How does standards of beauty and attractiveness change ?

Question

Once upon a time fat = attractive, healthy and affluent and thin = poor and not so desireable. I have found several singles sites that are specifically for people who are overweight (like: bigsexysingles.com) Why is this necessary?

Answer 1

Because the majority of the population, both male and female, find overweight people undesirable. Unfortunately, in this society, overweight could mean someone who's not grossly obsese, but someone who is larger than what the normal standards dictate. Therefore, the websites that cater to larger-sized people have a membership of people who are either overweight or they are people who are attracted to larger sized people. When you place an ad on these sites, you know that the people who contact you find your larger size attractive.

Answer 2

I think it's just something that goes along with popular culture. Back in the day, artists painted women who were sort of chunky by our standards today, but they were considered voluptuous and sensual back then. I think it is also because before the 20th century, women were never thought of as anything more than housekeepers/baby machines, frankly. With the exception of a few notable women who greatly contributed to our history, most women stayed in the home and bore children for the bulk of their lives. Therefore, nobody thought of women as people who should be physically fit or thin. The wide hips and large breasts associated with child-bearing are also the attributes of plus-sized women, thereofre making them the most attractive figure of all. Then, in the 20th century, more women than ever joined the workforce and found themselves competing for jobs with men. Suddenly it became important to look the part. This meant a shift toward characteristics that were previously thought of as masculine- leaner builds, flatter chests, and muscular frames. Back in the 1920's, the fashion was actually for women to bind their chests so they would appear to have no breasts. Needless to say, curves were out of vogue. By the 1980's, America was caught up in a fitness craze. Between the "Physical" video by Olivia Newton-John and Jane Fonda's smash-hit workout videos, everyone was ready to get fit. Unfortunately, this craze sparked some not-so-healthy alternatives to eating right and exercising- namely, anorexia and bulimia. Today, we still unfortunately celebrate underfed-looking models and actresses, but there has been a push in the media to also point out dangerously thin people like Nicole Ritchie as an example of what not to look like. Also, stars like Catherine Zeta-Jones and Scarlett Johannsen, who have some meat on their bones and some healthy curves, are becoming more and more celebrated as the body type to aim for. Maybe someday, the fashion will be back to a few extra pounds and some sexy, Rubenesque curves.

Answer 3

Different strokes for different folks. If you're looking for a fatty you don't want to be booking a blind date with Twiggy, and vice-versa.

Answer 4

different strokes for different folks...personally I don't like skinny guys either muscular ones...