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Breasts And Feminism
This issue was brought to light by the Feminist Media Review - one of the writers said of The Breast Chronicles:
I've kind of been avoiding mentioning this new blog called The Breast Chronicles [...] I guess I was partially hoping if I just ignored it, it would go away. Now that it's getting more and more publicity [...] I feel compelled to mention it. For the most part, posting photographs of your breasts in a "boobcam" and posts [...] don't seem to be helping the fight against objectification.
Now on the surface, those would appear to be valid points. But reading it again, it becomes clear that this is a most unfair analysis. This is the way I have chosen to express myself, and a way I have found to build a more loving relationship with my body, specifically my breasts, about which I have felt insecure and self-conscious in the past, and am now coming to terms with. What's wrong with the fact that I have a little light-hearted fun and get some attention while I'm at it? How can you say that I'm not feminist enough because I want to be desired? After all, as humans we are biologically programmed to try and make ourselves attractive!
A fantastic quote on the subject comes from Miss Elisabeth's In the Interim - well said that girl!
I am totally confused that women who support their cunt so strongly that they have a domain name for it and have a webring called "I © my cunt" are somehow less than thrilled by a woman who is obviously as enthralled with, empowered by, and secure about her breasts as you are with your vagina. I see that as hypocrisy in its purest form."
Breasts have always been a subject of some controversy in feminism, being our 'foremost' sexual charm, so to speak. It's a dilemma for feminism: on the one hand, breasts are something that declares us to be women; but on the other hand, men like breasts so therefore they are dirty and wicked. I mean okay, having implants is another issue, because for the most part that is purely to increase one's sexual allure to men. But I happen to have been given 34DD breasts by nature (well strictly speaking that is not true: after going on the contraceptive pill my bust size increased from a 34D, but I don't consider that makes much difference in this matter), and I don't feel that I'm undermining feminism by allowing myself to enjoy my breasts.
Additionally, I actually want to create a resource of 'breasts for women' - after all, women are almost as obsessed with breasts as men are, only in a different way! I've had several e-mails from and comments by women saying how great my weblog is. Breasts don't get talked about for women - unless it is to do with breast cancer or (less often) breast-feeding. As a body part which means a great deal to us they are sadly neglected. So in a sense it is actually about feminism - it's about a feminine identity at least. I strongly believe that women should be encouraged to come to terms with their breasts and feel enamoured with and empowered by them.