DeepSummary
The episode begins with a discussion of the American reality TV show 'The Swan' where contestants underwent extreme makeovers, including plastic surgery and procedures like liposuction and breast augmentation. This leads into an exploration of the ancient Chinese practice of foot binding, where young girls' feet were tightly bound to prevent further growth and achieve the desired 'lotus foot' shape, considered beautiful and a status symbol.
The history of corsets and their damaging effects on women's bodies is also covered, including how they were used to mold the desired 'hourglass' shape by compressing organs and breaking ribs. The invention of the modern bra by a woman named Mary in 1914 is recounted. The episode then delves into the history of body hair removal practices from ancient Egypt through Victorian England.
The episode concludes by discussing the psychological effects of beauty standards, the 'pretty privilege', and societal pressures on women to conform to certain ideals of beauty, often through painful means. The host reflects on whether such practices are truly for one's own desires or stemming from external pressures to be perceived as attractive.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Throughout history, women have endured severe pain and bodily trauma in the pursuit of cultural beauty ideals like tiny feet, tiny waists, and hairlessness.
- Practices like foot binding, corseting, and hair removal were often justified by baseless pseudoscientific reasoning related to fertility and marriageability.
- Upper class women were held to more extreme beauty standards as symbols of status and wealth.
- Beauty standards have served to control women's autonomy and mobility while reinforcing patriarchal attitudes about female subjugation.
- The psychological effects of ingrained beauty standards can lead women to internalize the male gaze and engage in self-harm for the sake of perceived attractiveness.
- The arbitrary nature of beauty practices throughout history calls into question modern standards around appearance and conformity.
- There is an inherent tension between whether modern beauty practices are pursued for individual desires or societal pressures.
- The episode urges critical self-reflection on the motivations behind personal beauty practices and dismantling internalized misogyny.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “Historians say that one in ten girls in ancient China died because of foot binding.“ by Bailey Sarian
- “According to NPR, over 28,000 tons of steel were saved. That's a lot. This is enough metal to create two battleships.“ by Bailey Sarian
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Episode Information
Dark History
Audioboom Studios
1/10/24
Welcome to the Dark History podcast. We all know that “beauty” often comes with a high price to pay. I mean, worth it though, right? Who doesn’t like feeling beautiful? But what if I told you that “beauty” practices throughout history have been down right ugly? And not just any ugly–we’re talking foot binding, bone crushing, pube-plucking ugly. I guess the takeaway is that beauty standards have a shady past. And the question becomes: Who are we doing all this for?
I appreciate you for coming by, and tune in next week for more Dark History.
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