I've noticed a really odd thing recently. Working at a women's fashion magazine, we are constantly discussing the female form. So things like 'We really need to re-work her smile in that shot' are not an uncommon thing to hear. 'Her legs look far too skinny here,' has also been heard on occasion (yes as implausible as that sounds). But lately something has been troubling me and its got nothing to do with men objectifying women or the ever decreasing size of a model's waistline.
I am perplexed by the women in my office not being able to say the word 'breasts.' For some reason this relatively innocent term has been eclipsed by the more overtly bold and fake sounding 'boobs' or- my absolute worst- 'tits.' And its not only men that are throwing it out there, but in fact my female colleagues. They just can't seem to bring themselves to says 'breasts'. Its the oddest thing. I said the word 'nipple' the other day (in reference to a shot of a model, not just because I felt like saying it) and a strange silence hung around me as if I had uttered the C-word or admitted that I would like to get married to a tree (something you can actually do-check it out here) or something as equally bizarre.
I'm not sure of the root of this problem. Is it a lack of body confidence? Or maybe we are so entrenched in a male dominated culture where words like 'boob's, 'tits' and 'ass' are flung around as often as Miley Cyrus' butt cheeks and we cannot distinguish ourselves, and therefore our bodies, away from it.
It's difficult isn't it-on the one hand you want to be proud of your femininity and if it gets you what you want then rock on (or so I say) but on the other is that where we have to stoop to? Do we have to be the twerking, breast-enhancing, credit card wielding bimbos we are made out to be in popular culture?
Its such a sticky subject and our poor, real life BREASTS are being left behind in the race to be even more plastic and stereotyped than ever before. A little bit more self respect should definitely be the plat du jour. Maybe from the likes of Miley, Beyonce, Rihanna and co? And I am their number one fan musically (yes its one of my many faults!) but enough with the licking of wrecking balls and stripper routines!
Then again perhaps we should take a leaf out of Emily Rajtajkowski's book and just not care. Just whip them out and fling them around whenever and where-ever we feel like it (music video anyone?). And if we make a massive amount of money and get some publicity out of it then so be it. Be proud of our knockers (cringe!) and move on? What do you think?
I am perplexed by the women in my office not being able to say the word 'breasts.' For some reason this relatively innocent term has been eclipsed by the more overtly bold and fake sounding 'boobs' or- my absolute worst- 'tits.' And its not only men that are throwing it out there, but in fact my female colleagues. They just can't seem to bring themselves to says 'breasts'. Its the oddest thing. I said the word 'nipple' the other day (in reference to a shot of a model, not just because I felt like saying it) and a strange silence hung around me as if I had uttered the C-word or admitted that I would like to get married to a tree (something you can actually do-check it out here) or something as equally bizarre.
I'm not sure of the root of this problem. Is it a lack of body confidence? Or maybe we are so entrenched in a male dominated culture where words like 'boob's, 'tits' and 'ass' are flung around as often as Miley Cyrus' butt cheeks and we cannot distinguish ourselves, and therefore our bodies, away from it.
It's difficult isn't it-on the one hand you want to be proud of your femininity and if it gets you what you want then rock on (or so I say) but on the other is that where we have to stoop to? Do we have to be the twerking, breast-enhancing, credit card wielding bimbos we are made out to be in popular culture?
Its such a sticky subject and our poor, real life BREASTS are being left behind in the race to be even more plastic and stereotyped than ever before. A little bit more self respect should definitely be the plat du jour. Maybe from the likes of Miley, Beyonce, Rihanna and co? And I am their number one fan musically (yes its one of my many faults!) but enough with the licking of wrecking balls and stripper routines!
Then again perhaps we should take a leaf out of Emily Rajtajkowski's book and just not care. Just whip them out and fling them around whenever and where-ever we feel like it (music video anyone?). And if we make a massive amount of money and get some publicity out of it then so be it. Be proud of our knockers (cringe!) and move on? What do you think?
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