It's not as if muscular women suddenly appeared on the scene in 1980. There were many earlier references not just to strong women but also to women building up their bodies.
19th and 20th century fitness guru Bernarr McFadden encouraged women as well as men to engage in vigorous physical exercise. His bride, Mary Williamson, was no pushover. (Sadly, his 1905 attempt at forming a bodybuilding commune just south of East Brunswick, NJ was a failure.)
These World War II era British ads are charming, but the one for the Sports Mistress is relevant, too! [peek - Boyntonesque]
Check out the photo of Pudgy Stockton 3/4 of the way down this page. And here's a cheesecake pose.
This radio ad for Ironized Yeast is delightfully misleading. [Ironized Yeast - Old Time Radio Fans]
Here's a print ad for Ironized Yeast, from back when it was fashionable for women to gain weight.
[Funny Vintage Ad - New York Forum]
The "Psycho-Expander" "Develops Neck Chest and Shoulders to Striking Beauty". [Expand Your Chest with THE PSYCHO-EXPANDER (Jun, 1924) - Modern Mechanix]
It does go way back - 2000 yrs, at least, and probably more. There are frescos at Pompeii with bikini-clad women working out with weights or as the archeologists are beginning to discover, Amazonian gladiatrixs weren't just a curiosity sideshow at the Roman gladiatorial competitions.
Strangely enough, the 'Mrs Peek's Puddings' advert is something that I, having a father who is very interested in WWII (and being intereted in that period myself) am very familiar with. Doesn't make it any less corny, though!
I'd seen the article about Abbye Stockton before, but not the 'cheesecake'photos - she really was properly buff, wasn't she?!
The selection in general, particularly the print advert for the "ironized yeast" reminds me just how society's views of the ideal female body have changed - for the worst. The '40s and '50s might have been more misogynistic times, but at least a propely adult, womanly form was considered beautiful, rather than the adolescent, waif-like forms that are worshipped now.
Oh, and that McFadden bloke was a bit odd, wasn't he?! :shock:
