“Mom doesn’t like her picture taken.” Words that I, myself, have heard more times than I can count. I can speak for everyone when I say: moms. Listen to this. You are beautiful, you are worthy, and you are so much more than the number on the scale.
We’re so skewed to believe everything that the ever-changing beauty standards are not only attainable, but required. WIth the influx of diet trends, the growth of social media, and the never-ending rat race that is following women and men everywhere: there is one truth that remains. The diet industry kills. It kills spirits, it kills confidence, it kills people.
Vintage ads around the notion of being the “perfect” wife and mother were abundant beginning in the 1920’s.
The trend then was to not only be thin, but a “boyish” figure, complete with a flat chest, was considered the picture of beauty. Advertisements spoke words of being a better woman, being a better wife, and being a better mother.
Cigarettes were used as weight loss tools, diet pills were taken daily, and coke-a-cola had real cocaine in it. No wonder it seems like these women had super powers. Taking care of a house, children, and demanding husbands with a smile on their faces never got old.
There were, however, things that these women used to escape.
Ever heard of soap operas? They’re referred to as such because during commercial breaks, things like detergent and soap for the home were advertised.
This kicked off targeted advertising to women that had a great success rate – even more than anticipated.
It turns out, to get women to buy into your product, all you have to do is shame them and make them feel insecure.
I hope you enjoy the vintage ads in this article, and stay tuned for the newest Mental History Podcast Episode where I’ll dive deeper into the history of diet culture and its victims.
If you’re a woman reading this, you’re allowed to look the way that you do. Without apology, without remorse, without insecurity. It’s time we take back our power from food and diets. To top this off, here’s a picture of my beautiful mother. I’ve watched her blossom into a gorgeous, confident, unapologetic woman that I aspire to be.
Happy Mother’s Day.
To learn more on healthy living, follow my friend Corina at integrativefitnesstherapy.com and @standtallbreathedeep on social media. She’s great!
Thanks for reading, listening, and sharing. Don’t forget to check out Mental History wherever you get your podcast fix!!
