Sexualization of Breasts: An Interesting Perspective

sexualization of breasts

When exactly did we stop seeing breasts as a purposeful part of female anatomy and start objectifying them as sexual objects? The sexualization of breasts has led many people to view them solely as sexual objects, ignoring their natural function and meaning. I haven’t given much thought to the issue of public breastfeeding other than reading those sensational articles that pop up on my Facebook and newsfeed, in which women are denied the right to feed their babies in public.

I shouldn’t be surprised that in this age of male sexual sensitivity, girls and young women are forced to wear certain clothes or not allowed to wear others so as not to distract from the male half of the population. I think this is more discriminatory towards men because it assumes they have no self-control or common sense.

LadyLike stands up against this

Check out LadyLike’s reaction to an article in which a female student was asked to wear a Band-Aid on her nipples so she wouldn’t distract the boys in her class.

How did we go from breastfeeding being a natural part of daily life and raising children to being stigmatized or disgusted? In a Western society that values ​​and (largely) encourages oversharing and sexual freedom, why do women feel like their breasts are only there for sex? Men’s sexual enjoyment?

Women have every right to feel comfortable in their bodies

You may ask, why is this important? First and foremost, I am a strong, opinionated woman who believes that a person has the right to do what they want as long as it does not break the law or put themselves or others at risk. Second, I’m going to have to fight the naysayers at the end of the year when I venture into the world with my newborn son, who (hopefully) will be breastfed rather than formula fed.

The more liberal we seem to become as a society, and the more socially acceptable sex is on television, in advertising, and on the internet, the less satisfied we become with the primitive functions of our bodies, especially the primitive functions of the female body.

Changing views on breast exposure

Breastfeeding remained socially acceptable until the late 1800s…although women were still viewed as property, so it wasn’t all positive.

But as women gain further equality, such as the right to vote, the right to choose a career over family, the right to choose a partner, and the right to dress the way we want, we have inadvertently stripped away this idea of ​​motherhood from us has replaced it with a new “empowered” woman who can openly show off and take advantage of her sexuality.

Oversexualization damages perceptions of women

In this empowered world, it has become commonplace to see half-naked or fully nude women on television screens or on the internet. We are constantly bombarded with ads that include partially covered breasts. Don’t believe me? Go check out your current Big W or Kmart catalog, or take a walk through your local shopping centre, and you’ll be surprised how many stores have partially exposed breasts on their banners and backgrounds.

Check out what vlogger mom Kristina Kuzmic has to say about breastfeeding in public.

Why do women have breasts?

When I searched for reasons why women have breasts, most of what I saw were articles about infant nutrition. Breasts are not just for male entertainment. All mammals develop breasts while nursing… Do we now train all nursing mammal mothers to hide in corners or use nursing covers?

What uses of breasts are considered acceptable?

A number of social experiments over the past few years have really highlighted the huge gap between what we consider acceptable ways of using breasts.

Click on the video link to watch a social experiment highlighting sexy V breastfeeding.

When do we, as women, allow men’s opinions and feelings to dictate what we can or cannot do with certain parts of our bodies? Also, why is it totally okay for men to go topless…even if they have gynecomastia (affectionately known as “man boobs”)?

Results of my Facebook survey about breast usage

I asked my Facebook friends to fill out a short survey about breasts:

40% said breasts are for fun and they enjoy playing with them, while 60% said breasts are for feeding our little humans.

Interestingly, when asked when was the appropriate time to ask women to “cover up,” no one chose “while breastfeeding the baby,” and most thought it was none of their business whether a woman exposed her breasts.

But when asked if they thought Breasts are just for sexual pleasurehad mixed reactions. 40% strongly disagreed, 20% agreed, 20% strongly agreed, and 20% chose not to answer this question.

Breastfeeding in public appears to be accepted

Considering the responses to the first and previous questions, it is encouraging that all participants indicated that they were okay with breastfeeding in public.

So I guess it’s not all doom and gloom and a loss of faith in humanity. Only time will tell how I will fare with breastfeeding in public and nights out on the town with my cleavage in full view. Wish me luck and watch this space for further rant updates.

Does this mean that men are not attracted to breasts?

While the pervasive sexualization of female breasts may perpetuate harmful stereotypes, it’s natural for men to be attracted to their partner’s breasts and engage in healthy sexual activity. Key issues arise when breasts are viewed solely as sexual objects, while their wider significance in terms of health, motherhood and identity is ignored. Appreciating your partner’s body is part of an intimate relationship, but it’s also crucial to understand that breasts have functions beyond sex.

Author: Mia is a counselor at Oh Zone Adult Living Center