Modern Fertility symbols?

Question

I decided to write my archaeology paper on fertility depictions in ancient Mesopotamian art, and I wanted to relate it to modern societies today...But I can't think of any symbolisms for fertility that we see today, so I was wondering if anyone could help me out with that! :)

Answer 1

Well, most ancient depictions of fertility were rotund women with large thighs, b*****s and bellies (we're not entirely sure if they were fertility symbols but it's the best we can come up with).  Today (at least in the western world), skinny models, actresses and singers are plastered on billboards, magazine covers, movies, TV and just about anything else you can think of.  There's a theory (and I'm sorry I don't remember who came up with it) that wherever food is not readily available, women who are more overweight are typically seen as more desirable and fertile (and vice versa with societies where food is plentiful and skinny women).  In Sub-Saharan West Africa, for example, thighs are seen as very sexually exciting and the bigger, the better.  If you need an example, Katherine Dettwyler writes about it in her book "Dancing Skeletons" concerning the woman from Timbuktu.  Feel free to email me.

Answer 2

removed

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