and boyish figures – none of these attributes even close to what is considered socially acceptable today.
This video just goes to show that it's impossible to fully fit the mold of the "ideal woman" because it is constantly in flux and ever-changing. And quite frankly, we shouldn't be trying to fit this ideal anyway. Body image should never be a trend and it's extremely disappointing that it has become one.
Everyone should find beauty in their own bodies, their own image, and their own flaws instead of comparing themselves to society's trends or ideals. As corny as it is, beauty really is in the eyes of the beholder and this video proves this to be true based on the various desired body types shown.
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