Female body shape

"Voluptuous" redirects here. For the pornographic magazine of the same name, see Voluptuous (magazine).

Female body shape has a bearing on a wide range of human activities, and widely different ideals of female body shape exist, and have existed, among different cultures over history. As with most physical traits, there is a wide range of normal female body shapes. A plump female body shape, with large breasts and buttocks without being obese, is often described as voluptuous. "Rubenesque" (referring to the art of Peter Paul Rubens, known for portraying full-bodied women) is probably the closest synonym. "Full figured" has a more straightforward connotation, whereas "voluptuous" and "zaftig" usually connote ripeness, sensuality, ample bust and wide hips. (However, "voluptuous" has also been used in relation to nude female sculpture as - approximately - a synonym for "erotic" or "decadent", regardless of the body shape - in 1836, for example, it was used of the Venus Kallipygos, whose hips and buttocks are shapely but not large.)

The above body shapes are unique for their femininity; their patterns of fat distribution are almost always exclusive to women, although some endocrine diseases can produce them in men. It is important to note, however, that women's body types include muscular, pear-shaped, athletic, rounded, thin, stocky, and lanky, among others.

Shape

The female form is a combination of multiple attributes which cause many conflicting descriptions when taken as a whole. Breaking down the female form into separate attributes of basic structure and width before considering weight goes a long way to describing why some fit women may be considered fat and why some very thin women may be considered unhealthy.

Three inflection points

The female body has three, key physical points of inflection:

Chest, which is covered by the bust
Waist, which includes the mid-to-lower stomach
Hips, which includes the upper rear

The female body always inflects inward towards the waist at the mid-to-lower stomach. Not considering any fat storage in the stomach, it is always smaller than the other two. How much the chest or hips inflect inward, towards the waist -- or in the opposite direction -- from the waist outward towards the chest or hips, results in how women are shaped structurally.

A woman's "dimensions" are often presented by the circumference around these three (3) inflection points. For example, in Imperial Units, a common ideal (as noted in the pop song "Brick House") is "36-24-36" to represent a 36" chest, 24" waist and 36" hips. However, a more exaggerated ideal (as in the AC/DC song "Whole Lotta Rosie") 42-39-56.

Although the breasts as well as the buttocks (rear) are key attributes in the female form, and vary widely, they do not define these inflection points. E.g., the chest measurement is done not around the breasts, possibly under them (although some sensationalistic measurements might use otherwise). Although the buttock is rarely measured, it is common to measure the cup size of the breasts and append it to the chest dimension. For example, in the United States, a C cup bust on a woman with 36-24-36 dimensions may be written as 36C-24-36.

These underlying inflection points often do define the limits or expanse of those attributes, especially with width and/or weight gain.

Four combinatorial structures

Independent of fat percentage, weight or width, most women are of four (4) elementary geometries, ordered by their commonality in western society.

Rectangle, aka Straight
Triangle (Upward), aka Pear, Spoon or Bell
Triangle (Downward) or aka Apple
Triangles (Opposing, facing inward), aka Hourglass

The rectangle shape has a waist of no less than 75% (no more than 25% less) in circumference than the chest or hips, which are virtually the same. Assuming a 36" chest/hips in Imperial units, this would be 27" or larger (less than 9" smaller than the chest/hips).

The pear shape has hips that are around 110% (10% larger) in circumference, possibly more, than the chest, while the waist is still no less than 75% (25% less) than the chest. Assuming a 36" chest, this would be hips around 39.5" (3.5" bigger), possibly more.

The apple shape has a chest that is at least 110% (10% larger) in circumference than the hips, while the waist is no less than 75% (25% less) than the chest. Assuming a 36" hips, this would be a chest least 39.5" (3.5" bigger), with a waist no less than 30" (10" less) than the chest.

The hourglass shape has a waist less than 75% (more than 25% less) in circumference than the the chest or hips, which are virtually the same. Assuming a 36" chest/hips, this would be a waist less than 27" (more than 9" smaller than the chest/hips). Newer research shows (Source: Curvier women 'will live longer') hourglass women may live longer while apple shaped females may live the least.

According to a recent British study of over 6,000 women (Source: The End of the Hourglass Figure), over 46% are Rectangle, over 20% Pear, under 14% are Apple and under 9% are Hourglass. These numbers may not be typical of other regions in the world, but do seem to reflect those of western society well.

Proportion and width

The inflection points on the female form define a woman's combinational structure. But the combinational structure itself can be of larger or smaller proportions. Perfectly healthy women of larger proportions can have chest/hips dimensions over 40" with waists greater than 30" while smaller porportional women can have health issues with waists as little as 25".

The proportion of a woman (regardless of weight) tends to be her first, immediately recognizable attribute noticed when she is clothed (hiding any, noticeable or lack of noticeable, fat distribution). Correspondingly, clothing of the single dress sizing tends to only address these proportions as a whole, and not the inflections and corresponding and combinational structures. It is important for women to note this fact about herself when choosing a dress, a particular dress size tells nothing about whether the dress is for rectangular, pear, apple or hourglass forms (which is why trying on the dress is almost mandatory).

In common American dress sizing:

Petite women are 5'4 or less, regardless of dress size. Generally, though, it is size 0-12 See petite sizes
Full Figured Women (FFW) are often considered sizes 14-20, although can include size 10 and even 24+
Big Beautiful Woman (BBW) are often considered sizes 20-24+, although can include shorter, smaller full figured under size 20

When the proportion of woman grows wider, with increased dimension points than she is tall, there can be two reasons. One can be due to increased width (from the frontal). It is not uncommon for a woman to gain width (especially at her hips) in her base structure after having her first child, which is impossible to reverse. The other can be due to increased fat storage. A woman who gains width is more likely to be more slender and shapely than a woman of equivalent height and weight.

Weight and fat distribution

The last and most greatly debated attribute is actual weight. Despite belief to the contrary, weight is not always a good indicator of whether someone is fat, because it completely ignores proportion as well as the inflectional dimensions. A woman of greater proportions will always weigh more than someone of lower ones, even if equally fit. Likewise, if the form of a woman is wider (from the frontal) for her height than average, she will be more slender (from the side) and have less protrusion than a woman of equal weight.

This is one reason why Body Mass Index (BMI) is currently considered a poor metric for calculating whether a woman is overweight or not. Newer research is beginning to back this up (need to cite). A new metric that is working well is the protrusion of the stomach (visible from the side) (need to cite the scientific name for this metric). The more protrusion, the greater the health risk. The body considers the fat to be in great excess and locates it to the stomach. This is the basis for the hip-to-waist ratio as well. Hip-to-waist is calculated by dividing your waist measurement by your hip measurement. The ideal ratio for women is about 0.7 (need to cite).

The structure of a woman greatly defines where the body will distribute fat. There are many tendencies that result based on the four (4) body types -- almost a direct result of the magntitude of their body's varying inflections.

Rectangle, aka Straight, women tend to gain weight like men. Their body may add width (and this varies), but at some point of excess, it concentrates into the protrusion of the stomach more than other parts of the body.
Triangle (Upward), aka Pear, Spoon or Bell tend to gain weight in their hips, rear and thighs. The distribution varies, with some gain added significantly (if positively) to the buttock while others tending to distribute into the thighs, hips and, eventually, the waist and stomach more than other parts of the body.
Triangle (Downward) or aka Apple tend to gain weight in their arms, shoulders, chest (not always the breasts themselves) and upper-stomach before other parts of the body. The distribution varies and it is not uncommon for an apple shape to have a very large chest (and not necessarily oversized breasts) that is more protuding than the stomach (even when it has visible fat on the waist and stomach).
Triangles (Facing Inward), aka Hourglass tend to be the most ideal for weight gain. Their body typically enlarges the shoulders, chest, hips and rear before and more than any other part, including waist and stomach.

Other descriptions

In addition to those commonly associated with a range of dress sizes, there are a few other, common descriptions and terms used to describe women.

Bubble Butt (among other slang) is often used to describe a woman, who has an abundance of fat or muscle (or both) distributed into her rear, possibly with very wide width, but not in the surrounding thighs (or at least not bulgingly so). They can be women of pear, hourglass and even a few rectangular forms.
Busty or well-built (among other slang) if often used to describe a woman who has an abundance of fat distributed into their breasts or "mammae", often regardless of the actual circumference of their chest. Busty women can be of any form, although they are typically not of pear shape. The fat deposition is in the breasts, not the mammary glands, which are, as their name implies, complex glandular rather than adiposal structures.
Voluptuous is a term that has become more synonymous with the term busty, but has varied over centuries. Many centuries ago, it could mean a woman of child-bearing stature, such as a proportionally large hourglass woman of large breasts and wide hips. Today it can be used to describe women of apple or pear shape, or of anyone with large breasts on any figure.

Societal impact

Many societies vary on their constrasts, criticisms and praise of the female form.

Fertility

Some cultures consider a voluptuous figure to be the ideal female body shape. Having significant amounts of stored fat, without being obese, has for most of human history been a sign in women of health and fertility. A low waist-to-hip ratio has often been seen as a sign of fertility, although recent research has suggested that this is less of an independent phenomenon than was previously supposed, and is likely to be a proxy for body mass index. ^[1]

Sexual attractiveness

Voluptuous figures have been idealised at many times in history: depictions of fertility goddesses, such as the famous Venus of Willendorf, typically have a voluptuous figure. Marilyn Monroe was a notable example of a woman with a voluptuous body shape who was considered to be a sex symbol, ( however, it should be noted that the dress she wore to sing happy birthday to JFK in 1962 was a current US size 5) as is Tyra Banks in modern times who is considerably more zaftig and busty when compared to a modern supermodel.

A voluptuous body shape is also more commonly seen in glamour models than in fashion models, perhaps more accurately expressing typical male sexual preferences than the thin female body shape promoted in the mass media. Indeed, whole categories of pornography exist that exclusively depict women of one particular body shape.

Feminism and body shape

Feminists, as well as decrying the excessive emphasis on body shape as part of women's self-image in Western society, contend that a voluptuous body shape is more typical of real women in the West than the anorexic ideal pushed by the Western media through depictions of extremely thin actresses and fashion models. Indeed the mass popularity of more hourglass American actresses such as Salma Hayek, Halle Berry and Jennifer Lopez tend to suggest men like women well away from the petite, rectangular shape that is common in Hollywood, but more common in glamour models.

Anorexia and media depictions of thinness in women

Sociocultural studies have highlighted the role of cultural factors in the incidence of anorexia in women, such as the promotion of thinness as the ideal female form in Western industrialised nations, particularly through the media. A recent epidemiological study of 989,871 Swedish residents (almost the entire population) indicated that gender, ethnicity and socio-economic status were large influences on the chance of developing anorexia, with those with non-European parents among the least likely to be diagnosed with the condition, and those in wealthy, white families being most at risk.^[2] A classic study by Garner and Garfinkel demonstrated that those in professions where there is a particular social pressure to be thin (such as models and dancers) were much more likely to develop anorexia during the course of their career,^[3] and further research has suggested that those with anorexia have much higher contact with cultural sources that promote weight-loss.^[4]

Although anorexia nervosa is usually associated with Western cultures, exposure to Western media is thought to have led to an increase in cases in non-Western counties. However, it is notable that other cultures may not display the same 'fat phobic' worries about becoming fat as those with the condition in the West, and instead may present with low appetite with the other common features. ^[5]

References

^ Tovee MJ, Maisey DS, Emery JL, Cornelissen PL.Visual cues to female physical attractiveness. Proc Biol Sci. 1999 Jan 22;266(1415):211-8. PMID: 10097394 [1]
^ Lindberg L, Hjern A. (2003) Risk factors for anorexia nervosa: a national cohort study. Int J Eat Disord, 34 (4), 397-408. PMID 14566927
^ Garner DM, Garfinkel PE. (1980) Socio-cultural factors in the development of anorexia nervosa. Psychol Med, 10 (4), 647-56. PMID 7208724.
^ Toro J, Salamero M, Martinez E. (1994) Assessment of sociocultural influences on the aesthetic body shape model in anorexia nervosa. Acta Psychiatr Scand, 89 (3), 147-51. PMID 8178671.
^ Simpson KJ. (2002) Anorexia nervosa and culture. J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs, 9 (1), 65-71. PMID 11896858.