Orac posted this humorous Evidence for Global Warming series: Women's bathing suits from 1930 (full-body coverage) to 2005 (stringy things). Obviously, in the context of global warming, it's a satire. But it's an interesting bit of cultural history, at the same time, and I was struck by the multitude of ways in which it could be cast as progress towards a better society -- greater freedom, particularly for women, etc. -- as well as evidence of cultural decline -- hyper-sexualization, lack of restraint -- and it's worth noting that men's swimwear follows more or less the same trajectory at more or less the same time so it's not just about women. Though, of course, gender does matter...Anyway, something to think about over the weekend. I've got sleep and yard work to do, carnivals to read....
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