Final answer:
Women in the Renaissance shaved their eyebrows and hairlines to appear more fashionable, as dictated by the era's beauty standards derived from societal norms and the arts. The accentuated high forehead was a key aspect of this aesthetic, symbolizing elegance and sophistication and often indicating a higher social status.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the Renaissance, women were known to shave their eyebrows and hairlines to adhere to the beauty standards of the time, which were largely influenced by the artistic works of the era, such as The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli. This practice was part of a broader societal trend where physical appearance was critically important, and specific features were emblematic of social status and ideals of beauty. The correct answer to why women shaved their eyebrows and hairlines during the Renaissance is to appear more fashionable (C), as this was the prevailing standard of beauty, as evidenced by various Renaissance art forms and societal customs.
In particular, the high forehead and accentuated facial features were considered elegant and sophisticated, aligning with the popular aesthetic at the time. The act of shaving eyebrows was also potentially a mark of the social class, distinguishing aristocrats and those of higher status who could afford to keep up with the fashions from the working class, whose appearance more directly reflected their laborious lives outdoors.
Moreover, the pale skin achieved through the application of white lead makeup and the plucked eyebrows helped to cultivate an angelic and ethereal facade, which was another aspect of the idealized beauty during the sixteenth century in the era of Queen Elizabeth I. While these practices may seem extreme by today's standards, they were very much a part of the cultural fabric of the time.