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From: judy@altair.la.locus.com (Judy Leedom Tyrer)
Newsgroups: soc.feminism
Subject: Re: Female human aesthetics
Message-ID: <19158@oolong.la.locus.com>
Date: 16 Nov 90 02:36:41 GMT
References: <1990Oct29.185629.3652@nntp-server.caltech.edu> <3416@aipna.ed.ac.uk>
Sender: ambar@ora.com (Jean Marie Diaz)
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I remember an interesting theory of beauty which drew a significant
correlation between what is considered beautiful and the diseases of
that time period.  The conclusion was that beauty = health.

In the Renaissance period, consumption was a major cause of death.
The inflicted person literally wasted away to skin and bones.  During
this period fat was considered beautiful (Reuben would have loved my
post pregnancy body).

In the 60s heart attacks became a prime killer of humanity.  And there
was a direct link made between obesity and heart failure.  So "think
was in".

Lately, AIDS is the greatest fatality fear.  Since AIDS victims tend
to become quite skinny, there is an increase in weight seen in models.
If you compare the swimsuit models of today with those of 10 years
ago, you will notice that there are fewer rib cages showing and more
muscular thighs and buttocks.

I believe that we are seeing healthier looking models.  And I thought
the idea of healthy being beautiful made a lot of sense for both
genders.

My $0.02,
Judy