#mutter museum

The skeleton on the right (1145.45) shows the physical effects of corseting on the ribcage. The skeleton on the left is of a female with a normal ribcage (1145.40).

"Corsets have been worn over the years by both sexes but in the 19th century became predominantly female attire. The corset is designed to provide support for the upper body and breasts. Fashionable since the 16th century, corsets waned in popularity by the late 18th century when the Empire fashion was in vogue which de-emphasized the natural waist. Decades later, coincident with the reign of Queen Victoria, the corset became very popular. With whalebone and steel boning and fastened either at the front or rear, corsets never disappeared but modified over time to accentuate or de-emphasize parts of the body, as fashion required.

The Victorian corset cinched the waist and created an hourglass silhouette. In the 1840's and 50's fashion dictated a narrow waist achieved through tight lacing. Corsets came in different shapes; they extended below the natural waist and flared at the end. They used spiral steel stays for reinforcement which made them quite sturdy and retained the curvaceous shape. Tight corseting (called tight lacing) prohibited strenuous activity and the small corseted waist came to symbolize wealth because only a wealthy woman could be free from cooking, cleaning, and other domestic activities. Additionally, tight lacing required a maidservant to lace up the corset tight enough to achieve the desired shape.

The prolonged practice of wearing tight corsets had a physical effect on the body, particularly the skeleton. Tight lacing forces the ribs closer together and narrows the entire ribcage. The internal organs shift to accommodate the new shape. The heart is pushed up in the chest cavity and the intestines are forced down. The compression of the ribs prevents the lungs from fully expanding when breathing and results in shortness of breath, fatigue, and fainting. Corseting may affect other organs including the liver, breasts, stomach, colon, gallbladder, uterus, and abdominal muscles.

By the 20th century corseting began to fall out of fashion as doctors and other experts determined that the practice had health risks. Corseting was blamed for maladies that were legitimately associated with the practice including indigestion, constipation, spanaemia (lack of sufficient oxygen in the bloodstream), and uterine displacement. Corsets were also blamed for unrelated afflictions such as tuberculosis and hysteria."

I have... a bit less than 2 years to save up for the trip