6 most brutal trials that women from around the world go to for the sake of beauty

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Expression "Fashion victims" firmly entered into use, although few people know the history of its appearance. Since ancient times, women have subjected their bodies to real torture in order to comply with the canons of beauty. They deformed organs, earned chronic diseases and, unfortunately, often paid with their lives for their desire to be irresistible. In this review - the most shocking and cruel traditions of different peoples and eras.

1. "Naked fashion" in 18th century Europe

"Victims of fashion" in the second half of the 18th century began to call girls who were overly addicted to the so-called "Empire fashion", wore exceptionally light chiffon dresses, trying to imitate the images of antique beauties. In flowing translucent capes, moistened with water for a spectacular drapery, secular lionesses boldly went out into the street on fierce frosty days and immediately fell ill with pneumonia or consumption. Two centuries ago, these diseases were practically incurable. The French Journal de Mode addressed the ladies with a warning in 1802, recommending that readers visit the Montmarthe Cemetery and see how many young girls fell victim to. "Nude fashion".

2. "Lotus" legs in ancient China

However, in comparison with the ancient customs of some peoples of the world, the "difficulties" of European fashion are sheer trifles. Much more serious difficulties were encountered in those countries where the aesthetics of the deformed female body was revered. So, in ancient China, tiny legs were considered irresistible, which were called "Lotus" … Despite the sophisticated name, they looked more like hooves: from the age of four, the girl's limbs were constantly bandaged, 4 fingers "grew" to the foot, the length of which was 7-10 cm. The legs often bled, rotted, exuded a fetid odor, bones broke, nails grew in into the skin. Girls in the richest families were tortured, this was a sign of aristocracy and a guarantee of a successful marriage. By the way, the husband never saw his wife's “lotus” feet, even in bed she remained in elegant shoes.

3. Swan neck women of the Kayan tribe

Feminine beauty through the eyes of the Kayan tribe was in the swan's neck - the main girlish pride, which, of course, was not given to local residents by nature. From the age of five, the parents put on the first six brass rings for the child, and in the subsequent years of life, until marriage, they added new ones. The weight sometimes reached 9 kg, it was believed that with such a long neck a girl was guaranteed a successful marriage. By the way, as a punishment for infidelity, the husband could take off the rings, thereby dooming the woman to certain death from suffocation.

4. Tattoo-smiles in Ainu women

No less cruel is the tradition of tattooing lips in Ainuwho made special cuts in the form of a smile with a knife, filling the wounds with ash. In this way, they hoped to find family well-being and tranquility in the afterlife.

5. Ugly tattoos of women of the Apatanis tribe

And here tattooed women from the Apatanis tribe and did not care about beauty at all, deliberately disfiguring themselves. They inserted wide tunnels into the ears and nose, and ugly tattoos were applied to their faces so that … they were not taken as wives by representatives of other tribes. Tattooing became a demonstration that they, disfigured beyond recognition, are ready to live life only with their fellow tribesman.

6. Long-haired Yao girls

Much more humane traditions among the representatives of the Yao ethnic group. Long-haired girls from Huanglu Chinese village are famous for the fact that their braids can reach 2 meters, because they cut their hair only once in their life in 16 years, passing a kind of initiation rite. For decades, it was believed that only the husband of a Chinese woman could see a luxurious head of hair on her wedding day. If a stranger's man happened to see hair that was knocked out from under a scarf, he had to live with a woman for three years in marriage.

The usual ideal of female beauty is fundamentally different from the ancient traditions discussed in the review. You can enjoy the natural charm of modern girls on the pages Atlas of Beauty, a wonderful collection of photographs from different parts of our planet.