1880s Quote by Joshua Zeitz
““A study of fifty women conducted in 1887 revealed that the corset forcibly contracted their waists by anywhere between two and a half and six bodies. The pressure it applied to women's bodies averaged twenty-one pounds but could reach as high as eighty-eight pounds. Tight-lacing was thus akin to crushing oneself slowly from all sides. As a harsh critic of the corset noted, 'It is evident, physiologically, that air is the pabulum of life, and that the effects of a tight cord round the neck and of tight-lacing only differ in degree… for the strangulations are both fatal. To wear tight stays is in many cases to wither, to waste and to die.””
About This Quote
Source Historical article: Women’s health and fashion, 1887 study cited in modern analysis
The corset caused severe physical harm, comparable to strangulation, highlighting dangerous beauty standards.
In simple terms: Corsets were physically harmful to women.
Key Takeaway
Question harmful fashion practices.
Themes
health
beauty standards
women’s rights
Mood
critical
informative
Type
historical
social commentary
When to use this quote
- fashion design
- medical history
- women’s health advocacy
- body image discussions
Key Concepts
physiology
social pressure
Questions to Reflect On
- How do current beauty norms affect health?
- What alternatives promote comfort and style?
A Different Perspective
Historical context differs; modern clothing less extreme.
![“That was very much ahead of its time back in the 1880s and, not surprisingly, it was met with some resistance. [I]f you fast forward to today and the fact that we're the single largest source of employment for women (broadly speaking, as the reps are independent contractors), we've been an…” quote by Andrea Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/899/andrea-jung-18617_1880s_that-was-very-much-ahead-of-its-time-bac_704998.jpg)
