Women have long faced biased attitudes in medicine, and this has had a great impact on their health and body image. The problem starts with the very perception of female anatomy. For example, hundreds of years ago, doctors considered the female skeleton a “smaller copy” of the male skeleton. This created the perception that women were physically weaker and could not lead an active life, play sports, or be independent in general.

One of the most striking examples of how women tried to meet beauty standards in those days was wearing a corset. Often, the corset constricted the body so much that it was painful for women to breathe and move. However, corsets not only created discomfort but were also seriously harmful to health. They caused curvature of the spine, made breathing difficult, and even interfered with the functioning of internal organs. In today's world, such things seem crazy, but once upon a time, these things were a necessity to meet societal standards.

Because of these standards, women often suffered from scoliosis or curvature of the spine. But instead of helping women, the doctors of the time blamed them for being weak or for wearing corsets incorrectly. This demonstrates how society and the medicine of that time often ignored the real needs of the female body.

Today, corsets have been replaced by other ways to adjust the body to the standards. These include plastic surgery, Botox, implants, and other procedures. Advertising, the media, and society in general are constantly telling women: “You should be slimmer,” “Your lips should be bigger,” and “This will make you more beautiful.” So, they go for numerous surgeries without thinking whether this is really their desire or an imposed idea that this is the only way they can be attractive.

Such standards affect not only physical health but also self-confidence. They make you doubt whether your natural beauty is good enough. It's not just about appearance but also about the right to be yourself, to feel healthy and happy without adapting to other people's expectations.