A Historical View of the Female Breast and
Sexual Attraction
The Female Breast and Sexual Attraction
PART I
(Click Here for Part II)
Find It Fast Here
Sexy Breast Poll
A Brief and Unusual History
Lesson in Breastology
A whimsical Look at the Past -
Present - Future
The male obsession with female breasts is a fairly recent
phenomenon from a historical viewpoint. In all types of ancient art medium, the female
breast was usually exposed. Even in the Christian realm, paintings, sculptures, and
drawings commonly and frequently depicted females with one or more uncovered breasts. The
Sistine Chapel is adorned with female breasts and ancient artifacts depicting nudity seem
to have far greater shock value in modern times than the artists would have believed
possible in their time period. The first well-known written work on human sexuality that
involved reference to breasts occurred during the 2nd century BC with the advent of the
Karma Sutra. In Ancient Egypt, women accented their breasts with primitive cosmetics and
exotic scents. However, body painting began much earlier with primitive man and female
breasts received far less focus than facial features. In truth, there are no ancient
social or cultural precedents to explain the current belief that female breasts are sexual
magnets for males. Female breasts and sexuality did not become strongly connected until
the repressive Victorian age when women were expected to cover more of their bodies.
Strangely, during this same era, the female breast reached a zenith of sorts, as women's
clothing was deliberately and provocatively designed to emphasize, enlarge, and expose as
much of the female breast as possible without showing the nipples. Thereafter in western
societies, the female breast continued its onward march towards becoming a social icon and
sexual projectile.
Cultural Differences
It is also worth noting that American attitudes about the sexuality of breasts are hardly universal and may even represent a minority viewpoint in the larger worldly view. There are widespread cultural differences in male and female attitudes about female breasts and the role they play in sexual attraction. In so called primitive societies, the female breast was seldom covered. Eastern cultures and European attitudes about female breasts and nudity in general are quite different. For example, at one extreme, women in middle eastern countries are not allowed to expose any part of their breasts in public; yet, in most western European countries, females often and routinely go topless at beaches and public bathing facilities. As in most things, cultural differences abound but the question remains for American women. How did American males, specifically, become so obsessed with female breasts as objects of sexual desire and attraction?
The Playboy™ Bunny
Barbie® Doll Look
For those of you who are old enough to remember, in the late fifties and early sixties, the only pictures of uncovered breasts that one could see in regular magazines were either in technical journals (usually drawings only) or in National Geographic. Of course Playboy magazine also entered the social mainstream at about this same time and drastically changed American attitudes toward the female breast. Playboy™ magazine and similar male dominated publications directed towards male readership, have a long and rich history of showcasing female breasts. Most observers would also agree that the majority of the female breasts featured in men's magazines tend to be young breasts and breasts of considerable size. Another social icon, the Barbie™ Doll, must also have certainly influenced millions of young girls in their thinking about what was cool, fashionable, and desirable. Henceforth, the Barbie™ breasts with their rather large and protruding statue, became an ideal that most women could only dream of, at least until the advent of mainstream plastic surgery.
Renaissance Breasts
Medieval dress was designed primarily for functionality
with few concessions made to emphasize the female form. Prior to the 1400's women did not
support their breasts as it was generally believed there was no reason too nor was there
any support apparatus available. During the Renaissance period however, many changes began
to appear in female attire including an early version of the corset. As the corset
evolved, the different forms continued to push the breasts upward and higher to the point
that the breasts almost appeared to spill forth from the woman's top. Female breast
fashion remained basically unchanged until the French Revolution when both the corset and
low cut bodices disappeared until the end of the Napoleonic era. In the meantime, the
Industrial Revolution was beginning to take place in western European countries and most
notably England. Even though English fashion styles were considerably different than
French, the corset remained a constant and essential element of female fashion and form.
The social upheaval and wars of the early 1900's brought about the first radical changes
in western dress in 500 years when women's clothing evolved to a more free form style and
the corset virtually disappeared.
Before the Bra
There was the Corset
There is little to tell about the history of the Bra since
the Bra is a quite modern social artifact. Prior to the invention of the Bra, women either
wore corsets or a simple chemise or wrapping. As in most things, history often
repeats itself and one can easily observe the direct linkage between an ancient garment,
the corset, and a modern invention, the push-up bra. Although technologically, the
push-up bra is far superior in design, construction and comfort, both garments had the
same uplifting effect on a woman's breasts. However, the corset was very
uncomfortable and with the invention of the blouse, a need appeared for a better type of
breast undergarment. The first Bra was invented in in the late 1800's but the early
versions were more form flattening rather than flattering. The early inventors were most
likely trying to develop a garment that was more comfortable and healthful than the corset
with little thought to inventing something that would make women look sexier. In fact, the
breast flattening style remained popular even through the era of the roaring twenties but
abruptly changed to the present breast enhancing form during the thirties and forties.
This abrupt change was not co-incidentally occurring during another time of great world
social upheaval in both the Depression and World War II. If you were wondering why its
called a Bra, the term became popularized from a controversial lawsuit over patent rights
in the 1930's between a French designer and garment maker named Phippipe De Brassiere and
an American garment inventor. The American lost the lawsuit, the garment received
widespread national and worldwide publicity and the name was shortened to Bra by the media
and thus became institutionalized.
The Women's Movement
"The Bra was Burned"
In a temporary setback, women started shedding their bras during the women's movement of the sixties and for a brief time, the bra was considered an item of male oppression. Not surprisingly, male breast oglers everywhere could hardly believe their good fortune and there has even been some idle speculation that the women's movement was itself a male conspiracy in order to get women to remove their bras. Of course there are conspiracy theories about nearly everything and one must not take them too seriously. Nevertheless, the "Bra-Less" trend continued to gain momentum on its own and with the popularity of breast implants even more women could now go bra-less late into their lifespan. By the late seventies the natural look for breasts had become widely accepted. However, the bra was not dead and the competition gave rise to new forms to accent the female breast, particularly for women who were less than well endowed. By the early 1990's various forms of the Wonderbra™ appeared along with new technologies in the development of plastic breasts that could be inserted into bras. Where all this will lead, no one can say for sure, but during the last seventy years, two trends were clearly emerging. One, bras would definitely make a comeback; and two, busts were moving upward and outward, one way or another.
Continue to Part II - Breast Trends
Another Alternative
What should women do? Many women choose to do nothing
about their breasts. Most women probably should not do anything drastic with their
breasts. Large numbers of women who have breast surgery do not have excessively small
breasts; they just want larger ones. For the majority of women who would simply like to
enhance their breast size and youthful look, without totally restructuring the entire
breast by placing foreign objects inside their body, there has been only one other option.
The external look of the breast can be nicely enhanced by uplift bras and various types of
synthetic padding; unfortunately, these items provide little assistance when wearing
fashionably sexy clothing or swimsuits and certainly no help at all in those private
moments while unclothed.
Another Option
A New Bustline
Natural Breast formulas are
specifically designed to enhance the size, firmness, and youthful look of the female
breast in a safe and natural way.
These formulas were developed for the unique purpose of firming, tightening,
strengthening, and increasing the size of the female breast. Natural breast enhancement
formulas increase breast volume and fullness, while revitalizing tissues, keeping them
looking firmer and younger. All natural breast enhancement systems are painless,
non-invasive, inexpensive, and completely natural. Even if you eventually decide that only
plastic surgery will give you the look you desire, you owe it to yourself and your natural
breasts to explore alternative solutions before inserting plastic bags inside of your
chest. Try a natural solution first, be patient and give the formulas time to work
and your breasts will thank you by looking larger, firmer and more youthful looking than
you thought possible. If you already have great looking breasts, use natural breast
enhancement care formulas to keep them firm and looking great!
This information is not intended to be medical advice or scientific in nature and is
presented as general information for historical purposes only. Anyone considering an
option to undergo any type of elective surgery or medical procedure should perform
extensive research and consult with their physician before deciding upon a course of
action.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Copyright © 2001-2008 All Natural Breast Care, All Rights Reserved
(Click Here
for Part II)
Find It Fast Here
Sexy Breast Poll
CLICK HERE
Learn More About Breastique™ Breast Enhancement
ORDER * ONLINE
