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Facial Stereotypes

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There are mathematical equations, such as the golden ratio, which can be used to supposedly create the ideal human body. This proportion was used by Da Vinci to draw the “perfect” male body. An individual is said to have a beautiful face when it has a ratio of 1.6180339, or approximately 1.62. Facial symmetry can be measured by dividing the length of a face by the width of the widest part of the face; the closer quotient is 1.62 the more beautiful a face is according to the golden ratio. The golden ratio can also be used on various other parts of the body including; arm length, and height. Facial characteristics also play a role in determining an individual’s attractiveness. The color smoothness of an individuals skin has an impact on their …show more content…

The characteristics of an attractive woman have changed considerably overtime, largely due to influence from media. During the 1900’s, up until the 1920’s, an ideal woman was tall, slender, and had a voluptuous figure. Women often achieved this look through the use of corsets, which helped to shape the waist. In the 1920’s small busts and straight, thin figures were ideal. However, the ideal figure of women changed in the 1930’s to 1940’s. Women once again were seen attractive when they had a full feminine figure and avoided looking skinny. Throughout the 1950’s the ideal women’s body shape remained voluptuous and curvy due to popular actresses, such as Marilynn Monroe who embodied the idea that beautiful women weren’t just skin and bones but rather full and curvy. However, in the 1960’s the ideal figure reverted back again to thinner, and more slender than the previous era, partly due to popular supermodel Twiggy (a lot is said about her physique by her name). This thin revolution has remained popular, but has become more extreme recently; examples of this revolution of the female body can be seen everywhere, especially in ads by the extremely popular company Victoria’s Secret. These unrealistic body images have lead to many women taking extreme measures, including using diet pills, exercising excessively, and eat very little, which can result …show more content…

Throughout history males have sought after muscularity, leanness, and youthfulness. During the 1900’s, the ideal body type for a male was thin and athletic. These characteristics have become much more dramatic over the last few decades. The hyper-masculine images portrayed by celebrities such as, Dwayne Johnson (The Rock), Mark Wahlberg, and Gerard Butler have lead to men’s quest for unrealistic physiques. Other characteristics such as, height, masculinity, and assertiveness are also characteristics of the “ideal”

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