# Did people love obese women in the past? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 1, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-people-love-obese-women-in-the-past/626920 "2012-07-01T18:06:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2012, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-people-love-obese-women-in-the-past/626920/41 "2012-07-02T13:42:56Z")
Not just love. Ancient cultures sometimes seemed to [worship obese fertility goddesses](http://popular-archaeology.com/issue/april-2011/article/of-temples-and-goddesses-in-malta). ---
**Author:** ![Sleel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/73ab20/32.png) [@Sleel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleel)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2012, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-people-love-obese-women-in-the-past/626920/42 "2012-07-03T02:19:20Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > What is the Dutch equivalent of “Rubenesque”? [Rubensiaans](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Paul_Rubens#Art). ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2012, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-people-love-obese-women-in-the-past/626920/43 "2012-07-03T02:34:18Z")
> [@Sleel](#): > > [Rubensiaans](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Paul_Rubens#Art). The reason I ask is, the use of ‘Rubenesque’ to describe large women didn’t [appear until 1913](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rubenesque). I would be surprised if there was a Dutch word in common usage for 250 years with no English equivalent. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2012, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-people-love-obese-women-in-the-past/626920/44 "2012-07-03T03:12:45Z")
From what I recall of several science articles, the thing that most men apparently used to evaluate “desirable” was a waist to hips ratio of 2:3 - basically the classic 36-24-36 shape, but chest size optional. Scientific thinking was this indicated a hip width suitable for childbearing but not too much fat of the morbidly obese variety. (like Sue Johannson’s sex show where she asked the fat caller “do you have an apron”? Meaning something other than a garment. ) it’s the shape not the size. It’s often been pointed out that Marilyn Monroe was a size 14 or 12, not like today where a 6 is considered fat (sadly). Men look for young and healthy, basically good breeding stock. If they appear to have many years of childbearing left, better. So what appeals to men is more likely than not, teens and early twenties. (or, anything with a pulse…) if the laws of some states have conspired to make this illegal in some cases, well, it’s evolution vs. Puritanism. Wonder which wins in the long run? plus, evolution plays the game too. See an earlier thread on age of menses… Girls will develop secondary characteristics to attract a mate usually a while before they begin ovulating, menstruating, and can actually reproduce. For some reason, often by default attributed to nutrition, this age has gotten significantly younger in the last century or two. A certain amount of subcutaneous fat both creates the aesthetically pleasing curves and softness in women, and also subconsciously signals she has the resources to bear a child even if food becomes scarce. After all, before Roe v Wade, once a woman started on her bundle of joy, she was stuck on that path for the next nine months. Having some fat reserves helped. Finally the biggest sex organ in the human body is between the ears. What things appeal to some people… There’s a mind numbing variety. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2012, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-people-love-obese-women-in-the-past/626920/45 "2012-07-03T14:40:42Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > It’s often been pointed out that Marilyn Monroe was a size 14 or 12, not like today where a 6 is considered fat (sadly). A size 12 in Marilyn Monroe’s day was the equivalent of a size 6 today. [http://jezebel.com/5299793/for-the-last-time-what-size-was-marilyn-monroe](http://jezebel.com/5299793/for-the-last-time-what-size-was-marilyn-monroe) > **[Did Marilyn Monroe Wear a Size 16 Dress?](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/marilyn-monroe-size/)** > > Some contemporary celebrities seem to be fond of invoking this "fact." > **[Was Marilyn Monroe Really A Size 16?](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/was-marilyn-monroe-really_n_186633)** > > Was Marilyn Monroe Really A Size 16? ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2012, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-people-love-obese-women-in-the-past/626920/46 "2012-07-03T16:24:30Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > A size 12 in Marilyn Monroe’s day was the equivalent of a size 6 today. > > [http://jezebel.com/5299793/for-the-last-time-what-size-was-marilyn-monroe](http://jezebel.com/5299793/for-the-last-time-what-size-was-marilyn-monroe) > [Did Marilyn Monroe Wear a Size 16 Dress? | Snopes.com](http://www.snopes.com/movies/actors/mmdress.asp) > [Was Marilyn Monroe Really A Size 16? | HuffPost Life](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/14/was-marilyn-monroe-really_n_186633.html) Snopes says 8-10. Jezebel says 5’5.5" and 118-140lb. with somewhat unorthodox distribution… 🙂 > [@](#): > > According to measurements from Marilyn Monroe’s dressmaker: > Height: 5 feet, 5½ inches > Weight: 118-140 pounds > Bust: 35-37 inches > Waist: 22-23 inches > Hips: 35-36 inches > Bra size: 36D So while she was not one of Reuben’s favourite models, she certainly was not Olsen-twins or Nicole Ritchie or most of the anorexia-obsessed current celebrities. Thankfully… 5-5 and 140 is probably not what most modern women are told is acceptable by fashion magazines and popular culture. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2012, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-people-love-obese-women-in-the-past/626920/47 "2012-07-03T17:07:19Z")
> [@md2000](#): > > 5-5 and 140 is probably not what most modern women are told is acceptable by fashion magazines and popular culture. 5’ 5" and 140 pounds: > **[What Real Women Look Like](https://www.mybodygallery.com/home?height=5%2B5&weight=140)** > > See yourself more clearly > **[Photographic Height/Weight Chart - 5' 5", 140 lbs., BMI:24](https://www.height-weight-chart.com/505-140.html)** Some of those pictured have a little “chunk”, but they’re not fat or obese by the standards of most. 5’ 5" and 118 pounds is DEFINITELY not obese by anyone’s standards. You can’t equate women who are 5’5"/140 with those who are BBWs, OkCupid curvy, obese, or whatever. > [@](#): > > So while she was not one of Reuben’s favourite models, she certainly was not Olsen-twins or Nicole Ritchie or most of the anorexia-obsessed current celebrities. Thankfully… Nor was she huge, either, which is what some would have you believe. “Everybody lusted after Marilyn Monroe in the 1950s, and she was a size 12/14/16. Plus-sized models today are usually around size 12. Thus, they liked them much bigger back then.” Bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![greenslime1951](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9bcb4/32.png) [@greenslime1951](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greenslime1951)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2012, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-people-love-obese-women-in-the-past/626920/48 "2012-07-03T17:12:03Z")
In a brief period from 1973-1975, female models would slather themselves with sauerkraut and Thousand-Island dressing so they would look “Rubenesque.” The fad died out when someone pointed out the spelling error. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-people-love-obese-women-in-the-past/626920/49 "2012-07-03T17:39:43Z")
> [@greenslime1951](#): > > In a brief period from 1973-1975, female models would slather themselves with sauerkraut and Thousand-Island dressing so they would look “Rubenesque.” That’s hot. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2012, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-people-love-obese-women-in-the-past/626920/50 "2012-07-03T19:31:26Z")
> [@greenslime1951](#): > > In a brief period from 1973-1975, female models would slather themselves with sauerkraut and Thousand-Island dressing so they would look “Rubenesque.” The fad died out when someone pointed out the spelling error. It took me 3 seconds, but was totally worth the brain delay. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-people-love-obese-women-in-the-past/626920.md?page=2)