Corsets and Unrealistic Beauty

Corsets have been branded as a symbol of unrealistic beauty by activists, but what’s the other side of the story and do we need to reconsider our attitude towards corsets? Read on to find out...

It’s no secret that over the years corsets have been highlighted by the media and unrealistic beauty activists as a negative symbol for women. Historically, traditional corset styles were known to cause health issues, whereas of course today’s corsets are designed quite differently.

Today, corsets have been branded as a symbol that encapsulates everything activists and feminists are fighting against, but what’s the other side of the story, and what about the women that actively want to wear corsets because they make them feel good?

A Historical Battle

Corsets have always divided the nation. Not so long ago, women were expected to wear corsets, despite the health problems that they caused. Of course today we’ve moved on from this, but now they are considered to be everything that feminism isn’t.

Activists suggest that corsets are restrictive, uncomfortable, oppressive and unnatural. While the corsets of the 18th and 19th century might have been all these things, today’s corsets are very different to the traditional corset as we know it. No longer worn specifically to create a certain shape, so that women fit with what is considered acceptable, the 21st century corsets are worn quite differently, and can be worn exactly as each individual pleases.

Of course historically corsets were worn to restrict the waist and change the shape of the body. Throughout different eras, they were also expected to be worn and were in many cases mandatory, despite being uncomfortable, restrictive and causing health problems. Today wearing a corset is a personal choice, and modern day corsets are made quite differently to ensure they are comfortable and not restrictive.

A Personal Choice

Over the years, women have fought to have the right to have their say, to have freedom of speech and freedom of choice. Today we are much more accepting of the differences between one another - of the way we look, our own personal style, our unique opinions and personalities.

The suggestion that corsets are a symbol of unrealistic beauty almost goes against the idea of freedom of choice among women. While some women may choose to avoid corsets all together, others may choose to wear them regularly. Nobody has the right to say whether this is right or wrong, or what it means when it comes to modern day beauty ideals.

In the 21st century, corsets are not garments that are commonly worn. They are not worn everyday to change the shape of the body, and they no longer cause health issues. This goes to show that are attitude towards beauty and what is acceptable is very different to what it was 100 years ago when corsets were worn by the majority of women.

Today we have freedom of choice. Corsets are about choice. Should we choose to wear one, that shouldn’t be an issue to others, including activists and the media. Instead of dictating what they do or don’t mean, isn’t it better to consider the fact that we should be free to wear what we want and express ourselves freely without being judged. It’s far better to live in a world where we can decide whether or not we want to own or wear a corset, than be told we have to, or we shouldn’t.

Modern corsets can be worn how the individual pleases. They don’t have to be worn tightly, and research shows that most women choose to avoid tightening their corset to achieve a dramatic waist reduction. Instead the women that wear them choose to do so because they can, because they make them feel good, confident and beautiful, and who can argue with that?

Not everybody has to love corsets, but we should choose to be respectful of each others decisions.

How do you feel about corsets and how they can be represented in the media? If you have anything you’d like to share with us, please get in touch: corsets-uk.com