Taboos and stereotypes around women’s bodies throughout Western and European cultures

Abstract

In this paper I would like to arise the importance of general tolerance, respect towards women, along with proper sexual education for both sexes. Having said that, this research is written with a purpose of analyzing the progression and influence of various taboos around women’s bodies on the perception of one’s body image throughout the different time periods. Various problems, concerning relationship between physical and mental conditions, are going to be examined and explained, using both personal knowledge, investigations and open-sources.

The study is constructed out of three chapters. The first one describes the standards of beauty throughout European history and their connection to femininity. In the second chapter beauty ideals of the Western culture and outbreak of Beauty Myth are explained. Whilst the last one is dedicated to beauty taboos and stereotypes, specifically about body, hair and blood.