XPost: sci.lang, alt.usage.english, soc.culture.french   
   From: HenHanna@devnull.tb   
      
    > Embonpoint is apparently defined as persons who   
    >                    are considered larger than usual.   
      
      
    >>>   I don't know about the English use, but in French it designates a   
   stomach larger than usual, typically at a male - the special rounded   
   shape that resembles a pregnant woman.   -- Bertel     Kolt, Denmark <<<   
      
      
   ____________________________   
      
              [embonpoint]  was once a completely positive term in France.   
   It literally translates to "in good point" and historically conveyed a   
                 meaning of healthy weight, fullness, and even prosperity.   
      
   Here's why it was seen positively:   
      
   Scarcity and Strength: In the past, food scarcity was more common.   
      
   Embonpoint indicated someone had access to enough food to be   
   well-nourished and even robust, which was a sign of health and well-being.   
      
   Social Status:         A fuller figure could also suggest wealth and   
   social status. Manual labor was more prevalent, and a thin physique   
   might be associated with the working class. Someone with embonpoint   
   might not have had to engage in strenuous physical activity to survive.   
      
   Over time, perceptions of body image have shifted in France, as elsewhere.   
      
   Today,  embonpoint can still be used in a neutral way, but it can also   
   have a slightly negative connotation, suggesting someone is overweight.   
      
   A more positive term for someone who is pleasantly plump might be   
                               **rond(e)  **(round).   
      
   ______________________________   
      
   The shift likely began sometime in the  19th century  or even earlier.   
      
   Here's why:   
      
   Early Signs:         By the 18th century, there's evidence of some   
   advocating for slimmer figures, particularly among the upper class. This   
   suggests a potential beginning of a shift.   
      
      
   постепенное изменение (postupannoe izmenenie) (   
   постепенное изменение is   
   the Russian for gradual change, there is no direct equivalent in English   
   but it conveys the idea of a slow shift over time)   
      
      
   While a precise date is elusive, the  gradual change  in perception   
   likely happened  between the 18th and 20th centuries.   
      
   ______________________________________   
      
   The American shift in perception happened largely around 1950's-1970's   
                           (the fashion model Twiggy)     (Audrey Hepburn)   
      
      
   Here's why this era is significant:   
      
   Rise of "The Ideal Figure":               The post-war era (post-WWII)   
   saw a boom in advertising and media.    Images of thinness as the ideal   
   body type for women became increasingly prevalent. Fashion models like   
   Twiggy, known for her slender frame, became cultural icons.   
      
   Focus on Health and Fitness:             There was a growing emphasis on   
   health and fitness during this period. Diet culture started to gain   
   momentum, with a focus on calorie counting and weight loss.   
      
   Shifting Standards of Beauty:             Actresses like Audrey Hepburn,   
   known for her petite figure and gamine look, epitomized the new beauty   
   standard. These cultural influences significantly impacted how Americans   
   perceived healthy and attractive body types.   
      
   While there was certainly some body diversity before the 1950s, the   
   post-war era marked a more concentrated push towards a specific ideal of   
   thinness, particularly for women. This shift continues to influence   
   perceptions of weight in the US today.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)