Throughout history, corsets have been worn by women to shape their bodies into desired silhouettes, emphasizing a smaller waist. To fit in with societal norms, women were expected to continue their usual household chores and take care of their children, while also being expected to wear the corset at all times. These garments were made with heavy fabric, with bone or metal inserts, and often had negative health effects on the women who wore them. 

Women often wore corsets so tightly that their breathing was restricted, leading to faintness. Compressing the abdominal organs could cause poor digestion, and over time the back muscles could waste away. In severe cases, long term lacing led to a deformed rib cage. Symbolic of female oppression, corsets represent the great lengths women were expected to go to in order to fit the patriarchal beauty standard. 

The 1980s marked a shift in the use of the corset. In 1983, Jean Paul Gaultier’s Dada collection presented a corseted dress, transforming the corset from underwear to fashionable outerwear, and in 1987, Vivienne Westwood presented her own version of the corset as a fashion statement. As new ways of wearing the garment emerged, the corset became a symbol of female empowerment rather than oppression.

Once associated with the wealthy elite and then adopted by the middle and working classes in the 17th century, the corset has become increasingly available to people of different economic statuses. Today, corsets have become popular fashion products, and they are so accessible that they have become symbols of liberation for women of all socioeconomic backgrounds. 

The modern corset unites women in expressing their femininity, creating a sense of community as women continue to fight against patriarchal norms and reclaim their identities. Women now freely choose to wear corsets instead of being forced into the garment by society’s expectations.

The corset represents the historical oppression and objectification of women while also symbolizing freedom of self-expression in fashion and female empowerment. Whether viewed as oppressive or liberating, the corset unites women of all different backgrounds.