Body image

As part of Body Appreciation Week '07, Dickinson hosted Ophira Edut, author of Body Outlaws: Rewriting the Rules of Beauty and Body Image, as well as a national speaker, activist and entrepreneur, to
give a talk on positive self-image,
held in the Anita Tuvin Schlechter Auditorium on February 7, 2007.

Mrs. Richard Hunsecker, formerly Helen L.

This Dickinsonian article discusses the prevelence of eating disorders on college campus and what Dickinson specifically does to identify and treat these illnesses.

Two articles on the front page of the April 16, 1992 Dickinsonian discussed the talk and reactions to the talk given in ATS by former Sports Illustrated model Ann Simonton about women, exploitation and the media.

Yates Snyder, class of ’39, was not only a bright scholar as a member of the Harman Literary Society, and heavily involved in extracurricular activities, including chorus, athletics, and Greek life, but was also noted as an extraordinary campus beauty.  Her senior year she was crowned Queen at the Midwinter Ball and during her four years at Dickinson, “graced the pages of the beauty section of the Microcosm,” perhaps setting an example for future female students that it is possible to have beauty and brains.

The 1930 edition of Dickinson's Microcosm yearbook features an eight page spread of women's portraits under the heading of "Campus Belles".  A committee of "three well known artists” judged and selected eight women as “most worthy of being placed under the caption of Campus Belles”.  Their selection relied "on the basis of a number of aesthetic attributes."  Women featured include, Florence Burt Shaw, Dorothy Virginia Loveland, Lenore Ann Cisney, Kathryn Louise Ammon, M. Jane Dando, Annabel G. Rice, Mary Sophia Everett, and Eleanore May James.

An advertisement in The Dickinsonian for the Hazel Hoyaux Beauty Salon reads "Girls: Even-Tan Sun Lamp before the dance gives you that desirable glow."

The 1963 Microcosm staff continued to place the Miss Microcosm feature in the front half of the yearbook like it did in 1962. Unlike in 1962, however, the staff does not divulge how it made the selection. Miss Microcosm Barbara Duvall "will be married in June" and "represents the model of beauty, charm, and personality of the Dickinson coed." Her maid of honor and runners up included Brenda Sadler, Linda Goodridge, Carnie Green, Joanne Harris, Ginny Krueger, Cheryl Livingston, and Ginny Sutton.

The 1962 Microcosm presents the year's Miss Microcosm at the front of the yearbook rather than the end, as was the case prior to this date. The Microcosm claims that this year is the first in which students' votes elected Miss Microcosm and her court. The 1962 Miss Microcosm was Chi Omega Sweetheart and married student Gwen Steege, who the Microcosm listed as having "fair features, feminine grace, and charm of personality...." The runners-up included Brenda Sadler, Barbara Duvall, Carnie Green, Lynn Davis, Barbara Geyer, Ginny Sutton, and Ginny Krueger.

The 1960 Microcosm recruited two judges to select the year's Miss Microcosm. They chose Paula Shedd from among Dickinson's "prettiest girls." Her court included: Shirley Bahrs, Mary Fox, Sonja Gohn, Dottie Gayner, Susan McDowell, Joan Spire, Judith Simoni, and Mary L. Thomson. According to the Microcosm, Paula represents "the ultimate of beauty of Dickinson."