Fashion designer, Paul Poiret, developed the famous "flapper" look, which exposed the arms and the legs. This style had very much in common with that of French prostitutes who had provided company for many American doughboys during World War I. The Flapper wore her hair cut short, or bobbed, and wore more make-up than women had ever worn before in Western Culture.
The 1950's was the era of Marilyn Monroe. Large busts, long legs and curvy figures were considered beautiful. In a little over a decade, a large change occurred. In 1967 London's Carnaby Street arrived upon the US fashion scene with the arrival of, Twiggy, the British fashion model. True to her name, Twiggy weighed ninety one pounds on a five foot seven frame.This new image caused a tremendous transformation in the fashion world. Things got so out of hand that in 1968 there were riots in Chicago at the Democratic Convention, there was near revolution in Paris and feminists burnt bras, make up and high heels to protest the Miss America Beauty Pageant (Beauty Worlds: The Culture of Beauty). In 1984, designers realized their clothes no longer fit the public. Normal women wore around a size 24. Reformations were made and the clothing was once again "normal".
Throughout the 70's and 80's body images fell into the "toned look". Exercise tapes promoting fitness were everywhere, and today it is much the same. In 1992 Working Woman magazine reported that 65 million Americans were on a diet. Today being a teen girl is perhaps harder than it has ever been. The media pushes a false female image upon us everywhere we go, and it is progressively getting worse. A generation ago, the average model weighed eight percent less than the average woman. Today, she weighs twenty three percent less We know this, and yet it continues. .
Children are brainwashed at an early age to think the tall and thin look is natural and normal. Take for example, the Barbie doll.
