It was proved that the corseting was causing deformations and distortion of the internal organs leading to death. Even though, this didn't stop women from keep on doing it. They didn't do it because they liked it, but because this was their only perspective to get a decent husband.
In the twentieth century another symbol of beauty was introduced. Back then, in the twenties, women were taking control over their bodies and their minds. It was introduced by a shift from external to internal body control, which was expressed in women doing sports and dieting. They were also going to college in order to get a profession, and in order to be equal to men, and also to be independent. Unfortunately, there was still a body control over women, they were expected to have boyish figures, rather sexless and unattractive, with small faces. Then in the second half of the twentieth century women forgot about the slim ideal and started following the "Monroe " ideal " a more curvealicious figure, but again a slim one. During this period women were still submissive and obedient to society i.e. men. .
All these examples of social control over women derived from the questions: what men wanted to see, what society wanted to see. The perception of men, as the superior ones, originated from the ancient civilizations. Men were always perceived as the superior ones, the ones with more power, the controlling ones. They had the power and used it, sometimes not so wisely.
The result of this men controlled world was not only physical, but and a psychological one for women. Women all around the world suffered thousands of years, from the ancient Chinese woman to the woman following the "Monroe " ideal, and all that just to please the society i.e. men. Here comes the question: are we really so easy to be controlled? Yes, we are. We are because when a majority of people says that something should be done this way and a minority of people says that it should be done the other way, we will listen to the majority of people, because they are the many more, they are the strong ones, the ones with the power.