PROJECT WORK THIRD CLASS “Beauty Through the Ages: The Changing Face of Womanhood”

 

Activity Title: “Beauty Through the Ages: The Changing Face of Womanhood”

Objective:

Students will explore and analyze how beauty ideals for women have changed across centuries (16th–21st), considering cultural, political, economic, and media influences.

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Step-by-Step Plan

1. Assign Centuries

Divide the class into 6 groups, each assigned a century:

• 16th (1500s)

• 17th (1600s)

• 18th (1700s)

• 19th (1800s)

• 20th (1900s)

• 21st (2000–present)

2. Research & Image Collection

Each group investigates beauty standards of women during their assigned century by collecting:

• Portraits or paintings (e.g., Renaissance art, Rococo, Victorian)

• Fashion trends (corsets, powdered wigs, body shapes, makeup)

• Cultural expectations (skin tone, body weight, hairstyles, accessories)

• Beauty rituals or bizarre trends (e.g., lead-based makeup, waist training, tanning)

3. Analysis Questions (Use in a Worksheet or Slides)

Ask each group to reflect on:

• What did "beautiful" mean in this century?

• What body shape, skin tone, or facial features were valued?

• Who decided these standards? (Royal court, artists, fashion houses, media?)

• Were these ideals natural or hard to achieve?

• How were women affected socially or physically by these ideals?

• How does this beauty ideal reflect the values of the time?

4. Create a Visual Timeline or “Beauty Gallery”

Each group creates a visual display of their century’s beauty ideal:

• Title: “Beauty in the ___ Century”

• 3–4 representative images

• Key traits (e.g., pale skin, wide hips, small feet, etc.)

• Famous icons (e.g., Queen Elizabeth I, Marie Antoinette, Marilyn Monroe)

• Quote from the era or a modern reflection

5. Class Discussion or Gallery Walk

Prompt questions for whole-class reflection:

• How have beauty ideals shifted over time?

• Are we more inclusive today—or just more commercial?

• Which century had the most “natural” standard? The most extreme?

• Are beauty ideals less harmful now? Why or why not?

6. Final Reflection (Optional Writing Prompt)

Ask students to respond to:

“If you were a teenage girl in one of these centuries, how would these beauty standards affect how you see yourself?”

or

“How do today’s beauty standards compare to those of the past—and are we really free from them?”

Extension Ideas:

• Compare Eastern and Western ideals during the same centuries

• Explore masculine beauty standards over time for contrast

• Analyze social media trends (filters, surgeries, TikTok aestheticspl) as modern beauty pressures

• Discuss body positivity movements today

example

1. The Renaissance Ideal (c. 15th - 16th Century)

Image:

This image, representative of the Renaissance and early modern Europe, showcases a beauty standard that prioritized:

• Body Type: A fuller figure—softly rounded stomach, hips, and arms—was considered the pinnacle of beauty and health. It signaled wealth, as only the rich could afford a plentiful diet and avoid manual labor.

• Skin Tone: Extreme paleness was essential, confirming the woman did not work outdoors (a sign of poverty) and was thus a lady of high social status.

• Hair: Often elaborately braided, long, or styled, and sometimes light in color.

In this era, beauty was often associated with fertility, wealth, and idleness.

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2. The Modern Western Ideal (21st Century)

Image:

This image, typical of high-fashion and commercial media today, represents a sharp departure from historical standards, emphasizing:

• Body Type: A lean, athletic, or "toned" physique. While "thinness" is still a prominent feature, it is often paired with an emphasis on fitness and muscle definition. This signals not wealth from idleness, but discipline and health.

• Facial Features: Angular, strong bone structure (often enhanced by contouring makeup), and large, striking eyes.

• Skin Tone: A healthy, sometimes tanned or bronzed look is often preferred, suggesting time for outdoor leisure or travel.

The shift illustrates a move from valuing "softness" and "paleness" as signs of wealth to valuing "fitness," "health," and "discipline" as modern aspirational traits.