Body Image Timeline in Western Society

By kerryeru

  • 1800's

    1800's
    Throughout the victorian era, the look of plump, fleshy and full figured women was the ideal body image while also wearing restrictive corsets.

  • 1900's-1950's

    1900's-1950's
    During the start of the 1900's, slender bodys became more fashionable.At this time the physically perfect woman was 5'4" tall and weighed 10 stone.

  • 1960's-1970's

    1960's-1970's
    By the 1960's, skinny or slender bodys was the ideal body image and was thought of as the most important indicator of physical attractiveness and between the years of 1959 and 1978, playboy magazine increased the promotion of slimness.

  • 1970s-1990's

    1970s-1990's
    Throughout 1970 to 1990 there as an increased emphasis on weight loss and body shape in the content of popular womens magazines.

  • 1990's

    1990's
    During the 1990's, the ideal body image was very slim and large breasted

  • 1990's-2012

    1990's-2012
    In todays modern Western society, 'thin is in' and artificial means such as liposuction are often used to lessen the appearance of hips, buttocks and fat in general.