Behind The Beauty Myth

Summary: Recently came across this series of vintage ads aimed at striking fear in the hearts of young women everywhere. The ads threaten that you will wind up unpopular, undesirable, and unloved if you let yourself get too…wait for it…SKINNY. As someone who grew up in a culture that has always lionized female thinness, these ads were a welcome change of pace — at first. “Finally!” I thought to myself. Proof that our image-obsessed culture once celebrated normal, realistic standards of beauty for women. But upon closer inspection, I realized that this ad was just the flip side of the same coin.
The ideals of beauty may have changed, but the approach feels quite familiar.