Breasts : the women's perspective on an American obsession / Carolyn Latteier.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Latteier, Carolyn.

Series:

Haworth innovations in feminist studies

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Breast--Social aspects.

Breast.

Body image in women.

Women--Psychology.

Women.

Self-esteem in women.

Physical Description:

ix, 200 pages ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

New York : Haworth Press, [1998]

Summary:

Breasts: A Woman's Perspective on an American Obsession describes and explores our national breast fetish, which is defined as a culturally constructed obsession that is deeply interwoven with beauty standards, breastfeeding practices, and sexuality. By tracing the complex history of this erotic fascination and discovering how it affects men's and women's sexuality and their relationships, this book will help women accept their breasts as they are and provide male readers with insight into how women think and feel about their bodies. This awareness will enable them to better understand and empathize with women's experiences as objects of a cultural fetish.

Focusing on adult joys and anxieties about breasts, sex, and breastfeeding, this text uses research and expert opinions from several different fields, including psychology, anthropology, sociology, mythology, and sexology.

You will find several other issues in Breasts: A Woman's Perspective on an American Obsession that involve men's and women's struggles with this obsession, such as: -- breast implants-- human psychology and breasts-- beauty standards and breast sexuality-- how breasts are portrayed in mythology and art-- how ancient religions saw breasts as a sign of motherhood and giver of life-- "breast men"-- debates on how and why the breast evolved-- adolescent girls and breasts-- breast activists, such as La Leche League, who are proponents of breastfeeding in public

Through personal interviews with men and women, Breasts: A Woman's Perspective on an American Obsession also addresses women's pride and shame about their breasts and their confusion about the attention their breastsreceive. Ultimately, this exploration of breast obsession sheds light on our society's general fear of and ambivalence about women's bodies. Breasts: A Woman's Perspective on an American Obsession shows you that breasts have a venerable history, and urges you to see beyond the contemporary standards of visual perfection to give you an overall sense of the female body's power and worth.

Contents:

Part 1 Image and Icon

Chapter 1. Love and Loathing 3

Chapter 2. Initiation 15

Chapter 3. Dressing the Part 25

Chapter 4. A Matter of Life and Death 41

Part 2 We Two are the Universe

Chapter 5. Garden of Paradise 61

Chapter 6. When Instinct Meets Culture 75

Part 3 Sex

Chapter 7. Circles of Desire 95

Chapter 8. Breast Men 113

Part 4 Thinking About Breasts

Chapter 9. How the Woman Got Her Breasts 129

Chapter 10. The Great and Terrible Breast 141

Chapter 11. Breasts Unbound 153.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 177-194) and index.

ISBN:

0789004224

OCLC:

38281754