In India, the fashions, the History, and the culture affirm man's fascination with narrow waist line of a woman. Men in all cultures world wide have lusted women for their hour glass shape involving the narrow waist.
I will limit discussion to the body, not the skin color, or facial features. My teen years were spent in Rajasthan. The hormones were at peak as I used to eye slender young women wearing Choli and Lehanga revealing their bellybutton, carrying water in an earthen pot on their heads.
Fashions
In India women wear a Choli to cover the top. Below the waist, they would wear a long skirt-like Lehanga, Ghagra, or a Petticoat. Saree is wrapped around the petticoat. Choli is a tight fitting short blouse that ends just below the bust. These combination outfits are designed to expose bellybutton and bare waistline for the pleasure of men. Original Choli were open in the back to reveal more skin.
History
The sculptures outside the Ancient temples, and the pictorials in Kamasutra depict woman with narrow waist, firm round breasts and slightly protruding hips. Old Hindu epics such as Mahabharata, and Ramayana mention the narrow waistline of some of the Goddesses to describe their beauty.
Culture
In the olden days, parents chose the brides with narrow waist for their sons. It was believed that narrow wasted brides will bear sons to carry family names. The larger hips will make it easier to fetus during pregnancy. Larger bust will hold plenty of milk to feed the infant. In a way they were right. Estrogen levels effect the size of hips and thighs. Larger hips have higher level of estrogen, and estrogen influences the fertility. Androgen effects the waistline. For the same waist size, a woman with larger hips is more fertile.
Parameterization of Hour glass shape
Beauty Ratio Calculator
The bust, waist, and hips form the so called hour-glass shape. These three characteristics form two ratios: Waist Hip Ratio (WHR), and Waist Bust ratio (WBR). The waist is measured around the narrowest section below the rib cage and just above the bellybutton. Hip circumference is measured around the largest protrusion of the buttocks. The bust circumference is measured around its largest protrusion.
In 1993, Professor Singh set WHR ratio as 0.70. This is a well accepted preference in United States. Other studies have set ideal WBR as 0.76. After analyzing sculptures in Khajuraho and other temples in South India, one may conclude that Indian men prefer slightly more protruding hips and bust. I would suggest the following parameterization:
American preference
WHR = 0.70, WBR = 0.76
Indian preference
WHR = 0.66, WBR = 0.72
Body Mass Index
The BMI reflects the fertility and health of the women. BMI less than 18.5 is underweight and not acceptable for health reasons. Elevated BMI can cause menstruation and fertility problems. In United States, the models are tall and skinny. Indian women are not tall. Indian beauties are neither skinny, nor fat. Indian beauties are slender. For American preference, I suggest optimum BMI of 19. For Indian woman, I would suggest an optimum BMI of 19.5.
I will limit discussion to the body, not the skin color, or facial features. My teen years were spent in Rajasthan. The hormones were at peak as I used to eye slender young women wearing Choli and Lehanga revealing their bellybutton, carrying water in an earthen pot on their heads.
Fashions
In India women wear a Choli to cover the top. Below the waist, they would wear a long skirt-like Lehanga, Ghagra, or a Petticoat. Saree is wrapped around the petticoat. Choli is a tight fitting short blouse that ends just below the bust. These combination outfits are designed to expose bellybutton and bare waistline for the pleasure of men. Original Choli were open in the back to reveal more skin.
History
The sculptures outside the Ancient temples, and the pictorials in Kamasutra depict woman with narrow waist, firm round breasts and slightly protruding hips. Old Hindu epics such as Mahabharata, and Ramayana mention the narrow waistline of some of the Goddesses to describe their beauty.
Culture
In the olden days, parents chose the brides with narrow waist for their sons. It was believed that narrow wasted brides will bear sons to carry family names. The larger hips will make it easier to fetus during pregnancy. Larger bust will hold plenty of milk to feed the infant. In a way they were right. Estrogen levels effect the size of hips and thighs. Larger hips have higher level of estrogen, and estrogen influences the fertility. Androgen effects the waistline. For the same waist size, a woman with larger hips is more fertile.
Parameterization of Hour glass shape
Beauty Ratio Calculator
The bust, waist, and hips form the so called hour-glass shape. These three characteristics form two ratios: Waist Hip Ratio (WHR), and Waist Bust ratio (WBR). The waist is measured around the narrowest section below the rib cage and just above the bellybutton. Hip circumference is measured around the largest protrusion of the buttocks. The bust circumference is measured around its largest protrusion.
In 1993, Professor Singh set WHR ratio as 0.70. This is a well accepted preference in United States. Other studies have set ideal WBR as 0.76. After analyzing sculptures in Khajuraho and other temples in South India, one may conclude that Indian men prefer slightly more protruding hips and bust. I would suggest the following parameterization:
American preference
WHR = 0.70, WBR = 0.76
Indian preference
WHR = 0.66, WBR = 0.72
Body Mass Index
The BMI reflects the fertility and health of the women. BMI less than 18.5 is underweight and not acceptable for health reasons. Elevated BMI can cause menstruation and fertility problems. In United States, the models are tall and skinny. Indian women are not tall. Indian beauties are neither skinny, nor fat. Indian beauties are slender. For American preference, I suggest optimum BMI of 19. For Indian woman, I would suggest an optimum BMI of 19.5.
