Let’s Talk About Breasts
Boobs, boobies, tits, bazonga’s, jubblies, the twins, whatever you happen to call them at the end of the day they are all code for one set of magnificent things…breasts. As written in the article seen on the Daily Mail, topless sun bakers and women in skimpy bikinis face hefty $1100 fines. Now its not the fine that baffles me, as explained the fine is rarely enforced and more symbolic than compulsory law. The gnawing, nagging question I have is why? Why is this even a thing? Why in this day and age are these beautiful, natural, embodiments of life, female elegance and vitality considered offensive?
Having lived in Europe for three years I admittedly and openly embraced the freedom of bathing at the beach topless. Embedded in their culture European women proudly, unabashedly and without hesitation sun bake exposed, bare and organic. I have seen big breasts, small breasts, voluptuous breasts, perky breasts, old breasts, new breasts, heaving breasts, swaying breasts, breasts you could swing, tuck or throw over each shoulder. What I didn’t see was sniggering, giggling, sneaking whispers or muffled gasps. What I didn’t see was sexualization, objectifying or vulgarity. The womanly body was and is treated as such, as bodily, with maturity, respect and value. It was empowering, awakening, a connection of contented sense of self and confidence within my own skin.
As a mother and an educator, for my children, this mentality fostered such a mature and innocent mindset for the way they view the human body. Stripped away was the silliness of “boobies” and in its place was embedded the simplicity of breasts. When it becomes natural, familiar, habitual, when they see it all the time it demystifies the taboo and they see and identify breasts as just another beautiful part of the human body. Children do not see offense, children do not experience bashfulness unless we create it for them through our actions, perceptions and scrutiny.
This may not be for everyone, comfort and confidence differs from one person to the next, but who are we to criticise and who are we to judge. Why is this even a thing? Breasts are the most natural, nurturing and unequivocal embodiment of womanhood. If a woman is happy, contented and wanting to sun bake topless should that not just be her choice. Should she not be able to do so without the tuts, the stares and the underlying crudeness. Should we not be able to look past the “boobies” and see them for what they truly are? Let’s see them bodily, lets see them purely, lets see them beautifully and simply as breasts.
