So the guest speaker last class was talking about breasts and how the media portrays them and how this idea has seeped into the minds of society. (I was going to put “female” society, but I would argue that it has just as much been drilled into the minds of males and their expectations of female’s breasts as well).
I find it very disturbing that these images of the “perfect” breasts are being portrayed so widely on television. But this is only the tip of the iceberg. These images have been bombarding us for so long that they are now what we realistically consider perfect breasts.
It is ironic that what we now consider to be “naturally beautiful breasts” are so enhanced, changed, and constructed that they are not natural in themselves. (This doesn’t just apply to breasts either, there are a plethora of images out there that are complete constructs) These messages have been so engrained into women’s thoughts of their body image, that it is now a huge desire to have their own, natural, breasts enhanced and constructed in a way that will make them more “natural”. The irony just continues.
Now, we don’t only have women on television and in magazines with these perfectly round and perky breasts, we have them walking the streets of our towns and cities. The perpetration of this idea that breasts have to be this way to be beautiful and desirable has now moved from simply the media, to society in general. So, those influenced by these images (which we have now discovered is simply not children and young adults, but everyone) are seeing this ideal EVERYWHERE. It is no wonder why men have such high expectations for women … they are seeing these constructed versions and begin to believe that this is what real women should look like. Real let down to realise that these women don’t exist.
I hope that women, like myself, can learn to be happy with what they have, and to realise that these are simply unrealistic images. It scares me that so many women are looking to become something that does not exist.
As a male, I am less concerned with the shape and form of the breast. I think uniqueness is a quality extremely under rated in this society. To be tongue in cheek for a moment: I am so grateful when my mate lets me enjoy her breasts, that I could care less what they look like.
I think banatree has a point, I mean are women more concerned than men about their breasts, as though they hold some intrinsic power? Do we compare ourselves more with other women than men do ?