Lisa and I discussed last night a conversation that appeared on one of the posting boards she frequents regarding the question of whether or not women should be required or encouraged (or volunteer) to comply with social standards that frown on uncovered breast feeding in public places, focusing primarily on the discomfort it produces in other people. I came down on the side of the vocal minority on the board, believing, as I do, that the entire concept of "men can be shirtless but women can't" is an oddly irrational social construct that has embedded itself in American culture (certainly not a cultural universal, as seen by relaxed attitudes in Europe, Africa and most indigenous South American and
Oceanic societies), reflecting a linking of the concepts of "nudity" and "sex" when the two are not in actuality synonymous. The obvious (if juvenile) retort is "you just want to see boobies in public," but I think anyone in my inner circle will agree that my opinions are unsullied by such a factor (callipygian factors are an entirely different story). The main argument from the opposition is that such displays make people "uncomfortable," but then so do vocal political protests, t-shirts with obnoxious slogans, legally existing hate groups and the Teletubbies; we have a long and distinguished history of putting personal freedom above societal discomfort.
The discussion reminded me of a television documentary I watched while on furlough (during the early morning hours when the rest of my parents' household was asleep, with the volume suitably low). BBC America (a channel I didn't even know existed until seeing it in my parents' Direct TV lineup) showed "
My Big Breasts and Me," a chronicle of the methods
three British women considered and implemented to deal with what is a growing (literally) problem not only in the UK but in most other first-world nations as well, the expanding bust size. While the typical male will say "Bigger breasts, yay!" (possibly substituting some colorful euphemism for "breasts"), a more enlightened look acknowledges the negative medical effects of having large amounts of weight on the front of your chest at all time, along with the self-esteem and social effects. According to the show, the average bust size in the UK has jumped from a 34B to a 36D in ten years and that chronic back pain has helped fuel a 19% growth in reduction surgeries.
The women in the subject are at the far ends (for now) of the curve, with bust sizes ranging from 40G to 32E (which on a tall, thin girl is noticeable). The show followed their explorations of options, starting with diet and exercise (since bust size can be affected, both ways, by body composition) and proceeding to better support and then to surgery. Exercise in particular is a problem; the show pointed out the paradox of weight gain leading to breast size gain, leading to inactivity as exercise becomes painful, leading to further weight gain. One of the women in the show in particular had to custom-order a sports bra before she could even go to the gym, and then was quite embarrassed to be seen in public in something with "far less material" than she was used to wearing. The embarrassment angle was touched on several times, highlighting the attention (both positive and negative) that women can receive; I've had several well-endowed friends who have commented (sometimes positively, sometimes bitterly) on how difficult it is to make their bust size *not* the first thing people notice, and how awkward it can be when men take notice specifically for that reason (immortalized on the
"My Eyes Are Up Here" t-shirts).
Possibly the most important and interesting thing I learned from the show is that 80% of women are apparently wearing the wrong bra size, and that a simple fitting can help relieve a good deal of shoulder tension and improve appearance. So my new crusade, along with "Have you had your HPV vaccine yet?", is "Have you had your bra fitting yet?"
Labels: breasts, social commentary
Posted at 2:01:00 PM. |
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Monday, October 17
One-man Support Group
Normally Discover magazine is filled with horribly geeky articles about quantum mechanics and robots and germs (things that excite people like me). This month they had
an article that might excite other people, as well.
Did you know that breasts move in a
sinusoidal pattern when a woman jogs? I didn't think so.
Discover devoted an entire article to the biology of breast composition, the physics of breast movement and the technology of new bras. The point of the article is that bra technology is getting the same retrofit that shoe technology did a few decades ago, with smart materials that "sense when breast motion increases and tighten appropriate parts of the bra in response," based on laboratory studies that use LED lights and computer tracking to study the kinesthetics of breast motion. Considering that bra sales last year topped $5 billion, and that the average bust size has increased over the last 15 years from a 34B to a 36C (with over 30% of the population a D or larger), it deserves a serious consideration (so those of you who are giggling can stop now). From a medical standpoint, "56% of women suffer from breast pain when jogging, and women will limit themselves from doing exercise because of it." Add to that nerve damage to the hands from straps cutting into the shoulders and things that cause most men's brains to stop functioning end up causing actual trouble for women.
The article also mentioned that a pair of D-cup breasts can weigh up to 23 pounds, and that the first bra wasn't introduced until a little over a century ago. See, guys, we have it easy.
(And you thought Discover was boring.)
Labels: breasts
Posted at 9:29:00 PM. |
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