Abstract
In most African countries, it is still a common belief that thin women are not attractive. Until the 21st century, full-figured women were considered attractive, were respected, and their padded (with flesh) and curvaceous bodies represented wealth, fertility and good health. The western society views a thin woman as ideal body and has forced many women including Africans to believe that a body that deviates from it is unaccepted. Fashion designers use the thin model as a basis from which to create ready-to-wear clothing for all consumers including those whose body characteristics do not comply with the ideal body features. This has resulted in unsatisfied consumers with clothing sold in the retail stores and negative reactions towards their bodies. The problem of ideal body versus un-ideal body shape date back to 19th Century, where Saartjie Baartman’s body shape characterised by full breasts, narrow waist and extra large buttocks was viewed by Europeans as ugly, yet later on, the same body, though not acknowledged, was used to inspire the creation of Victorian bustle dress that resembled her body in every aspect. This article examines the relationship between the Victorian Bustle dress that became popular from 1870 onwards and the unique body features of Saartjie Baartman, an African slave who was displayed in Europe against her wish as from 1810 to 1815, and even after her death, her body continued to be exhibited in a Museum in Paris. This paper concludes that her body could have inspired the development of the Victorian bustle dress. The paper encourages African women to view their bodies sensibly rather than basing their beauty on the western standard ideologies. Likewise, promotional media houses are encouraged to portray all body shapes fairly and positively. African researchers are advised to search beyond surfaces of historical events for the purposes of documenting underlying important facts affecting Africa.
Highlights
Introduction and BackgroundPear body shape is a silhouette in which the hipline area and upper thigh region is much fuller than that of hourglass silhouette but the upper torso/bust area is smaller than the hourglass silhouette with narrow shoulders [1]
The African pear body shape can be connected to Saartjie Baartman (Figure 1) who travelled across Europe in the early 19th century and was said to represent the body shapes of most African women
It is clear that the Western society humiliated and ridiculed Saartjie Baartman because of her race and unique body
Summary
Pear body shape is a silhouette in which the hipline area and upper thigh region is much fuller than that of hourglass silhouette but the upper torso/bust area is smaller than the hourglass silhouette with narrow shoulders [1]. The African pear body shape can be connected to Saartjie Baartman (Figure 1) who travelled across Europe in the early 19th century and was said to represent the body shapes of most African women She left South Africa in 1808 to accompany her boss Hendrick Caesar who assured her that she will find fame and fortune as soon as she arrives in London. She was a full-figured woman, with full breasts, extra large hips and steatopygia, that is, a large amount of fat in the buttocks, which drew attention of many Europeans who had never seen such a figure with unique features [4]-[7] She was depicted as the black version of feminine beauty, the Hottentot Venus. History is known to be used by designers to inspire new creations
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