Humans have defined feminine beauty in many different ways throughout history. In the Philippines, ideals of feminine beauty have also morphed, molded by society, culture and history. This March, when International Women’s Day is celebrated, Rappler looks at different concepts of beauty and shows how Filipinos interpreted these concepts or created their own.

Fertility as beauty

Venus of Willendorf

Venus of Willendorf, also called the Woman of Willendorf, is a statuette of a female figure made between 24,000 to 22,000 B.C. It was found in Austria in 1908. With its big breasts, large abdomen and detailed vulva, it was interpreted by scholars to be a fertility symbol.

Source: http://arthistoryresources.net/willendorf/

Mebuyan

Also called Maibuyan, Mebuyan is an ancient goddess of the underworld of Bagobo and Manobo mythology. She is depicted with many breasts which she uses to nurture the souls of unborn babies.

Source: http://www.ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/articles-on-c-n-a/article.php?subcat=13&i=317

No pain, no beauty

Victorian corset

The waists of women in Victorian Europe got unnatural treatment. Stiff, molded corsets fortified by curved steel were worn to achieve the ideal hour-glass figure. The tightness of these corsets caused some women to suffer from respiratory complications and the malfunction of some internal organs. In many ways, the corset represented the repressive, strict and structured European society during those times.

Source: http://www.thebeautybiz.com/87/article/history/beauty-through-ages-victorians


Foot-binding

A tradition of binding the feet of young girls to prevent further growth took root in China. The “lotus” shape of bound feet was considered highly attractive by Chinese men. They made women appear dainty and feminine. The practice originated among upperclass court dancers in the Song dynasty but spread to all classes.

Source: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=8966942

Neck rings

Wearing neck rings was a practice among women in tribes in Burma, Africa, Thailand and the Philippines. The weight of the rings pushed down the collarbone and ribs to elongate the neck. A long neck was considered the epitome of beauty. The rings were also a sign of wealth and status. In Africa, only married women were allowed to wear neck rings.

Source: http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2007/05/16/bound-by-tradition/

Independent vs. demure

Gibson Girl

Though corsets were still present in this time, the ideal of the Gibson Girl—predominant in the United States—was much more relaxed than the Victorian ideal of beauty. The swan-bill corset helped achieve the S-curve torso shape. The Gibson Girl was tall and slender but with an ample bosom, hips and derriere. Her neck was thin and her hair was piled high upon her head in a bouffant, pompadour or chignon. She was athletic, pursued outdoor activities and was free-spirited yet respectable.

Source: http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/gibson.htm

Maria Clara

She is the iconic mestiza heroine of Jose Rizal’s “Noli Me Tangere” whom he describes as “Inang Pilipinas.” Said to be inspired by Rizal’s childhood sweetheart Leonor Rivera, she is the epitome of the Pinay concept of beauty at the time: demure, conservative, fair-skinned, elegant and above all, virtuous.

Source: http://pw1.netcom.com/~ntamayo/mariaclara.html

Beauty in the time of war and peace

Rosie the Riveter

In the 1930s and 40s, American women took on male-dominated trades to help in the World War II efforts. “Rosie the Riveter” is a cultural icon who came to represent women working in factories that produced ammunition and and war supplies. She was an image of the strong, empowered and patriotic American women. But of course, at the end of the war, women were expected to return to their everyday housework.

Source: http://www.nps.gov/pwro/collection/website/rosie.htm

Amorsolo’s “probinsyana”

In contrast to Rosie, a concept of Filipina beauty celebrated gentleness and liveliness against a rural, bucolic setting. Fernando Amorsolo immortalized this concept of beauty in his paintings, particularly in “Fruit Gatherer” painted in 1950. Amorsolo described the women he paints as having a round face, “exceptionally lively” eyes and blunt but firm nose. He added that she “should not necessarily be white complexioned…but of the clear skin or fresh colored type which we often witness when we meet a blushing girl."

Source: http://www.bookrags.com/biography/fernando-amorsolo/

Those large eyes

Twiggy

British model Twiggy marked a shift in the notion of beauty with her stick-thin model’s figure heralded as the most stylish and desirable. The big emphasis was on the eyes. The bigger and wider they appeared, the better. Fake eyelashes were a must-have and mascara was applied to achieve the popular “tarantula lashes.”

Source: http://www.twiggylawson.co.uk/

Gloria Diaz

Gloria Diaz, the first Filipina to be crowned Miss Universe, embodied the kind of beauty popular in the Philippines during the 60s. Like Twiggy and other Western 60s models, she had large, expressive eyes. Her black hair was long and straight, something still preferred by Filipinos then.

Source: http://www.philstar.com/sunday-life/2012-09-09/846836/gloria-diaz-isabelle-daza-dont-hate-them-because-theyre-beautiful-and

Sexy is beautiful

Madonna

Madonna epitomized over-the-top, sexually-energized fashion. Matching bright neon suits with football player-sized shoulder pads and spandex were just a few of the quintessential trends of the decade. ‘80s hair can be described with two words: big and hairspray. Strong eyebrows and over-the-top make-up was the norm. Beauty was somewhere between overdone and unkempt.

Rio Locsin

The Filipina actress was known as the 80s screen siren of Philippine cinema. She began her career as a sexy star, capitalizing on her tantalizing eyes and athletic, ideal body. She memorably played Philippine superwoman Darna in 1978, bringing to the fore an empowered, independent and strong Filipina.

More inclusive views on beauty

Angelina Jolie and Liya Kebede

In the 21st century, the concept of beauty embraced women of all skin color. While the sexy, full-lipped Caucasian woman is one beauty ideal, African-American models and celebrities such as Naomi Campbell, Kerry Washington and Ethiopian-born model Liya Kebede have put colored women on the beauty map.

Anne Curtis and Janine Tugonon

In the Philippines, two opposite concepts of beauty are now celebrated. The mestiza beauty with her fair skin, large eyes and Eurasian features is epitomized by the nation’s sweetheart, Anne Curtis. Miss Universe first-runner-up Janine Tugonon embodies the morena beauty with her caramel skin, blunt nose and jet-black hair.

All these concepts of beauty that have compelled the human race prove that there is more than one ideal of beauty. And though more recent times have seen a wider, more inclusive definition of who is beautiful, many stereotypes continue to exist. Many women continue to suffer from closed definitions of physical beauty. Perhaps there is truth to the saying that beauty cannot be defined. Perhaps it is up to people to define beauty in a way that will benefit society and in time, the whole human race. -Rappler.com