The Joys of Breasts

Written By Max Gibson

Images gathered from The Big Book of Breasts, edited by Dian Hanson.

Boobs, breasts, knockers, jugs, hooters, milkers, titties, youtubes! No matter what you call them it is hard deny our fascination with breasts. A symbol of nourishment and vitality we are introduced to breasts as infants. But for many of us, our appreciation for this cherished body part only grows with time.

Boobs Through the Years

Derived from the Old English word brēost, the English spelling of breast comes from the dialectal pronunciations of the Scottish and North English. Dating as far back as 15,000 BC, artifacts celebrating female breasts have been recorded in the form of sculptures, bowls and other craftwork. In Ancient Greece specifically, various religious sects worshipped the “Kourotrophos,” also known as the “nurse of youths”.  Although female breasts were originally admired within Greek culture in the form of art, the first millennium BC saw a shift in the way they were perceived. Linked to the rise of Greek city states, Greek art began to depict the female form as a clothed figure, a clear departure from the revealed bosoms that characterized Greek art in earlier periods. As a representation of the times, this change could be best characterized by the appearance of the female goddess Athena, who was often depicted as clothed from the neck down. However, the Greek goddess Aphrodite, known as the goddess of love, served as an exception; her womanly form often portrayed as a nude.

Boobs in Popular Culture

In popular culture, the female breast has undergone a transformation of sorts over the past fifty years. America’s post-war era presented nude women as a fixture of popular culture in magazines and periodicals in the U.S. Natural in essence, full round and genuine breasts were celebrated throughout the era; most noticeably in adult media.

If “wholesome and voluptuous” characterized breasts in the 1950’s, popular media embraced a different shape in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Protruding breasts garnered popularity in the 1960’s as “torpedo titties” became the rage throughout various periodicals. The 1970′s brought along the “teardrop breast” characterized by full, but partially sagging breasts that resembled teardrops.

The 1980s saw breast enhancement surgery embraced on a wide scale for the first time in America. “Boob jobs” grew in popularity throughout the decade, giving small breasted women a chance to modify their womanly assets. The 1990s brought along the rise of athletic breasts that were smaller in size; the transformation evident in many adult magazines and films.

With such an evolution of “fashion” through the years, the new millennium has been characterized as a time for broad appreciation for breasts of different shapes and sizes. Specifically, the rise of the internet has helped showcase the plethora of breast types that exist in the world.

The Biology of Breasts

Often regarded as a symbol of sexuality, the female breast has also been embraced for its biological properties. As a vital source of sustenance for new-born babies, the breast serves as a symbol of life and fertility.

Made up of two glands that produce milk for infants, the female breast mainly consists of fatty tissue, lobules, and muscle under the skin, with the areola and nipple visible on the exterior. On average, each breast weighs 1.1 pounds, and contains four to five percent of the body’s total fat. As one of the most erogenous parts of the body, the female breast may swell during sexual arousal in the same fashion as the male penis. And in some cases, when fully aroused the female nipple may equal the height of a stack of five quarters.

Not surprisingly, a recent study by the Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand found that breasts are often times the first thing that men see when meeting a woman. Research found that in nearly half of their interactions (approximately 47%) a man’s first glance is towards a woman’s breasts: a third of their first glances go to the waist and hips while fewer than 20% look first at a woman’s face.

Perhaps this is why so many women place considerable value on their breasts. In 2008, there were 307,230 breast enhancements performed in the United States. Ahead of both rhinoplasty (279,000) and liposuction (245,000), it was the number one cosmetic procedure of the year. And at roughly $3,700 for the initial procedure according to the Online School of Medicine and Health, it is not difficult to understand why the industry prospers.

Breast Equality

Yet, while so much attention is placed on this particularly pleasant part of the female form, for the most part breasts remain covered throughout the day. Forced to cover their chest in public, some believe that this requirement of female presentation is not only unjust but limiting.

Surprisingly enough, there is a non-governmental organization fighting for women’s rights to bare their breasts in public spaces. Simply known as GoTopless.org, this breast-centric organization works to liberate breasts from their restrictive confines, claiming that women have the same constitutional right as men to go bare-chested in public. For those in support of the cause, the organization holds an annual International Go Topless Day, in efforts to raise awareness for the cause.

But no matter what they are called, breasts will remain a cherished aspect of femininity. Continuously celebrated throughout society and popular culture it seems as though our fascination with breasts is here to stay.