My inbox is cluttered with PR pitches for new products ranging from the benign to the inane. But this one in particular made my blood boil. Apparently there is a new trend for women to wear CORSETS which "visibly slims inches from your waistline while you wear it, while also making your bust and buttocks look more prominent." I'm not exaggerating. This is a direct quote from a PR pitch for HourglassAngel.com, which sells "shimmering high compression cinchers for the gym or under clothes."
What century am I in? Weren't women freed of wearing constricting corsets 100 years ago while fighting an old Canadian law that stated, “women should not be counted as persons”? Corsets were inhumane. Woman had been required to be corseted to be stylish, despite the fact that the pressure of the garments literally compressed and shifted their internal organs. Women were known to pass out from wearing a corset because they couldn't breathe. To me, corsets are a symbol of oppression. While men wore loose fitted clothing which allowed for powerful movement, women were physically constricted and socially powerless.
According to the HourglassAngel.com press release there is flexi-boning in the corset, which "helps correct your posture, giving you a taller, more confident stance." Rather than encourage women to train their muscles, this company suggests women can wear this restrictive garment to create the illusion of height. It makes me think of the Giraffe Women in Burma who, starting at the age of five, wear thick brass rings around their necks which push down the muscles around their collarbones and compress their ribs with the weight of the rings as a sign of beauty. Of course these women can't do strenuous physical work, and their power becomes diminished by cultural demands. Similarly with these asinine corsets. How effective a workout could you have wearing one of these devices?
HourglassAngel.com says, "One of the first things you'll notice when putting on a waist trainer for the first time is how strong the compression is. It may feel tight at first, but your body becomes accustomed to it quite quickly." It goes on to say, "Designed to be worn while you work out, the garment comfortably slims 1-3 inches from your waist while you wear it, ensuring you always look your best at the gym."
Hey; I have an idea! Let's put all of our female hockey players in them for their practices, so they look sexy in their uniforms. If you just threw up a little in your mouth, join the club. And where does this trend stop? Will we soon see "toddler trainers" in the marketplace? Why not "train" young bones while they're more pliable? Will designers now come up with an "exciting" new trend inspired by the not-so-long-ago Chinese women's hellish practice of foot binding? These poor women were forced to endure extraordinary pain from binding their feet into tiny shoes which didn't allow their bones to grow. Instead, they were forced to walk on mutilated feet stuffed into stilt-like footwear. Fashion designed by men crippled these women, once again stealing away their physical freedom. As an aside, how well can you run in stilettos?
How can a trend like corsets, or any other product which limits our mobility at the expense of how we look, be acceptable in this day and age? As parents, we are on the path of female empowerment, of gender equality, of STEM for girls, of hockey teams filled with females, of female executives, all who should be competing on a equal playing field with men. Why aren't my fellow feminists freaking out about this? A quick check for "waist trainer criticism" returns searches primarily related to the physical problems associated with trainers, another issue altogether.
Aside from the physical limitations a corset forces on the wearer, what about the larger concern of a woman actually caring how big or small her waist is? Would you actually wear a corset to create the illusion of a tiny waist? To what end? To attract a partner? What happens when you're finally in the sack and you have to take your corset off and they see that you are - GASP - imperfect?
I'll let you in on a little secret: of my all friends, those with smaller waists are no happier than those, like me, whose waists are average or plus size. Just like hoping your life will improve when you lose five pounds, the reality is body size or weight is not a predictor of happiness or success. Obsessing over it is.
I am raising my daughter to believe in herself, to trust that she is beautiful and powerful on the inside. I don't want her to be susceptible to superficial styles and fads like this. I am constantly reminding her to focus on what matters, like how she behaves, how she treats herself, and what she brings to the table. Self respect and self confidence are more attractive than any sized waist.
You can roll your eyes and suggest I calm down; that it's just an accessory and I'm making a big deal over nothing. But to me it's a slippery slope. Where there's a product, there's a market. This brand preys on women's insecurity. In a world of Kardashian-esque fame and Instagram superficiality which rewards looks over substance, too many women are vulnerable to this message.
Don't be victim to it. Rather than being preoccupied about the size of your waist, focus on the size of the impact you have on the world. The best part?
It's free.
RELATED: This Mom Says "Who The Hell Cares What Someone Else Is Wearing At The Gym?"
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