We are living in the world of change. Our needs, trend, fashion, and aspect have been changed and treated by different cultures at different times. Through the times, it is interesting how the meaning and usage of products have been changed.
In present days corset is an emblem of sexual fetishism. Whenever directors, producers want to emphasize female sexual fetishism, they often put a scene of women wearing corsets on TV, movies, and even advertisements. I have never seen or heard men wearing corsets recently. It would be very bizarre and unusual if I hear that. However, corsets were used for aesthetic or medical purposes for both men and women in past. In contrast, modern people think corsets are only for women and they represent sensualism.
The 16th century costume was upheld as a symbol of aristocracy. The corset played a big role of displaying people’s social position, rank, and wealth. By 1800 the corsets were primarily used for a method of supporting the breasts. Through the 1840s, corsets were persisted for Victorian fashion. For women corset mostly emphasizes a curvy figure by reducing waist and exaggerating the bust and hips. In certain period of time (1820-1935) men desired to have hourglass figure as well so they achieved it by wearing corsets. After 1850, men used them and claimed to have corsets for orthopedic and health purposes. People with spinal problems wore them to immobilize and protect their torso. Corsets were recommended for men who were overweight to give them a trimmer figure.
Corsets have been changed along fashion. 19th century,, to accommodate the need for freer movement, a lightweight corset increased interest in women consumers. There was a revival of corsets in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Designers started to use corsets as an item of outerwear rather than underwear. A famous designer, Christian Dior used waist cincher into his designs to give the hourglass figure. In 1920s, corsets became a popular item of outerwear in the fetish subcultures, most notably in BDSM which is almost always eroticized by the participants in some fashion. In 2001 the film “Moulin Rouge,” we could see the actress wore different kinds of corsets which stressed both feminine beauty and sexual attraction.
I believe that designers have power to shift meaning of products and even control people’s behavior. By designing corsets as a female gendered object; with highly wrought details, laces, and feminine colors, shapes, to exaggerate waist and emphasize beauty of women’s curves can attract female consumers encouraging buying them. Contrarily men would naturally think corsets are for women and would not want it for themselves. As a result, it restricts male consumers and discourage of purchasing corsets. Moreover stores, advertisement, packaging and certain markets that designers create and target could affect consumers to create certain images of products as well. For example, advertisement of curvaceous women wearing corsets and Madonna who is often seen as a sex symbol wearing a corset could automatically define a corset as a female gendered product.
In present days corset is an emblem of sexual fetishism. Whenever directors, producers want to emphasize female sexual fetishism, they often put a scene of women wearing corsets on TV, movies, and even advertisements. I have never seen or heard men wearing corsets recently. It would be very bizarre and unusual if I hear that. However, corsets were used for aesthetic or medical purposes for both men and women in past. In contrast, modern people think corsets are only for women and they represent sensualism.
The 16th century costume was upheld as a symbol of aristocracy. The corset played a big role of displaying people’s social position, rank, and wealth. By 1800 the corsets were primarily used for a method of supporting the breasts. Through the 1840s, corsets were persisted for Victorian fashion. For women corset mostly emphasizes a curvy figure by reducing waist and exaggerating the bust and hips. In certain period of time (1820-1935) men desired to have hourglass figure as well so they achieved it by wearing corsets. After 1850, men used them and claimed to have corsets for orthopedic and health purposes. People with spinal problems wore them to immobilize and protect their torso. Corsets were recommended for men who were overweight to give them a trimmer figure.
Corsets have been changed along fashion. 19th century,, to accommodate the need for freer movement, a lightweight corset increased interest in women consumers. There was a revival of corsets in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Designers started to use corsets as an item of outerwear rather than underwear. A famous designer, Christian Dior used waist cincher into his designs to give the hourglass figure. In 1920s, corsets became a popular item of outerwear in the fetish subcultures, most notably in BDSM which is almost always eroticized by the participants in some fashion. In 2001 the film “Moulin Rouge,” we could see the actress wore different kinds of corsets which stressed both feminine beauty and sexual attraction.
I believe that designers have power to shift meaning of products and even control people’s behavior. By designing corsets as a female gendered object; with highly wrought details, laces, and feminine colors, shapes, to exaggerate waist and emphasize beauty of women’s curves can attract female consumers encouraging buying them. Contrarily men would naturally think corsets are for women and would not want it for themselves. As a result, it restricts male consumers and discourage of purchasing corsets. Moreover stores, advertisement, packaging and certain markets that designers create and target could affect consumers to create certain images of products as well. For example, advertisement of curvaceous women wearing corsets and Madonna who is often seen as a sex symbol wearing a corset could automatically define a corset as a female gendered product.
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