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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask all the “flat” or “small” chested ladies how did you find self acceptance or self love?

104 replies

ITanya78 · 21/09/2026 11:46

I was bullied at school for being flat chested and never developed breasts at all, always been very straight up and down. The boys would call me names and plant pictures of busty topless women in my bag. I still get that lurch of shame and humiliation when I see that kind of image.

I can’t afford surgery and not sure I could cope with it anyway. Therapy is also too costly. At 48, I am tired of feeling ashamed of my body, unfeminine and unsexy. There must be others with my body type who don’t have these feelings so I am asking for a bit of help in how to find self acceptance and self love. What works for you?

Have been following Olivia Dean on Instagram and find her confidence inspirational. It’s been nice to feel a little represented for once. I really want to change and feel good and am hoping someone has a nugget of wisdom or two to help! Btw comments about the difficulties of having large breasts don’t help me.

Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
DahliaDelights · 21/09/2026 13:49

Your messaging that you need to "accept" it is the wrong way about it. Negative connotations.

Think about it from a more positive aspect.

Why would you care what others think of your body, your body doesnt exist for their enjoyment, your being isnt there for other peoples enjoyment, you're not just a body, you're worth more than a pair of mammary glands. Your whole being isnt represented by how big or fleshy your breasts are.

If strangers comment on your body - who the fk are they to think that their opinions is of any concern to you? You dgaf what opinion a stranger has of you, its of no consequence in your life. You're not there for their pleasure. You're not there as eye candy, you are more than that.

If friends or family comment on your body - see above but with bells on, how dare a friend or someone who loves me even think that, or say it, how dare you reduce me to my body.

If colleagues or acquaintances comment on my body - see above but also do they not realise its inappropriate? HR...

If you are not happy about your breasts; explore why? Was it that you thought with bigger boob's you'd have more attention? be more alluring? more feminine? more good looking? more what? What was missing that youre attributing to the boobs? Because it wasnt the boobs... Do you think that a woman is only a woman because of her mammary glands - no you dont, do you think a woman is more worthy if they have big tits? no you don't. But you assume others do? They dont, well the ones who do aren't ones who you want to be around anyway (see above).

Goldensprat · 21/09/2026 12:35

I just don't give a shit. There's nothing wrong with me.

To be honest, I wouldn't recommend focusing on something like that on social media - perhaps it can give you a confidence boost in the short term to see people talking positively about similar body shapes to you but it also encourages you to keep thinking about it. Would you consiser getting off Instagram entirely?

It shouldn't take up any space in your head. Perhaps that's easier said than done but you are the way you're supposed to be. Bullying is a terrible thing that can leave permanent scars, I know that myself, but bullies will pick on anything.

Additup · 21/09/2026 12:20

The bullying you received at school was horrible. I genuinely don't understand how some people can be so unnecessarily nasty to each other.

You're approaching this all wrong OP. It's not a question of finding self acceptance/self love if you have small breasts because that implies there's something wrong with small breasts when obviously there isn't.

I'm 32B, my breasts are great, sexy and feminine. They still look pretty much like they did in my youth despite breast feeding and going up to a matronly (on my slim frame) 34DD and then back down again.

I know you said therapy was too expensive, but I really would urge you see someone because carrying trauma from bullying for so long is not healthy (and it's probably not just to do with how you perceive your physique).

tanoshi · 21/09/2026 11:54

It's not who you are though is it? Breast size shouldn't define you. I know lots of people that prefer smaller.