The World of Waists
By: Emma Tennyson-Hickey
Staff Writer
We’ve all seen the insane celebrity health crazes that have gained popularity throughout the years. This year is no exception and the trend of waist training is in full swing. A waist trainer is a garment similar to a corset. These trainers are intended to slim, shape, and cinch your waist. Celebrities from Snookie, Kim Kardashian, and Jessica Alba have all claimed success with waist trainers. Is this trend a smart shaping tool or a danger for women's health?
The science of waist training is the compression of fat around the waist as a technique for getting a slimmer shape. The argument is whether the fat goes back into its original position once the trainer comes off. Many people feel that these trainers are temporary fixes for another problem. Katie Mattingly stated, “In my opinion, I don't see the health tactic here, it just seems like a different take on cosmetic surgery. With these, girls think that they need to have skinny waist, which they don't”. There are those who argue that waist training is actually incredibly beneficial for posture but many doctors feel that a medical brace is far more reliable. According to Livestrong.com waist trainers may not be worth the risk, “Corsets do not burn fat or tone muscle. They merely shift your existing mass into a new shape, and misused corsets can cause permanent health problems. So, if you use a corset, do so only for short periods and consult your doctor about possible side effects.” Although these extremely harmful effects occur, there is a possibility of weight loss while using a waist trainer. “Binding yourself within a corset compresses your stomach, forcing you to eat less or endure extreme discomfort, so you can lose weight this way. Over a few days or weeks, you may naturally reduce your belly and waist size, but maintaining your new shape after the corset is off requires willpower”, according to Livestrong. Shortness of breath and chafed skin are a common occurrence for users of waist trainers. The garments’ method to shrinking one's waist works by putting pressure on your lower ribs therefore shrinking your waist. Secondary effects are eating less due to digestive compression and losing water weight through sweat.
Some people argue that celebrities achieve success. The celebrities that post pictures claiming success and adoration for the trainers are usually endorsed by certain companies. Kim Kardashian, for example, endorses the “Waist Gang Society”. The Waist Gang Society website claims “reshaping waist shaper is a unique latex material which attacks unwanted fat and impurities within your body”. Kim Kardashian is followed by more than 44 million people, is this the kind of products that those followers should buy? Sophomore Julia Beggel said, “I think celebrities make them seem more appealing and more useful than they actually are”. Many young people of today are significantly influenced by celebrity news. From media, news, and fashion, celebrity trends make their way into teenager culture. A celebrity endorsement may be seen as an actual recommendation for a product to a teen. Junior Lauren Rivero said, “I feel as if they work to a certain extent but celebrities are endorsed to show them in a popular light". The damaging effects of seeing successful people endorsing these trainers can influence the way young women look at their own bodies. Junior Alexa Yuen said, “Waist trainers may be seen as okay for celebrities, that's their prerogative and they have more pressure to look a certain way because they are always in the public eye and always being criticized. However, because of this they are also always a constant role model for young girls who aspire to be like these celebrities. Waist training may cause these girls to have a distorted view on body image, and cause them to believe altering their natural body shape to achieve a certain look is preferred over loving your body the way it is. So, I believe waist training is okay for celebrities, especially adults, but they shouldn't be endorsed on younger, impressionable girls whose concept of body image is at stake.”
Waist trainers first gained popularity in 16th century Europe during the Victorian age. However, corsets as old as ca. 2,000 B.C.E have been depicted in Cretan culture. Throughout history, corsets have been used to shape and invert a woman's core. The most popular time period for corsets were the late 17 early 1800’s. After outcries from doctors, feminists, and religious leaders, corsets were finally out of style. But, this was not before corsets had shown just how harmful they were on the female body. Substitute teacher Mr. Mike Hickey said, “It might give the appearance of physical fitness, but it's one thing to look healthy and another to be healthy”.
The dissertation Historic Medical Perspectives Of Corseting and Two Physiologic Studies with Reenactors by Colleen Ruby Gau from Iowa State University explores the complexity of medical and psychological aspects associated with corsets. “Dr. Diocletian "Dio" Lewis wrote in both medical and lay publications over several years in attempts to convince women to discard their corsets. He appealed to mothers to avoid corseting their daughters, to emancipate them from fashion's grip or advised them ‘never to marry’, presumably Dr. Lewis had seen the ravages wrought upon the organs of reproduction by tight-lacing.” This quote exemplifies the medical understanding of corseting during the 1800’s. Doctors, like Diocletian, understood the severe implications of pressure on internal organs and advised many women against it.
If the medical, historical, and psychological evidence isn’t enough to deter women from waist training one more factor may suffice, society. The ideals of female beauty in the eyes of society have changed shape over thousands of years. Corsets, like many other factors throughout history have restricted women physically and societally. What does it say about our modern society if we encourage an unnatural often unachievable body type? It took many generations of women to protest against these devices, do we really want to go back in history?
Staff Writer
We’ve all seen the insane celebrity health crazes that have gained popularity throughout the years. This year is no exception and the trend of waist training is in full swing. A waist trainer is a garment similar to a corset. These trainers are intended to slim, shape, and cinch your waist. Celebrities from Snookie, Kim Kardashian, and Jessica Alba have all claimed success with waist trainers. Is this trend a smart shaping tool or a danger for women's health?
The science of waist training is the compression of fat around the waist as a technique for getting a slimmer shape. The argument is whether the fat goes back into its original position once the trainer comes off. Many people feel that these trainers are temporary fixes for another problem. Katie Mattingly stated, “In my opinion, I don't see the health tactic here, it just seems like a different take on cosmetic surgery. With these, girls think that they need to have skinny waist, which they don't”. There are those who argue that waist training is actually incredibly beneficial for posture but many doctors feel that a medical brace is far more reliable. According to Livestrong.com waist trainers may not be worth the risk, “Corsets do not burn fat or tone muscle. They merely shift your existing mass into a new shape, and misused corsets can cause permanent health problems. So, if you use a corset, do so only for short periods and consult your doctor about possible side effects.” Although these extremely harmful effects occur, there is a possibility of weight loss while using a waist trainer. “Binding yourself within a corset compresses your stomach, forcing you to eat less or endure extreme discomfort, so you can lose weight this way. Over a few days or weeks, you may naturally reduce your belly and waist size, but maintaining your new shape after the corset is off requires willpower”, according to Livestrong. Shortness of breath and chafed skin are a common occurrence for users of waist trainers. The garments’ method to shrinking one's waist works by putting pressure on your lower ribs therefore shrinking your waist. Secondary effects are eating less due to digestive compression and losing water weight through sweat.
Some people argue that celebrities achieve success. The celebrities that post pictures claiming success and adoration for the trainers are usually endorsed by certain companies. Kim Kardashian, for example, endorses the “Waist Gang Society”. The Waist Gang Society website claims “reshaping waist shaper is a unique latex material which attacks unwanted fat and impurities within your body”. Kim Kardashian is followed by more than 44 million people, is this the kind of products that those followers should buy? Sophomore Julia Beggel said, “I think celebrities make them seem more appealing and more useful than they actually are”. Many young people of today are significantly influenced by celebrity news. From media, news, and fashion, celebrity trends make their way into teenager culture. A celebrity endorsement may be seen as an actual recommendation for a product to a teen. Junior Lauren Rivero said, “I feel as if they work to a certain extent but celebrities are endorsed to show them in a popular light". The damaging effects of seeing successful people endorsing these trainers can influence the way young women look at their own bodies. Junior Alexa Yuen said, “Waist trainers may be seen as okay for celebrities, that's their prerogative and they have more pressure to look a certain way because they are always in the public eye and always being criticized. However, because of this they are also always a constant role model for young girls who aspire to be like these celebrities. Waist training may cause these girls to have a distorted view on body image, and cause them to believe altering their natural body shape to achieve a certain look is preferred over loving your body the way it is. So, I believe waist training is okay for celebrities, especially adults, but they shouldn't be endorsed on younger, impressionable girls whose concept of body image is at stake.”
Waist trainers first gained popularity in 16th century Europe during the Victorian age. However, corsets as old as ca. 2,000 B.C.E have been depicted in Cretan culture. Throughout history, corsets have been used to shape and invert a woman's core. The most popular time period for corsets were the late 17 early 1800’s. After outcries from doctors, feminists, and religious leaders, corsets were finally out of style. But, this was not before corsets had shown just how harmful they were on the female body. Substitute teacher Mr. Mike Hickey said, “It might give the appearance of physical fitness, but it's one thing to look healthy and another to be healthy”.
The dissertation Historic Medical Perspectives Of Corseting and Two Physiologic Studies with Reenactors by Colleen Ruby Gau from Iowa State University explores the complexity of medical and psychological aspects associated with corsets. “Dr. Diocletian "Dio" Lewis wrote in both medical and lay publications over several years in attempts to convince women to discard their corsets. He appealed to mothers to avoid corseting their daughters, to emancipate them from fashion's grip or advised them ‘never to marry’, presumably Dr. Lewis had seen the ravages wrought upon the organs of reproduction by tight-lacing.” This quote exemplifies the medical understanding of corseting during the 1800’s. Doctors, like Diocletian, understood the severe implications of pressure on internal organs and advised many women against it.
If the medical, historical, and psychological evidence isn’t enough to deter women from waist training one more factor may suffice, society. The ideals of female beauty in the eyes of society have changed shape over thousands of years. Corsets, like many other factors throughout history have restricted women physically and societally. What does it say about our modern society if we encourage an unnatural often unachievable body type? It took many generations of women to protest against these devices, do we really want to go back in history?
Not the Buns You Eat
By: Olivia Calacanis
Staff Writer
2015 is the year of the man bun! Man buns have been all the rage in the past year and the reactions have been very controversial. What is a man bun you ask? Well, it’s when a guy with long hair takes it, and ties it up into a bun on the top of his head. It’s also referred to as the “bro bun” or the “mun.” Girls and guys have been obsessing over this look for many reasons and some would even say it's the best thing since sliced bread. This is why Helena Kenny, junior of WVHS, likes this look on guys. “I like man buns because boys look more mature with them but, only some can pull them off.” According to junior, Penny Greibesland, “Brunettes with long hair need a beard or some scruff but blondes look fine without it.” There are athletes like David Beckham and others who rock this hairstyle while in action and now even some of our very own athletes of WVHS have followed along with that trend. Morgan Welling, Senior athlete, said “I like my hair long for football and I like to wear it back in a bun to keep it out of my face.” But how do the coaches feel about it? Here's what Coach Sirico, coach of the Warwick Varsity football team had to say. “We give freedom to our guys to express themselves any way they want to express themselves. Now, I’m not a long hair kind of guy but I know some of those guys on my team look pretty good with that long hair.” Then, Coach told us how the long hair affects the boys on the field. “I don’t think it affects their playing. I think maybe they gain strength from their hair.” Here’s what another one of our high school football coaches, Coach Rosa, had to say about the man bun. “In football, if the hair is outside the helmet it’s fair play to pull it. That’s when the man bun comes in clutch for the boys with long hair.” Billy Youngblood, junior at Warwick Valley High School, would agree that it’s a very convenient hairstyle. “I like to wear it to keep the hair out of my eyes for when I run or workout and it’s a good look for formal occasions.” Along with male athletes, the bun has been seen on many celebrities and actors like Chris Hemsworth, Jake Gyllenhaal, Harry Styles, Jared Leto, and others. “My hair grows into a fuzz ball—I just wanted it to grow downwards rather than outwards—but then I realized I couldn't play guitar with it that way. I couldn't do anything day-to-day without my hair getting in my mouth or my eyes or my food, so I just started tying it back, long before I knew what a man bun was. I've come to like the look!” said the “Take Me to Church” singer, Hozier. With all the craze over the man bun, what do you think is in store for men's hair in 2016?