when did this obsession for women having big butts start, and why?
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For me, my "booty obsession" started when I wanted to build up my very flat behind. After lots of work, my current booty is bigger.. but not super large. It is very shapely, strong and proportionate to my body. But I'll admit, I would love if it could be a bit larger. I will keep trying, but I am realistic... genetics may not be on my side !
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I'm going to ignore the unsolicited advice you've decided to bequeath upon us ladies, we're just so grateful to hear your views on how elegant our physiques are or aren't.
My guess is that the current obsession is big butts is multifaceted and depends how deep you want to dig into gender, race, fashion and culture.
There has always been an 'ideal' physique in women - tiny waists (corsets!) in Victorian times, Twiggy was the It Girl in the 1960s, tall and Amazonian in the 80s, the waif look of the 90s, low rise jeans and defined abs in the early 2000s, and right now it's all about hourglass shapes with exaggerated hip to waist ratio. There's always something that we're all meant to aspire to. Currently we're meant to be slender enough to have a thigh gap but still have a booty....sure, that's realistic. Fitspo and instagram fit models are everywhere, reinforcing the slim with a booty ideal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xrp0zJZu0a4
Buzzfeed did a cool video on this.hamlet1222 wrote: »I see a lot of questions from women wanting to get their posteriors bigger, getting advice on doing squats etc, and it leaves me wondering when did this obsession start? 20 years ago we had the likes of Cindy Crawford and Pamela Anderson, and none of them had disproportionately large backsides.
If you look back further than 20 years you'd probably find that curves and butts have been popular for a long time. Check out paintings from the Renaissance. Curves were indicative of fertility, health and enough wealth to feed yourself properly. From the early 20th century, the ideal form started to become more slender. Women stopped wearing corsets routinely - metal was required for war production, it became more socially acceptable for women to be physically active. Fashions changed along with this, think about the difference between Victorian era clothing and the flapper dresses of the 1920s.
Then there are people who suggest that the obsession with big butts are an example of a feature which is generally associated with black women but has only became fashionable once appropriated by white culture. See also: baby hairs, twerking, 'ghetto'/rap style, bantu knots etc. Here are articles discussing that aspect. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/23/why-black-bum-only-good-white-skin-cultural-appropriation
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/06/13/why-are-people-suddenly-so-concerned-about-hijacking-black-culture.html
http://www.beautyredefined.net/beauty-whitewashed-how-white-ideals-exclude-women-of-color/hamlet1222 wrote: »
Personally I'm not a fan of the J-Lo look, it just seems a bit inelegant to me, Eva Longoria has a much more elegant physique. My advice to any woman is just to get your body fat to a healthy % and follow a balanced and regular exercise routine - after that learn to accept yourself and be proud. And that goes for guys too - no one knew what a 'six pack' was before the 90s.
In summary, if you're not a fan of big butts you will probably only need to wait 5-10 years and there'll be another idealized physique.
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hamlet1222 wrote: »I see a lot of questions from women wanting to get their posteriors bigger, getting advice on doing squats etc, and it leaves me wondering when did this obsession start? 20 years ago we had the likes of Cindy Crawford and Pamela Anderson, and none of them had disproportionately large backsides.
Personally I'm not a fan of the J-Lo look, it just seems a bit inelegant to me, Eva Longoria has a much more elegant physique. My advice to any woman is just to get your body fat to a healthy % and follow a balanced and regular exercise routine - after that learn to accept yourself and be proud. And that goes for guys too - no one knew what a 'six pack' was before the 90s.
My advice to you, stop giving unsolicited advice to women about their personal physique desires. But thanks for randomly telling the forums what your personal preference is for women's backsides.0 -
Sir Mix A Lot first had the song I like big butts.
It is sort of a cultural thing though. A lot of men of color have always preferred or liked big butts. However, for the women that get the surgery to enhance their butts, I think it often does not look real or cute. But a woman that naturally has a bigger butt...I don't think there is anything "inelegant" about it. It's how us big booty girls were made.0 -
hamlet1222 wrote: »20 years ago we had the likes of Cindy Crawford and Pamela Anderson
You mean caucasian womenhamlet1222 wrote: »and none of them had disproportionately large backsides.
I don't know what "disproportionately large" means to youhamlet1222 wrote: »Personally I'm not a fan of the J-Lo look,
who careshamlet1222 wrote: »it just seems a bit inelegant to me,
who careshamlet1222 wrote: »Eva Longoria has a much more elegant physique.
I don't know what "elegant" means to you, except maybe "more caucasian-looking"hamlet1222 wrote: »My advice to any woman
who careshamlet1222 wrote: »is just to get your body fat to a healthy % and follow a balanced and regular exercise routine -
lost in my lack of caring about the rest of what you have to sayhamlet1222 wrote: »after that learn to accept yourself and be proud.
Oh gee awesome THANK YOU SO MUCH that would not have occurred to me if you hadn't suggested it
RIGHT AFTER you told us what you thought was NOT OK
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It's cultural. As Latin Americans have more and more influence on the larger culture in the United States, beauty standards have shifted. This has always been a thing in populations with African diaspora. It is most obvious is in Brazil and the Caribbean--Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, etc.
US media is global and influences popular culture worldwide. I'm sure that you Brits have been subjected to the Kardashians, for example.
Whites will be a minority here in a couple of decades, so expect the images that you see to keep changing. I'm sure that demographics are shifting in Europe as well.
OP, why would anybody care about your particular, personal tastes? Making recommendations about what all women "should" look like or do based and what you like is beyond ridiculous. I certainly remember 6-packs being a thing in the early 80...that is not a new standard of male attractiveness at all.
What's truly sad is when people have hearts and minds that are disproportionately small.
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hamlet1222 wrote: »I see a lot of questions from women wanting to get their posteriors bigger, getting advice on doing squats etc, and it leaves me wondering when did this obsession start? 20 years ago we had the likes of Cindy Crawford and Pamela Anderson, and none of them had disproportionately large backsides.
Personally I'm not a fan of the J-Lo look, it just seems a bit inelegant to me, Eva Longoria has a much more elegant physique. My advice to any woman is just to get your body fat to a healthy % and follow a balanced and regular exercise routine - after that learn to accept yourself and be proud. And that goes for guys too - no one knew what a 'six pack' was before the 90s.
My advice to you, stop giving unsolicited advice to women about their personal physique desires. But thanks for randomly telling the forums what your personal preference is for women's backsides.
Co-signed.
I also love how Pamela Anderson was mentioned when she's actually known for her disproportionately large boobs. Also, a large butt does not mean a woman does not have a healthy BF%. Serena Williams is a friggin goddess with a beautiful backside and she's got an athletic BF%.Sir Mix A Lot first had the song I like big butts.
It is sort of a cultural thing though. A lot of men of color have always preferred or liked big butts. However the women that get the surgery, I think it does not look real or cute. But a woman that naturally has a bigger butt...I don't think there is anything "inelegant" about it. It's how us big booty girls were made.
Thank you. I'm multiracial, but white passing. I've always had a more "mature" body as I was growing up. Men sexualized me before I even knew what sex was. At the same time, society shamed me into hating my hips, my butt, my curly hair, and many other parts of me. Being that I'm white passing, I've had the privilege of growing up not having my looks scrutinized even half as badly as other women of color. Personally I'm glad that other body types are being embraced, even if it means I have to see really poorly done fake *kitten* out there.
Women come in all sizes and shapes. The women you've mentioned, aside from Pamela Anderson, aspire to very Hollywood cookie cutter proportions due to a ridiculous standard of beauty which is modeled on the average European white woman. Eva Longoria is a Latina who happens to fit that standard of beauty, so you deem her "elegant".
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DUDE! Seriously???0
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Hey man, I got a big 'ol booty. Just in my genetics! I could probably strengthen it, for sure, but lazy0
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This thread topic is inelegant.0
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azulvioleta6 wrote: »It's cultural. As Latin Americans have more and more influence on the larger culture in the United States, beauty standards have shifted. This has always been a thing in populations with African diaspora. It is most obvious is in Brazil and the Caribbean--Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, etc.
US media is global and influences popular culture worldwide. I'm sure that you Brits have been subjected to the Kardashians, for example.
Whites will be a minority here in a couple of decades, so expect the images that you see to keep changing. I'm sure that demographics are shifting in Europe as well.
OP, why would anybody care about your particular, personal tastes? Making recommendations about what all women "should" look like or do based and what you like is beyond ridiculous. I certainly remember 6-packs being a thing in the early 80...that is not a new standard of male attractiveness at all.
What's truly sad is when people have hearts and minds that are disproportionately small.
I know you said populations of African diaspora, but I just wanted to point out to readers that a big butt is a trait very common for black women. Not just Latin America. African women are included.0 -
Much like most things in life, this is a matter of opinion, and as such you can expect nearly every aspect of it to be entirely subjective. Some people like broccoli, some don't. One man's repulsive is another man's appealing. All you can really do is just live life according to your own personal set of morals and beliefs. And, at the end of the day, just remember what The Dude has to say on the subject:
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Oh look, a man telling a woman what to do with her body.
No doubt to be butthurt when the women tell him to butt out.0 -
hamlet1222 wrote: »20 years ago we had the likes of Cindy Crawford and Pamela Anderson
You mean caucasian womenhamlet1222 wrote: »and none of them had disproportionately large backsides.
I don't know what "disproportionately large" means to youhamlet1222 wrote: »Personally I'm not a fan of the J-Lo look,
who careshamlet1222 wrote: »it just seems a bit inelegant to me,
who careshamlet1222 wrote: »Eva Longoria has a much more elegant physique.
I don't know what "elegant" means to you, except maybe "more caucasian-looking"hamlet1222 wrote: »My advice to any woman
who careshamlet1222 wrote: »is just to get your body fat to a healthy % and follow a balanced and regular exercise routine -
lost in my lack of caring about the rest of what you have to sayhamlet1222 wrote: »after that learn to accept yourself and be proud.
Oh gee awesome THANK YOU SO MUCH that would not have occurred to me if you hadn't suggested it
RIGHT AFTER you told us what you thought was NOT OK
This post had me laughing and smiling the whole way thru.
10/10 would read again0 -
Jane_England wrote: »I've always had a bubble butt and in fact people made fun of it when I was growing up. Then butts became the cool thing to have and everyone was trying to get one. I don't think my butt will ever go away but at least doing squats and deadlifts made it firmer.
Dang! You sound like me. Black girls used to tell me I have a ghetto butt. Kids made fun of girls with big butts when I was in high school, but now it's all the rage. I was born in the wrong decade I guess.0 -
This post smells familiar.
OP, would you also feel compelled to tell a woman if she had camel toe?0 -
hamlet1222 wrote: »I see a lot of questions from women wanting to get their posteriors bigger, getting advice on doing squats etc, and it leaves me wondering when did this obsession start? 20 years ago we had the likes of Cindy Crawford and Pamela Anderson, and none of them had disproportionately large backsides.
Personally I'm not a fan of the J-Lo look, it just seems a bit inelegant to me, Eva Longoria has a much more elegant physique. My advice to any woman is just to get your body fat to a healthy % and follow a balanced and regular exercise routine - after that learn to accept yourself and be proud. And that goes for guys too - no one knew what a 'six pack' was before the 90s.
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hamlet1222 wrote: »20 years ago we had the likes of Cindy Crawford and Pamela Anderson
You mean caucasian womenhamlet1222 wrote: »and none of them had disproportionately large backsides.
I don't know what "disproportionately large" means to youhamlet1222 wrote: »Personally I'm not a fan of the J-Lo look,
who careshamlet1222 wrote: »it just seems a bit inelegant to me,
who careshamlet1222 wrote: »Eva Longoria has a much more elegant physique.
I don't know what "elegant" means to you, except maybe "more caucasian-looking"hamlet1222 wrote: »My advice to any woman
who careshamlet1222 wrote: »is just to get your body fat to a healthy % and follow a balanced and regular exercise routine -
lost in my lack of caring about the rest of what you have to sayhamlet1222 wrote: »after that learn to accept yourself and be proud.
Oh gee awesome THANK YOU SO MUCH that would not have occurred to me if you hadn't suggested it
RIGHT AFTER you told us what you thought was NOT OK
*applause*0 -
myfelinepal wrote: »This post smells familiar.
OP, would you also feel compelled to tell a woman if she had camel toe?
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This content has been removed.
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3dogsrunning wrote: »
I prefer the Jonathan Coulton version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCWaN_Tc5wo 0 -
I don't think you realize that some of us have a naturally big butt. You hurt me bad, real bad!0
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This thing right here
Is lettin all the ladies know
What guys talk about
You know
The finer things in life
Is that more elegant?
I personally was going to blame Rumpshaker but forgot about Fat bottomed girls.
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azulvioleta6 wrote: »It's cultural. As Latin Americans have more and more influence on the larger culture in the United States, beauty standards have shifted. This has always been a thing in populations with African diaspora. It is most obvious is in Brazil and the Caribbean--Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, etc.
Yep - I was going to say this! It's a cultural thing. In Brazil (where I was born) people have always liked a big booty - more important than big hooters. I grew up in Australia though where people worried if their butts "looked big in this". I've never had a butt unfortunately (or boobs either!) but am really happy that my previously flat butt is starting to round out and up due to all my squats!
For some reason though, North Americans have caught on to this Latin American preference and now all the chicks want the booty.
Massive fake butts look just as "inelegant" as massive fake hooters IMHO - so it's all about getting the aesthetics right in relation to your body shape/size!0 -
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azulvioleta6 wrote: »It's cultural. As Latin Americans have more and more influence on the larger culture in the United States, beauty standards have shifted. This has always been a thing in populations with African diaspora. It is most obvious is in Brazil and the Caribbean--Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, etc.
US media is global and influences popular culture worldwide. I'm sure that you Brits have been subjected to the Kardashians, for example.
Whites will be a minority here in a couple of decades, so expect the images that you see to keep changing. I'm sure that demographics are shifting in Europe as well.
OP, why would anybody care about your particular, personal tastes? Making recommendations about what all women "should" look like or do based and what you like is beyond ridiculous. I certainly remember 6-packs being a thing in the early 80...that is not a new standard of male attractiveness at all.
What's truly sad is when people have hearts and minds that are disproportionately small.
I know you said populations of African diaspora, but I just wanted to point out to readers that a big butt is a trait very common for black women. Not just Latin America. African women are included.
Agreed.0 -
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