My big breasts and me on Really now

If I had extremely large breasts, out of proportion to my frame, I would be asking for a referral for a reduction.

No question. I am happy with my smallish ones, but that is down to luck and genes.

I have seen with my own eyes the damage massive ones can do to your posture, back, neck and cause chronic pain.

Thankfully, I don't have this problem, But I do see it as a problem. A physical one that can be fixed. Just because it is < shock horror > breasts doesn't really imbue the subject of breast reduction with any Fem mystery to me. Perhaps because of my profession, I don't know.

To my mind, we should be objecting to breast augmentation as a way of conforming to the feminine "ideal" which apparently is to have large breasts. Why on earth you would make your breasts bigger, I have no idea. And lumping them together as reduction/augmentation makes no sense.

To me, those two interventions have completely different ramifications.

Oh, and OP, name check someone else, eh ? You haven't had universal agreement on your thread, so take it up with someone else and give me a break.

I disagree that big breasts are always painful - I'm a 34F and have never had any issues. I do take care to wear properly-fitting bras, though.

That said... if someone had larger boobs and wanted them reduced, then I would never stop them! Our bodies, our choices.

Well, something must explain it. I think there are all sorts of theories but I've no idea which are might be true.

I just does seem we've not really reacted to it, as a society. I mean, D or DD bras are still often the smallest size in the 'bigger bust' range, yet C is the average cup size (and I wouldn't be surprised if the average is bigger when you only look at younger women).

I haven't taken oral contraceptives for years, but my boobs have still grown like topsy. It's the family curse.

I do notice that there are many more large-breasted young women around than I was at school (I remember when it was all fields around here etc.) and wonder if what we're eating has something to do with it.

It is worth considering that some of the reason why some people have painfully large breasts is because of oral contraceptives, and (it has been suggested, especially in the US as I understand) the chemicals that are fed to/injected into animals used for food/milk.

The pill is IMO problematic for feminists, in that obviously it bought women a huge amount of freedom, but also has drawbacks.

Does adding these things to the debate perhaps make sense?

I've honestly never heard of anyone having a reduction for cosmetic purposes but it may happen, I just don't know.

Doesn't it depend on the motives for the surgery? I spend a fortune in bras and am still uncomfortable and have all sorts of problems with my boobs.

If I could afford the operation I would do so, simply because it would make me feel physically more comfortable. It has fuck all to do with 'knife-happy' surgeons - personally I'm fed up of having massive, painful tits. My body - my business, non?

It seems to me as if you're aiming your ire at the wrong place. Get angry about rape culture that lets woman (especially young women) be harrassed, assaulted and taken less seriously than other people because of their norks. Get angry at page 3. Get angry at the idea that women have to have huge breasts and pornified tiny bodies to become successful actresses.

Don't get angry because some women are fecked off with the physical discomfort of having large breasts and decide to take what to you is a drastic step.

A good bra and a diet may work for you, and that's great, but it doesn't work for every woman's body.

"Men accept their bodies whilst women are expected to mould theirs into society's ideal"

"Yes well that's my point. Men accept their bodies whilst women are expected to mould theirs into society's ideal"

If teenage boys who developed large penises early had girls and women commenting on it and trying to touch the whole time and pull their trousers down and laughing and snurking and women shouting out of their cars and leering and female bus drivers offering to let them off the fare if they show them... Then maybe young boys with large penises would want to have them altered.

Strange OP.

Unusual suggestion that big breasts are considered a bad thing in our society

And to overlook that many/most reductions are done due to physical discomfort / pain due to lugging these two great weights around the whole time. Breast tissue weighs a ton.

himalaya - you may be right, but it is much easier to buy cheap bras in your size if you don't really need much support. I used to have B cup breasts and although it did hurt to go braless, virtually anything would be comfy. Not any more. It's not just because I am vain and prefer not to wear huge beige contraptions (though that is an issue too I will admit). It's also because, at least the huge beige contraptions I've seen, have thick elasticated straps which dig into your shoulders, ie., designed to carry weight from there. But you are not meant to carry the weight like that, you need the support underneath. So I maintain good bras for bigger-breasted women are not very easy to find and expensive to buy. And I'm not even that big!

I would never judge a woman for getting a reduction, she might be in a lot of pain. I am angry though that I really cannot believe that 21st century technology can't come up with a better bra.

I spend a fortune in Bravissimo, but at the end of the day I am still marked by my bra straps. I suffer from chafing, and have permanent ridges under my boobs. The idea of having an op and scars is scary (I am aware of the risks) but I'd still consider it.

I'm surprised at your judginess, IBG. I think women should do what they please, and if an operation makes their lives physically more comfortable (clothes size etc are happy side effects) they should go for it.

I don't see the ones having the op as betraying those who don't. Who are these legions of women normalising small breasts? I'd say society normalises large breasts - far more women have surgery to increase their breast size. Now that's something to get annoyed at.

I saw that programme years ago and I found it quite sad (as a 30G myself) that these women were being made to feel self-conscious about something they'd been born with.

I've been through all that and come out the other side - or maybe, as a 48yo, I'm just generally 'invisible' now so my boobs or lack of don't get noticed.

As regards the back pain; I think it's probably a mixture of wearing the wrong bra or bad posture - I stooped throughout my teens to try and minimize their appearance and have been paying the consequences for a long long time. At least I'm now aware of it and constantly try and address/correct it.

But I'm glad I never had the nerve or wherewithall to plunge in and have them reduced - why should I, just because some arses can't keep their eyes and gobs in check?

I'm a 32f or 30g I have small shoulders, small ribcage and lovely but large breasts.

Causes me no end of strife due to comments, cat calls, badly fitting clothing, neck and back pain and so much more. I miss my perky little d cups of pre baby.

I would never judge a woman for getting a reduction and would think about it myself. It's sad that women need to fit the patriarchal guidelines for acceptable beauty but I find it odd that this aspect of it gets anyone riled up over high heals, publc waxing, breast enlargements etc.

Himalaya - my comment was aimed at the previous post which i quoted -I agree with you, I was just saying I don't think things would be better if men had breasts, although would also have the same issues

...now if we were talking about breast enlargements we might be on exactly the same page

LRD, youngermother1. I think uncomfortable bras are more to do with the physics of weight and strap width, than the sex of the designer or the wearer.

There are comfortable bras for big boobs, they just tend to have triple rows of hooks and eyes and wide shoulder straps, and so they don't fly off the shelf.

I remember buying one of Michelle Mone's Ultimo bras when they first came out - was one of the most uncomfortable things I've ever worn.

your last post...case in point

I know exactly which section I am in thanks

I get what you are saying IBG, I really do

just not really agreeing with your rather judgemental stance about individual women

and I don't "tell" women anything

How do you know it wasn't ?

that's a strange analogy

well

< muses, where to start >

Perhaps you should speak to those women I know who had chronic backache from having breasts far too large for their frame...whose posture and bodily confidence had suffered for years

who had to spend ££ on bras that were specially made for a small rib cage, but massive knockers

who were bullied and targeted all though school (and in some cases, during their work life) for having knockers completely out of proportion to the rest of their size

for those who were a size 18 on top, and a size 10 for skirts/trousers

who didn't feel they had a conversation with many people eye to eye instead of eye to chest all through their life

of course, society should change

until then, I reserve the right for women to change their body to make their lives easier (without invoking the shallow judgement of people like IBG)