Women have different body figures, and varying eras in history dictates which is sexy.
Photos from whiterskin.info, contourcorsets.com, asunnydayinla.com, fanpop.com
In today’s societal standards, skinny women classified as sexy. Gyms are rampant, plastic surgeries are in the trend and different kinds of diets are accessible. And when I say diet, it no longer means a mere lessening of food intake but in the fashion of low carbs, bland and slimming teas.
It isn’t natural. Human body requires the normal healthy foods. It could use some fats as well for energy and body temperature maintenance, among others. But the last time people are pleased with plump women was during the renaissance era.
In the 1400s to the 16th century, the attractive women are curvy. To get sexier, they just have to eat more. This translates to the overweight we know of today, but back then they get praises than ignores.
In 1837 to 1901 (Victorian era), sexy perception shifted and women have to sacrifice for it. They compete to get the slimmest waistlines, wearing corsets so tight some breaks their ribs. Sitting is out of choice. There’s an extra burden to merely breath. Just imagine constricting your waistline up to 12 inches!
In the 1920s, there is one question women ask: “do I look boyish yet?” They wore garments to keep their chests flat and mimic the abs of men. They hide their curves and cut their hair short. And men like it that way.
In the 1930s to 1950s, Hollywood started to influence women. Sexy will judge women’s arms and legs apart from face and chest; hence, the lifting of weights. Women desired to show off their feminine sides with their choice of clothes.
In the 1960s, it is claimed that the British teenage Twiggy modeled the skinny body and women followed to be the same. Contrary to the renaissance era, women don’t eat at all to persuade themselves that they’re sexy like Twiggy who weighs just 89 pounds.
From the 1980s, advertisement featuring the “sexy” women boomed. What people see in TV and print portray the perfect body which was tenuous, large breasted and stout hips. Fats are everybody’s enemy and weight loss became a lucrative industry. And until now, the skinny type is the sexy one.
Only 2% of the population will have ideal model body without trying ; while the rest of the women will have to work for the sexy status.
What’s sexy in your standards?
Sources:The Perfect Woman Throughout History; Google Sites
A Timeline of Sexy Defined Through The Ages; StyleCaster News
Women in the 1920s in North Carolina; NCPedia
Perceptions of Body Image throughout History; timetoast
The Ideal Woman Throughout the Years; MFL Mar Mac
Moment Matters 
Sexy is simply the best you can be, from inside first, then to out. I learned this the hard way from struggling with anorexia and bulimia, which nearly killed me, dropping down to 64 pounds and lower, all through my teenage years, and into my early adult years. I had a heart attack, shrunk (but regrew..thank God!), had dental damage (that was fixed, thank God again), and was hospitalized countless times to no avail..one time on a heart monitor..all to achieve the body society thought was sexy. I was told I’d never be able to have children because I had stopped having periods during puberty due to my having zero body fat (I looked like a skeleton).. thank God (once again) today I have four children.
Sexy to me. The woman who is in love with me, and I with her. Very simple.
Great answer
Aww, you’re terrific! That’s how my husband thinks and I am very blessed 🙂
I like that answer!
Thank goodness we got past the corsets and stays. Ouch! Not healthy or comfortable. No wonder the vapors and swooning was so popular back then.
Sexy to me is not a body image but personality. If someone has a wonderful laugh, nice smile, healthy body and frame of mind, and intelligence that is sexy.
Healthy and happy are sexy!
Personality is more important, and being a beautiful person inside.
I prefer to call myself Rubenesque rather than overweight. sounds good
Being sexy is what it tangibly is, it requires no new definition.
Just shows you how media can influence peoples perceptions.
Reblogged this on balladblood.
I think ALL women are sexy. I’m the one girl who will compliment everyone and anyone. I’m even partial to extremes like obesity and super skinny, which isn’t healthy, but I can’t help it, I just think every woman in the world is beautiful in one way or the other. Obese women are gorgeous with all the curves and super thin women look like little deer, you just want to hug them 🙂
Fat, thin, tall, short, young, old … variety is the spice of life, right?
I love this post. To me, being sexy is being healthy and happy. 🙂
Sophia Loren: Far above mere sexy. Beauty, charm and dignity.
Great post….again. If a beautiful girls speaks and out flows trashy words, gossip and hurtful comments, she is not so pretty. On the otherhand, if the same girl speaks and out flows gracefilled words, kindness and helpful words, then she is even more beautiful. We, as a culture, need to not just look on the outside of the cup. It’s the inside of the cup that matters and can make all the difference. Thank you for this post.
Sexyness is definitely not in the body!
Reblogged this on The Books of Silvia.
Cultural definitions of “sexy” are driven by scarcity — “average” is average and an extreme (either thinness or voluptuousness) is defined as most attractive based on social circumstances. In our culture of excess it is easier to be fat than to be then, hence skinny is considered sexy. In cultures where food is scare plumpness is prized.
Sexy is confidence , intelligence, a bit of mystery and a dash of Sass. Sexy has class and soul, can be confident in old jeans and approachable in an evening gown. It’s being comfortable in your own skin. Sexiness makes you want to look without begging to be seen. Trashy, by contrast reveals much but delivers little. Sleazy begs to be stared at because there’s nothing deeper than the image . When women become cut up, plumped up caricatures of themselves with fried black blond hair, black bras with white shirts, and wearing their desire to be desired, that is NOT sexy. Suffering to be accepted is not sexy. Fitness and health and strength are sexy! Happiness is, too!
Man. I must be the complete pig of the group. Yeah. Things like confidence and intelligence are sexy to me – but c’mon. Let’s not forget a slim body, nice curves, perfectly rounded breasts, fit stomach, and seductive eyes…
To me, being sexy is being healthy and embracing all God created me.
I like big butts and I cannot lie.
Dang! I came here to say the exact same thing. LA face with the Oakland booty, and all!
Healthy = sexy. Period.
Sexy ????…. In the right male company I always feel sexy
Haha I might not look sexy but with the right attitude, confidence, clothes and underwear I can feel very sexy, that is enough for me. 🙂
Sexiness is in the eyes
Healthy, happy and not hungry is sexy to me.
I nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. Check it out.
What has the world come to when curves are considered something to avoid like taxes and death?
Reblogged this on randomwordbyruth.
As much as I love the question ” what makes a woman sexy”? I also disagree with the trend of the day- I believe super skinny has been tossed aside for super- FIT. That goes for men, too. I don’t mean body builders on steroids, but good old fitness. Toned muscles, healthy body weights and BMI. America is fatter than ever, despite ideals of images. Imagine people in the future looking at profiles of average Americans today. Perhaps those anthropologists , if you will- will conclude that we truly prized the 46″ plus waistline after all … I will be writing on this topic soon.
We just studied this in my psychology class. It’s sad that Marilyn Monroe would be considered fat in today’s society. I think that many women today who are considered attractive simply look sickly and need to eat a cheeseburger.
Great article! Will never understand why lack of a body is considered sexy!
Love this post ! For me, smart and humorous are totally sexy 🙂
Awesome post! I think sexy in a physical sense is technically slightly curvy without being able to see ribs, but not over the top curvy. But at the same time if i was particularly fat i wouldn’t care. i think at the moment i am just right, happy, curvy, but not “fat” as people put it. i think people with non-existent backsides and stick-legs are unattractive. As far as the inside is more important that the outside? i 100% agree. it matters more who you are underneath.
It’s confidence, but not cockiness. Self-awareness, but not self-centeredness. It’s smelling nice, but not in a cloud of perfume. It’s listening, wit, intelligence, and that intangible kissable quality that you either have or you don’t.
How times have changed.
Reblogged this on Urbannight's Blog.
Natural beauty and a good personality. I don’t care how attractive you might be, if you are rude or don’t treat people well, then you are ugly in my eyes. I think that sexiness, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.
Thanks for the like on my post. I’m glad you liked it because it brought me here 🙂