Body Image Of Women During The 1920's

Society plays a big role in how people perceive their body image. Everyone has their own definition of body image, but it is simply one’s logic or ideal image of what one's body is or should be like (Dictionary.com, 2015). Females of all ages have high standards in society. Even though social expectations do not dictate that women change themselves, the media effects body image by giving us an image to strive to be. Sometimes this image is unrealistic. Over the past 100 years, body image has evolved. Each decade a new body image and style of how the ‘perfect’ female is supposed to look changes.

During the 1910’s corsets were worn. This gave women an hourglass body shape. The image was a round soft body, gathered together in a small waist. The known figure of the decade was the Gibson girl. The figure was slender, tall with bust and wide hips (All Walks Beyond the Catwalk, 2012).

During the 1920’s images of real women began to appear in magazines.

This portrayed the body image of very slim and boyish. Flapper dress were trending; emphasizing long torsos, flat breasts, and no hips. Women were able to feel free and be as comfortable as a man. Although they did dress up, it was more comfortable. Their hair was typically short and short skirts above the knee were worn to show off long slim legs, knees, and ankles. This image made women begin to exercise to try to get this slender look. Body image is now very different from a decade ago. Women now wanted to be straight rather than curvy (1920s,

n.d.).
In the 1930’s curves make a small comeback. The ‘perfect’ image was to enhance the natural waste line around one’s belly button, with emphases on their shoulders. Longer skirts were worn, unlike in the 1920’s. This was the era where styles became more feminine. Women wanted to be healthy and show off their down-toned body (Big Changes Came to Fashion Trends in the 1930s, 2008).
The figure of the 1980’s was known as the supermodel. Tall, long-limbed women were the ideal looking women. This is when jogging and exercise became very popular and well known. Women became to want the look of having muscles. High cut clothing was worn, to show off their legs. Shoulder pads became popular for working women to show power in their job positions (The Evolution Of The Ideal Female Body Image Over the Past 10 Decades, 2013).
During the 1990’s, being small and slimmed framed was the ideal way to look. Spanks were created to help women get this slim figure. Women wore baggy jeans and big sweaters (See How Much the "Perfect" Female Body Has Changed in 100 Years, 2015). This was when the low fat diet became known. Fat was said to make you fat and people cut it out of their diets. (Frontline, 2004).
The 2000’s was a time where multiple different styles became accepted. People were encouraged to look different but still sexy. This era brought about the look of airbrush. Everything was flawless with fake tans and a plastic look. There were many different body images including, sporty, average, curvy, and Barbie type which was known as very slim with big breasts (BEAUTY IDEAL OVER THE DECADES part 3 : THE 2000's, n.d.).
Society is always changing and women’s style and body image change with it. Depending on magazines, what other people say, television, and mass media depends on how one will view themselves. Women are socialized to try to look and dress like who we view as being pretty or our ideal body image. Body image has evolved more into expressing one’s individuality, but still has a set standard of how you are supposed to look. The the mold is changing, and only people can change it.