Lingerie, that ubiquitous of gender under clothing ranging from the mundane to the risqu, has been around longer than you might imagine. The history of lingerie begins with the ancient Mediterranean and involves both sexes and all ages.
The history of lingerie has its roots in ancient Greece, when women wore what amounts to a corset of support. As time progressed, there are cases known to the medieval English nobles wearing undergarments, with the sole purpose of keeping the clothes of absorption filth of bodies in a regular bathing season when not happened too often.
Europeans were again prevalent in the history of lingerie with its decidedly uncomfortable wearing corsets with the sole purpose of achieving the hourglass figure. Corsets, constructed of rigid boning, incorporated the torsos, stressing the breast and hip areas. This incredibly restrictive look hung around for a while.
As time moved to the century 20, and women began to push the standards, dance has become very popular, especially in the decade of 1920. At this point, corsets had limited movement dance, fashion and the look was really moving away from the hourglass shapes. The corset has taken a backseat, while at the same time, a brasserie had been invented and was replacing the women also wore chemises.
Clearly, the first half of the century which also was mainly a time of war, when supplies of everything from basic to luxury were scarce. Therefore, the corsets and half of the past could not be taken, and instead there was a big dependence on under clothing basics. So far the two world wars were more, the glamour of the 50 taken, and the hourglass shape was once again desirable.
The history of lingerie has a blip on the radar of time, which is the 60s and 70s. Freedom, equality, they were at the forefront of society's mind. Corsets, brassieres, half-implements of restraint and symbolic of repression, they were abandoned, literally. The women burned their bras, but by the 80s, they needed them back. Indeed, the final two decades of the 20 th century saw a resurgence of femininity, and again corset. Now used for more romantic, lingerie became a symbol of sensuality.
Overall, the history of lingerie has certainly experienced change, but lasting today. As a matter of fact, the category has such a following that there are stores devoted exclusively to lingerie, and each store has a section that belong to it, too. Today's lingerie includes a variety of models, both functional and decorative. The options are endless, and so too, apparently, is the longevity of lingerie.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Where Women Gather!
I must vstran kreniti from our ongoing conversation this week (The Women's Place blog) on passion, purpose and position!
Last evening, I had the privilege of sitting with four of the most dynamic women I've met in years! Their energy, commitment to women and women's empowerment was a source of rejoicing and praise during the late night drive home from Ohio!
The background is that we are spearheading the launching of the new network associated with the nation's largest organization for professional and executive women. The group includes some AWP community members as well.
Our plan includes a speech by one of the women who is, among other things, the sought-after motivational speaker. When I was asked what I wanted her to speak about, I replied,
"Where women gather - there is Power"!
It was evident last evening as each of us shared a wee-bit about the journey that brought us to the table at Perkins near Cincinnati. And no where was it more evident than in the bond that quickly formed among us with the result that before we left the parking lot - the plan was already 'hatching' to find the means and mechanism for mentoring women from victim to victory - regardless of the life situation where they find themselves "victims"!
We are powerful! We have the power! Although many of the very institutions that should have provided the tools for empowerment have failed to do so - due either to ignorance or by design - women come to a point in life where we know we are powerful!
Where we gather and bring our individual potential and possibilities (our power), we possess awesome power to effect positive change - on ourselves, our families, our neighborhoods, communities and ultimately - the world at large!
When I speak of power, I'm not talking about "power over"! I'm talking about "power for."
The power we possess to be one of the world's richest sources of influence. Richest sources of positive change.
Women get things done!
We are the world's great 'multi-taskers'! We can cook, clean, plan, design and implement while holding the baby on one hip - so to speak! Right and left hemispheres dart back and forth evoking the creativity and artistry of the right half with the practical, strategic capability of the left!
It has taken years for us to recognize and openly promote the power we possess! It has taken us - women - so saying to the world and not letting any challenge stand in our way.
It is said that the ancient male feared the female because we were perceived as having the ability to create life - give birth. Without the modern knowledge of the procreative process - they variously considered us' mystical 'or' magical 'or in the least-' shamans' who were to be held both in awe and feared!
I could really go on one of my 'famous' rants with all this, but that's not the point here!
The point is that the world, its institutions - religious or otherwise - are not going to do it for us! They simply not!
We have to come together and do it for ourselves. Give ourselves and our 'sisters' permission to be empowered.
It's within us! It's not something that comes to us from 'outside' in one magical moment! It's there for the 'taking' - the 'having'!
But in many ways, we've bought into the lie that we are second class citizens - males without a certain part of their anatomy (oh that theory goes way back!).
We've kept quiet in the lofts of great institutions that have taken Paul's admonition to "remain silent" literally - for all time.
We've knelt at the altar of "a little is better than nothing" in the corporate marketplace as we struggled to climb to our rightful place given equal skills and equal abilities.
Having said all that, let me tell you that 'angry women "will not bring about change! Radical feminists are not the answer. The Friedan's have passed from the scene and the Steinem's are fading away. Their influence may have been appropriate for the day, but no more!
In more and more places, I find males who respect us for what we bring to the table of life - not our femininity, but our intelligence, knowledge, wisdom, skill and ability!
The Dawn rises! Our day has come! Let us not waste what has been won and let us not dally until the task is done!
Where women gather. . . . There is power!
Bring your powerful influence to the day!
Last evening, I had the privilege of sitting with four of the most dynamic women I've met in years! Their energy, commitment to women and women's empowerment was a source of rejoicing and praise during the late night drive home from Ohio!
The background is that we are spearheading the launching of the new network associated with the nation's largest organization for professional and executive women. The group includes some AWP community members as well.
Our plan includes a speech by one of the women who is, among other things, the sought-after motivational speaker. When I was asked what I wanted her to speak about, I replied,
"Where women gather - there is Power"!
It was evident last evening as each of us shared a wee-bit about the journey that brought us to the table at Perkins near Cincinnati. And no where was it more evident than in the bond that quickly formed among us with the result that before we left the parking lot - the plan was already 'hatching' to find the means and mechanism for mentoring women from victim to victory - regardless of the life situation where they find themselves "victims"!
We are powerful! We have the power! Although many of the very institutions that should have provided the tools for empowerment have failed to do so - due either to ignorance or by design - women come to a point in life where we know we are powerful!
Where we gather and bring our individual potential and possibilities (our power), we possess awesome power to effect positive change - on ourselves, our families, our neighborhoods, communities and ultimately - the world at large!
When I speak of power, I'm not talking about "power over"! I'm talking about "power for."
The power we possess to be one of the world's richest sources of influence. Richest sources of positive change.
Women get things done!
We are the world's great 'multi-taskers'! We can cook, clean, plan, design and implement while holding the baby on one hip - so to speak! Right and left hemispheres dart back and forth evoking the creativity and artistry of the right half with the practical, strategic capability of the left!
It has taken years for us to recognize and openly promote the power we possess! It has taken us - women - so saying to the world and not letting any challenge stand in our way.
It is said that the ancient male feared the female because we were perceived as having the ability to create life - give birth. Without the modern knowledge of the procreative process - they variously considered us' mystical 'or' magical 'or in the least-' shamans' who were to be held both in awe and feared!
I could really go on one of my 'famous' rants with all this, but that's not the point here!
The point is that the world, its institutions - religious or otherwise - are not going to do it for us! They simply not!
We have to come together and do it for ourselves. Give ourselves and our 'sisters' permission to be empowered.
It's within us! It's not something that comes to us from 'outside' in one magical moment! It's there for the 'taking' - the 'having'!
But in many ways, we've bought into the lie that we are second class citizens - males without a certain part of their anatomy (oh that theory goes way back!).
We've kept quiet in the lofts of great institutions that have taken Paul's admonition to "remain silent" literally - for all time.
We've knelt at the altar of "a little is better than nothing" in the corporate marketplace as we struggled to climb to our rightful place given equal skills and equal abilities.
Having said all that, let me tell you that 'angry women "will not bring about change! Radical feminists are not the answer. The Friedan's have passed from the scene and the Steinem's are fading away. Their influence may have been appropriate for the day, but no more!
In more and more places, I find males who respect us for what we bring to the table of life - not our femininity, but our intelligence, knowledge, wisdom, skill and ability!
The Dawn rises! Our day has come! Let us not waste what has been won and let us not dally until the task is done!
Where women gather. . . . There is power!
Bring your powerful influence to the day!
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