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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think of course women's breasts are sexual

171 replies

WhitePhantom · 18/09/2017 11:18

Many many times I've seen people on here getting very indignant about people suggesting that women's breasts are sexual - "they're primarily for feeding babies", "they're purely functional", "they're no different to men's breasts", "women should be free to go topless just as much as men", etc.

I completely disagree! Women's breasts are a source of sexual pleasure from puberty till... I don't know, death?! I b/f all three of mine, which was a total time of 2 years, but for the other 30-odd years their only role has been sexual pleasure, for me and/or for whatever partner I've been with.

Am I completely deluded??


If you've found this page in your search of nipple toys and clamps that have been recommended by fellow Mumsnet users, you might find our guide to the best nipple toys useful. Hope this helps! MNHQ

OP posts:
IfNot · 18/09/2017 23:28

I found that when bfing I didn't want my breasts touched in a sexual way. They became un sexual during that time. But the other many years of my life they have been. It hasn't changed with age, although hormonal changes through the month change the intensity.
Breasts for a lot of women do have a dual function, depending on circumstances. Just like my vagina is sexual in sex situations, but not at all during a medical exam. I don't think lass is fixated on breasts as sexual, just saying that is her (and many womens) experience.
There doesn't have to be an agenda for either camp.

ferrier · 19/09/2017 00:16

I'm well over 40 and find my breasts as much as a turn on as ever. And looking at other breasts, both female and male. I also found bf a bit of a turn on physically Blush

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 19/09/2017 13:43

why are you do fixated on women's breasts and sexuality?

I'm not fixated- you were the one who flat out denied the reports were true. "Made up by men" was what you said.

You have tried to backtrack on that but why were you so fixated on denying women's experience?

sleeponeday · 19/09/2017 17:29

My family is originally from Vanuatu (a few generations ago) and I grew up fascinated by the culture of 'our' tribe. Breast are not regarded as sexual. They are functional. They are no more sexual that your elbow or thumb. I personally can't help but look when I see boobs. I'm fascinated by them. How can they be so acceptable in one culture but not in another? Madness.

In lots of cultures, breasts are not seen as sexual. They're not seen as erogenous zones any more than neck or backs of forearms (both have a lot of nerve endings...).

I had an interesting conversation at uni with a friend who was a Pakistani Muslim. She wrote a dissertation on how headscarves weren't Islamic, but cultural. She wore a headscarf when she went home because, and I quote, "hair there is the same as breasts are here. Sexual."

It's very hard (I'd argue impossible) to separate cultural conditioning from biology, but if breasts were innately sexual, then I think that would be the case across all cultures and points in history. Yet it seems not to be the case.

FaveNumberIs2 · 19/09/2017 17:36

Fucking a-men to a sensible talking woman! Well done, op.

Sarahrellyboo1987 · 19/09/2017 17:40

Their primary function is for breast feeding. That's fact.
Their additional function is sexual.

However, I do think YABU and quite snarky

Someonessnackbitch · 19/09/2017 18:17

I find breasts extremely sexual. If a lady is speaking to me and there is cleavage on show, chances are I'll be staring and not listening. But then on the other hand every time I have breast fed my children I cannot physically see them as sexual. They are no longer my own. But then when the breast feeding stops, they become sexual objects again.

Sara107 · 19/09/2017 19:38

Haven't rft, but agree with people saying it is cultural. Someone I know worked in a rural part of southern Africa for years, and there breasts were absolutely not sexual at all and were largely uncovered and not really any different to arms for example. On the other hand, thighs and bottoms were considered extremely sexual and all adult women wore very covering skirts. He found it a culture shock coming home and seeing women in leggings!

maxthemartian · 19/09/2017 19:54

I grew up in Southern Africa. Breasts definitely not seen as sexual. Weren't covered pre missionaries and still out for cultural events where tradional clothing is worn.

Yes some people's nipples are erogenous zones but that's true of both sexes and so are areas like lips and earlobes.

Abbylee · 19/09/2017 20:26

Has anyone noticed that the nipple has different nerves on the front vs the sides? I decided that's bc bf is not sexually pleasurable (sides) vs front (intimacy).

If I'm the only one that's noticed, sorry for the post. But i kind of think that it's a fairly
Good metaphor for breasts sex vs nourishment.

Goodness! Penis' penii ? Have more than one function. I'm not turned on by looking at dh's dangly bits, not even when it's fullstaff and at attention but I'm certainly HAPPY with him and it!

rackelle · 19/09/2017 20:42

They're both obviously....however there is no crossover and when breastfeeding a baby they should not be thought of in a sexual way. That's what the problem with public breastfeeding is, people can't distinguish the two and somehow think breastfeeding is lude and pornographic when at that point in time it only feeding.
I'm currently breastfeeding my 5mo DS and if anyone dares say a word to me when we're out they're getting called a paedophile because if you think bf-ing is sexual then that is what you are.

mrpotato · 19/09/2017 21:35

Assault Trigger warning in this post - but it's a genuine question so I apologise if this isn't appropriate and feel free to report my post if it isn't.

In the UK if someone grabs your arm as part of an aggressive attack, without your permission or without you wanting it, it could be said that's an assault, but it's not classed as sexual assault. However if someone were to do the same to your breasts then it would be sexual assault right? So are they sexual in that context?

I think they're both but not used for feeding as much as pleasure.

Eveforever · 19/09/2017 22:53

I'm tired, so maybe I've picked this up the wrong way, but you say that your 'flaps' are for weeing!?

I have big boobs and men seem to like them! However, in my mind, their primary function is for breast feeding. My sexuality and sexual pleasure isn't really tied to my breasts at all. I do wonder if this is influenced by the knowledge that my mum needed a mastectomy, which possibly means I may need one in the future. So, although I am buxom, I don't rely on breasts to feel sexy or be sexual.

I totally appreciate that some people think breasts are more for sexual purposes.. However, I did work with someone who would not consider breastfeeding her baby as her breasts belonged to her husband. That I do find a bit weird.

cheval · 19/09/2017 23:42

According to biologist Desmond Morris, who had a thing with Diana Dors!!, evolution caused women to have bigger breasts to attract a mate, as in they looked like buttocks.
Anyway, we're in the modern age. People need to allow women to breastfeed as and when without judging. What they do in private, is all fine!

Smudge100 · 20/09/2017 01:57

Are you saying that you can walk into a shop and see pictures of topless midels in sexualised poses on the front page of a mazagine but mothers of young children get chucked out of cafes and other public places for breast-feeding a hungry baby?

Pivoine · 20/09/2017 02:07

This thread is a bit gross. Not entirely sure why but it has an 'ick' factor.

KnowsStuff · 20/09/2017 08:12

Are mens penises just for urinating and providing sperm? LOL
OF COURSE breasts are sexual

WhitePhantom · 20/09/2017 10:59

Thanks for all the replies!! Very interesting. I had absolutely no idea that some women had no sexual sensation in their nipples.

Just to set a few things straight - some people seem to have inferred some strange things from my posts!!

I'm NOT saying:

  1. Everyone considers breasts to be sexual
  2. All women should think of their breasts as sexual
  3. Anything sexual is dirty and should therefore be hidden away
  4. Women shouldn't breastfeed in public, or if they do they should be well covered up
(Not sure how anyone got any of the above from my posts!)

I AM saying:

  1. It makes no sense to say that breasts are purely functional / completely non-sexual

That's all!

@Eveforever - I was being a bit tongue-in-cheek about flaps being for weeing.... I meant the whole 'flappy' area in general Grin

@Cinderllaspinkdresswasthebest - I never intended breastfeeding for exactly the same reason, but I didn't like to say 'HELL NO FUCKING WAY' when the midwife asked, so she marked me down as intending to b/f. So when DS1 was born they said "Ahhhh great, you're b/f" and landed him on me before I knew what to say - and he took to it like a duck to water and it didn't feel weird at all, so I just continued. I kind of ended up breastfeeding by accident, lol.

@IfNot (I found that when bfing I didn't want my breasts touched in a sexual way. They became un sexual during that time. But the other many years of my life they have been.) - snap. This, word for word.

@Sayyouwill (My family is originally from Vanuatu (a few generations ago) and I grew up fascinated by the culture of 'our' tribe. Breast are not regarded as sexual. They are functional. They are no more sexual that your elbow or thumb. I personally can't help but look when I see boobs. I'm fascinated by them. How can they be so acceptable in one culture but not in another? Madness.) - isn't it amazing?! This fascinates me. Re. them not being regarded as sexual, I honestly thought they were so full of nerve-endings that they couldn't NOT be sexual.

Every day's a school day! Grin

OP posts:
SylviaPoe · 20/09/2017 16:16

Are mens penises just for urinating and providing sperm? LOL

Yes. That's why penises are sexual. Providing sperm is the entire male component of sexual reproduction.

SylviaPoe · 20/09/2017 16:19

'I honestly thought they were so full of nerve-endings that they couldn't NOT be sexual.'

They need to be full of nerve endings for oxytocin and prolactin production which cause let down of milk.

Oxytocin is usually experienced as pleasurable, and is part of both closeness to a baby and a sexual partner. Whether or not you experience it as sexual presumably depends on other hormones present and the context.

Sunbitternx · 20/09/2017 17:58

Nothing sexual about breasts. I really don't get it.

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