By Sharen Natasha (016201200039)
Throughout the world, beauty ideals vary tremendously. This is particularly true when it comes to women, who are most often impacted by these ideals in order to attract a mate – and as an extension, their livelihood.
There is two differences of beauty from past till today. Some traditions of the past that were known both painful and unhealthy, such as foot binding and force-feeding women to make them fat, have slowly died out.
But In a globalized world people becoming more impacted by international ideals of beauty, such as lighter skin and thinness seem to reign supreme for what is considered successful and beautiful.
Here are 8 ideals of beauty – both past and present – from around the world, and how they are changing:
1) India: Decorative Dress
Indian women often wear colorful saris, nose rings, and dots or bindis on their foreheads as signs of femininity and sometimes marital status.No matter the caste in India, women adorn their bodies with colorful saris, dupattas, nose rings, bindis and henna, particularly for festivals and celebrations such as weddings.
2) Mauritania: Fat-Farm
Larger women were traditionally thought of as more beautiful, and many were sent as girls to “fat-farms” to be force-fed.Larger women are considered the ideal by men in the African country of Mauritania.There, they are forced to eat dates, couscous, and other fattening foods all day. Traditionally, a large girl or women denoted her higher class and status, therefore defining her beauty.
Wild styles are popular with young women in Japan, especially the large cities, traditional Japanese dress has given way to often outlandish fashion, hair, makeup, and even skin coloring called Gyaru.
4) China: Foot Binding
Though the tradition of feet binding in China has died out, some elderly Chinese women still walk around with tiny feet due to being bound as children.
Though foot binding is no longer a common tradition in China, the impact of this tradition – which lasted until the 1940s – can be seen on some elderly Chinese women.
Binding the feet involved breaking the toes and pushing them up against the sole of the feet, then tightening and sewing bandages around the entire foot.
This was considered erotic to men, and also limited the mobility of women, both literally and also within politics and the world at large.
5) Brazil: Guitar Shape
Tanned and curvy women are considered beautiful in Brazil, though beauty ideals are changing toward a thinner look similar to what is popular in the United States. They have traditionally been thought of as toned, tanned, and curvy. Though not large by any means, the ideal of beauty in Brazil included hips, a smaller chest, and a rounder backside, otherwise known as a “guitar” shape.As is true in several other countries, though, this beauty ideal has begun to change. Even according to author Mary del Priore, who writes in her book, The History of Private Life in Brazil that “today it’s the rich in Brazil who are thin and the poor who are fat.”
6) Thailand: Skin Whitening
Skin whitening continues to be a popular approach in Thailand, where being whiter is considered more attractive and affluent. Even as ideas of beauty shift worldwide to incorporate the multifaceted beauty of different skin colors, skin whitening still is revered by some in Asia.Lighter skin signals more affluence in places ranging from Thailand to India, where skin whitening creams are sold for cheap in open air markets.
But these creams can be permanently disfiguring, as one Thai singer found out after using one in hopes of improving her career.
Though the tradition of a tribal face tattoo was dormant for many years, it has recently become popular once again amongst the Maori tribe of New Zealand. Both men and women of the Maori tribe have long imprinted their face with swirling tattoos called Ta moko. Most high-ranking people in New Zealand’s indigenous tribe received moko before the Europeans arrived in the country, and it was considered an important milestone between childhood and adulthood.
8) Burma: Padaung/Kayan “Long Necks”
Most Kayan women wear rings around their necks, which is considered a sign of beauty in their culture. It is also now being used as a tourist attraction.
Women of the Kayan tribe, many of which are now refugees from Burma (now Myanmar) living in Thailand, often wear brass coils around their necks to give the illusion they are lengthened. Starting at a young age, the coils are wrapped around the neck, and more are added over the years, which in actuality pushes down the women’s shoulders, producing the effect that their neck is longer.These neck rings are both used as a way to attract men and now as a controversial attraction for tourists.
What do you think about these ideals of beauty around the world?
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