Throughout history, women have suffered greatly in their quest to achieve the beauty standards of their era.
Beauty standards evolve with each century and decade. The woman considered the most beautiful in one era might astonish those from a different period.
Here are five painfully arduous beauty standards:
1. High Foreheads in Medieval Europe
In Medieval Europe, a high forehead, resembling an egg shape, was seen as the pinnacle of beauty, status, and intellect.
To achieve this look, women would pluck their hairlines for a higher forehead and even remove their eyelashes individually.
Just imagine nearly eliminating all your front hair and eyebrows to create a wider forehead. Ouch.
2. Small Feet in Imperial China
Foot binding, a prevalent custom in ancient China, involved tightly wrapping young girls’ feet to halt their growth, leading to severe and debilitating conditions.
Chinese women began this practice during the Song Dynasty, when tiny “lotus feet” were highly valued as a symbol of beauty.
3. Hair Plucking in Ancient Egypt
4,000 years ago, Egyptian women meticulously plucked individual hairs from their bodies and eyebrows by pinching them with two small seashells and pulling them out.
Hairlessness was associated with social status, cleanliness, youth, and beauty. Women who maintained body hair and good grooming were considered more attractive.
Extracting each hair from its root is akin to a more painful version of modern waxing.
4. Curvy Bodies in Renaissance Europe
While slimness is the contemporary beauty ideal, a thick and curvy figure was preferred during the Renaissance.
Women restricted their breathing and caused permanent bodily harm by wearing tight corsets and full skirts, which created the appearance of a plumper figure, as a fuller, curvy silhouette was viewed as a sign of wealth and fertility.
5. Lead Poisoning in 18th-Century Europe
Many women aspired to achieve a pale complexion and conceal imperfections.
While we have access to foundation and concealers today, women in ancient times utilized white lead, which is essentially toxic, without concern for its dangers.
It’s said that Maria Gunning, the Countess of Coventry and a famed beauty, refused to stop using white lead even while on her deathbed.
Throughout history, the pursuit of beauty has inflicted pain on women. Perhaps it’s time for women to embrace self-acceptance rather than strive for impossible ideals of perfection.
