Forget the angst and obsession our breasts bring

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Updated: January 23, 2012 3:58AM

October is breast cancer awareness month, and it is a time not only to support patients and celebrate survivors, but also a time to commit to our own breast health. Home breast exams can save your life, and yearly mammograms are a must for women over the age of 40 (and earlier if you have a history of breast cancer in your family).

Yet breasts shouldn’t only be a source of anxiety and medical testing. They also are a wonderful, womanly part of the female anatomy and for centuries, breasts of all shapes and sizes have tantalized and seduced men and women alike. While there are only one or two words for anatomical parts such as arm or leg, there are approximately one million words for breasts in the English language, and they range from the laudatory to the facetious to the humorous to the ridiculous. Why do we need so many words for this seemingly innocuous part of the female anatomy, and why is it that breasts are always front and center in our culture?

Part of our obsession goes back to the early days of infancy. A mother’s breast was more than just a source of food; it was a source of life, comfort and safety. Nor is it just milk that is released during breastfeeding. The brain chemical oxytocin is released during breastfeeding, and this chemical is responsible for creating feelings of bonding and intimacy. Hence, breastfeeding actually bonds mom and baby together on an emotional level and creates feelings of peace and intimacy between them. Years later, long after the baby has grown up and forgotten about those hours of breastfeeding, the sight of breasts might still spark those feel-good emotions and cause a pleasant reaction.

Of course, that doesn’t explain why breasts are so highly sexualized in our society, as that is a whole different set of feel-good emotions. While breasts are considered sexy in any number of cultures, the breast obsession tends to predominantly occur in Anglo-European societies. Perhaps this is because our ancestors went to such lengths to cover this area up. From high-neck collars to layers and layers of clothing, breasts often were carefully hidden by our discreet and conservative ancestors, and of course, this only served to make this forbidden fruit that much more desirable.

Even though modesty was carefully practiced, breasts still play a large role in the art and literature throughout history. From ancient sculptures such as the Venus of Willendorf to the famous (and topless) sculpture of Venus de Milo, breasts often have been a central focus and an inspiration for artists over the ages. Breasts have also been a much-discussed topic of poetry and literature from Shakespeare to e.e. cumming.

Of course, for most modern women, breasts are less likely to be a source of poetic inspiration and more likely to be a source of woe. From stressing over size to vacillating over breastfeeding, many women aren’t sure how to feel about their breasts, and instead they try not to think about them all.

What a shame! Your breasts, like any other part of your body, are a crucial and powerful part of who you are. Whether you are a size 32AA, a size 36F or something in between, you have the right (and the responsibility) to establish healthy breast self-esteem and to get to know your anatomy, not only so you can perform crucial breast exams at home, but also so that you can be in better touch with your sensuality and your sexual response.

Here’s to being happy and healthy on the inside — and most importantly, to finding a cure!