Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Lemons Or Melons...?

Last night as I was relaxing for a few minutes and cruising through some of the TV programs on cable, I came across the silliest program. It's a Canadian show called "Plastic Makes Perfect". The premise of the show is the question as to whether or not plastic surgery, which is used to improve our flaws, might also improve our self-esteem and the quality of our lives. But the show has a twist -- it is actually a bit of tongue-in-cheek approach at plastic surgery. Pros and cons of the surgical procedures are discussed, and the "patients" are interviewed at length, as well as the people in their lives. During the course of the program, hidden camera experiments are conducted, and in last night's show a young woman named Kristina, with "A" cup size breasts, was interviewing people at a fruit stand. When she tried to attract people in her "natural" size, folks walked right past and ignored her. However, when she was artifically enhanced with a padded bra, people stopped to speak to her. She was actually compared to lemons and melons. After the experiment, the young woman decided she would have plastic surgery to have her breasts enlarged. Her boyfriend did not want her to do it, saying he loved her the way she was. I thought he was very sweet -- definitely a keeper.

Several men were interviewed, and almost all of them said they preferred women with breast implants. They didn't care if the woman's breasts were real or plastic, they preferred them larger. I thought that was rather strange, considering the fact that the young woman's boyfriend did not want her to enlarge her breasts artificially. There was some strange dichotomy going on there. When questioned, these same men said they were not concerned that once a woman has artificial breast implants, she loses some -- if not all -- sensation in her breasts. These men sounded like boobs to me, and I don't believe most men would be that -- callous.

Nothing expresses a woman's femininity more than her breasts. I remember in adolescence, all of my friends and I watched and waited. What were we going to end up with? Who would be wearing a bra first, and what size would it be? How would we compare? Small or large, perfect or perhaps not so perfect -- lemons or melons -- they are part of the mystery that makes a woman. And, sometimes overly large, artificial, in-your-face breasts detract from that mystery. However, for women who feel compelled to have artificial breast enhancement, I hope they are doing it for all the right reasons.

31 comments:

joanne said...

being smaller, it is something that I have honestly considered...for about a nano second. I realized it's more important for me to love me for myself and not for what my breasts can do for me. I only wish that the younger girls would give themselves a chance to fully develop before making such a big decision and that our society and media would allow us to be who we are...hmmmmm.
p.s. it wasn't until after I had children that I fully developed and I am just fine with what I have now.

Country Girl said...

I have three sisters. To of them elected to have plastic surgery to enhance their breasts and two of us wanted to stay natural. My two sisters love what the surgery has done for them and me and my other sister are happy with what we have. You're right, it's a huge decision and it should only be done for the right reason. I'm just glad my sisters are happy and not regretting for one moment their decisions!

A human kind of human said...

Whenever I think of breast inplants or any cosmetic surgery for that matter, the only word that comes to mind is "OUCH!". I am surrounded by women who are (in my mind) overly conscious of "looks". One even has permanent makeup tatooed on (lip and eye liner and eyebrows), for heavens sake!

heartinsanfrancisco said...

I am always nonplussed by the fact that most men don't seem to care if breasts are real as long as they look sexy, which too-often means humongous. Cows are nice animals, but why would a human want to resemble one?

Firefly the Travel Guy said...

Now I don't want to be out of place with my comment, but will give it anyway. I am a breast man. (Just to let you know, I am happily married and don't go around touch every breast I see. But looking is like window shopping. You don't go in and try it on, you just look). I don't mind what they look like. Big, small, perky, bouncy, sagging, I don't care. Breasts are beautiful. There. I said it.

Jeannette StG said...

That someone makes it an issue what size of breast she has, says much about one's culture. In Europe smaller size is preferred by women as well as men. Also, what is considered "sexy." I could write a whole chapter on that -but I'll spare you:)

the walking man said...

Firefly is spot on with my "feelings." Tits all in the the comportment of the carrier not the bags being carried.

susie said...

To each her own....

I'm small, and they've never gotten in the way of things I want to do.

I've also know women who have had breast reduction surgery, and they are much happier not being so top heavy. It's easier to move, and healthier.

Alissa Grosso said...

I've never even considered have plastic surgery to increase my bust for a second. Of course, I am a practical person, and think that the bigger they are the more they would get in the way. I used to run track in high school, and remember a girl on an opposing team that I always felt bad for because she was more well endowed, and those things seemed to slow her down.

The Bug said...

Back in the day I was small enough to go without a bra (when was wearing enough layers) & I loved that freedom. Now I weigh 60 more pounds than I did then & I'm wearing some ridiculous cup size - & NOT happy about it!

CHummelKornell said...

There are medical concerns as well. My friend's daughter had augmentation five years ago and just had to have them removed because both had been encapsulated by tissue. She said she would die (which I find strange since she is a really gorgeous, young woman) without them, so had new ones installed.

To me you can always tell the fake ones from the real ones. I believe God makes us all to be unique and if he wanted us endowed, he would have taken care of it. Too large breasts cause back problems, balance problems and a host of other challenges. Why does our society think we have to emulate the unnatural? Twiggy made girls starve themselves and now we are in the 'Dolly Parton Years'. Go figure.

Land of shimp said...

I think the difference between the boyfriend and the average man asked is simple: The boyfriend actually loves that woman and sees her as more than just the sum total of her parts. He is not viewing her with emotional detachment.

The men, when talking about some conceptual, big-breasted woman (regardless of the ability to have sensation in those breasts) are considering a fantasy woman, constructed simply for their pleasure.

When faced with the real, feeling, and loved deal of a woman, most men discover that being able to experience sensation, and stay healthy is more important -- when they see that woman as someone they loved beyond a fantasy.

Women do it too. We end up loving guys with fuzzy chests and paunches, but if we described our fantasies, they'd probably sound equally superficial.

I've known some women who really felt much better and more confident about themselves following a variety of cosmetic procedures. I've known some men who remained fixated on big hooters, even when faced with a full person they loved.

My advice would be to anyone: start by recognizing that you are more than the sum total of your parts. If you want to be loved, wish to be loved for the things that time cannot take away from you.

And if you still want bigger breasts, or smaller noses, or whatever, that's fine too.

Yeah, I've got my original everything, by the way. Oh, wait, that's not true. I now dye my hair the same color it naturally is in order to hide the gray.

We all do something for our own vanity, but if you are going to do something? Have it be for that, and that alone. Not for the approbation of others, real, imagined, or simply the stuff of silly fantasy.

Charles Gramlich said...

Such social experiments are endlessly fascinating.

Russell said...

Put me down for natural - always. I could not care less whether a woman has small, medium or large breasts. I care about how she uses what she's got (to paraphrase an expression women sometimes use when discussing, uh, .... men!)

If a woman is comfortable with herself, confident and has a positive attitude, that is beauty in and of itself.

Breast size might be somewhat analagous to a man's height. I know a lot of men who are overly concious about their height or lack of it. It is not a big deal. Just be your own person and enjoy your life.

If you are not as tall as you would like to be or don't have as much of this or think you have too much of that, well, so what?

Just live your life and enjoy it. We don't get that long as it is!

Take care.

PurestGreen said...

Melon woman here. Growing up being big was terrible because I was a tomboy and while all the other girls were "waiting and waiting," I was in agony because I already looked quite womanly by the time I was 14. Of course I didn't know what to do with all those curves, and looking back now I can only thing "but you were beautiful - why didn't you appreciate it when you had the chance?!"

Luckily I have a lovely man in my life who makes me feel fantastic. Yet I still feel really self conscious if I wear anything that shows a bit of cleavage.

Alicia said...

Jo,
It's funny that this was your post today as my sister and I were talking this morning about a new procedure where they pump collagen into the balls of women's feet to make it more comfortable to wear heels.

I was listening to the Bob & Tom Radio show and all the men on the program were saying how ridiculous to waste money on something like this, which would help women with foot problems, whether or not they wear heels, but they didn't have a problem at all with breast implants. Hmm, just what medical problem do breast implants improve?

Deedee said...

None of us are happy with what we have, are we? I know more than a few women who have had reductions. I am on the large side and I wouldn't mind losing a cup size. You're right those guys are the real boobs.

Brenda said...

I suppose it is important to some men, and important to many women also, because I sure do see a lot of them.
I need a reduction and wish I had had it done when insurances were helping with the cost. Large breasts to me are painful on the neck and back. Clothes don't fit well either..almost impossible to wear shirts with buttons.
I guess some of us want what we don't have. I wish mine were smaller....and I was taller. Ha...

Anonymous said...

As beauty lies in the eye of the beholder, I wish it would be a time when one could look at oneself again and find beauty without questioning.

Please have a wonderful Thursday.

Kathy's Klothesline said...

The highlight of my evening is losing the bra that holds my breats up. If I didn't have to wear a bra, that woul;d be okay with me! My sister-in-law recently had a reduction. Hers were causing back problems, otherwise she would have kept them, so proud she was of them....they hung to her waist!

Kathy's Klothesline said...

The highlight of my evening is losing the bra that holds my breats up. If I didn't have to wear a bra, that woul;d be okay with me! My sister-in-law recently had a reduction. Hers were causing back problems, otherwise she would have kept them, so proud she was of them....they hung to her waist!

jackc50 said...

i think natural is better but if it makes a person feel better about themselves........why not? people do get carried away with endless surgeries and that is a sad commentary on life and values.

Miranda said...

I think women rely too much on their breasts to define them as women.
That said I would like mine to come out of my armpits a little more often. Big, small, whatever. Your boobs do not make you happy. YOU make you happy.

Firefly the Travel Guy said...

To answer your question on the Campanile. No it not. This is a free standing tower that was built as a monument commemorating the arrival of the British Settlers.

Leilani Tresise said...

you see THATs why i like hanging out in the Ocean! Not once has a sea animal paid Any attention to my melon size!! LOLOL great post JO! Love the bra and melon pic!

Jo said...

Thank you, everyone, for your fun comments. Gosh, time ran away on me again.

I wish I had time to do nothing but blog, and visit blogs. *heh* (Be careful what we wish for ... hey?)

Have a fabulous day, everyone.

Cheers!

Jo

Nancy said...

Wow, they lose feeling in their breasts? Why in the world would someone do that to themselves? Not to mention that the lady doing my mamography said that they can often miss tumors when a woman has implants. And I think you cannot nurse your children either. I'm so glad my daughters are happy with their bodies.

Mia said...

The grass is always greener in the other bra.

Marguerite said...

I would never consider having breast implants. What some women will go through to please a man! After childbirth, I was very large, due to nursing and I would not want to carry that much extra weight around. And as for the bra- it was, of course, invented by a man, Robert Brassiere!! lol

Swetha said...

thats a superb post dear Jo! i really dunno what to comment.. but you made me think.. made me choose whats good for me :)

Paula Slade said...

The whole idea of that show is sad, and I feel sorry for folks who find it necessary to go under the knife. I understand and accept plastic surgery when there has been an accident or gross disfigurement but everything else is best cured by accepting oneself.