Confronting the Breast Goldsmiths University London
Confronting the Breast is a research project completed during the course of a Social Anthropology MA at Goldsmiths University of London.
I decided upon my research project when I went to the ‘Graphic design can save your life’ exhibition at the Wellcome collection. My eye was caught by a poster representing a woman’s breast made of simple pink circles. The label stated that Facebook had banned a video on breast cancer awareness featuring these pink circles (animated) posted by the Swedish Cancer Society, as it was deemed ‘offensive’. Nevertheless Sweden’s Cancerfonden decided to appeal the decision and came up with a solution: illustrating breasts using two pink squares instead of circles.
A couple of days later, when stepping out of a club on a night out a friend of mine (probably under the effect of alcohol) thought that the world would be interested to know that I was missing a certain piece of apparel and shouted: «Noëlline, you are not wearing a bra! I can see your nipple pointing! Are you excited? » putting my breasts under the spot light.
‘What with boobs make them so reprehensible ?’
Swedish Cancer Society breast pink circles/ Squares
Research
With this objective in mind, I needed to find out in the first place when in history did humans start to cover breasts and for what purpose. Was it exclusively feminine?
It was also essential to look at the representation of the female body in art, as well as the industry of fashion and lingerie. My research at this regard are mainly based on two books: ‘A history of the Breast’ written by Marilyn Yalom in 1997 and ‘Décolletés’ written by Françoise Coeur and Jaqueline Cros-Vivalte in 2003.
The position of women in society through the ages and the control on their body seem obvious to cover even though a bit large. So I decided to focus my research on events and media reactions related to female nudity and exhibition since the beginning of the 20st century. My contribution will extend this observation through a discursive analysis of feminist exhibited bodies. It will mainly focus on the activism and performances of both FEMEN and Free the Nipple movements.
In order to entirely understand the purpose of this dissertation, I needed to experience a topless demonstration, get myself involved and get an inner point of view. I went to a ‘Free the Nipple’ demonstration in Brighton, UK the 8th of July 2018, a very warm and sunny day (See images). I discussed with the activists and the spectators of the march and gathered insights through a participant observation. I organised a ‘Facebook’, chat/ interview with the organiser.
I later on purchased a ‘tits’ t-shirt (see image). I wore it at work, to the club, with friends and family and observed people’s reactions. It was an amazing talk opener and insightful to uncover the taboo of the breasts.
Titis top.
Angry woman, Free the Nipple, Brighton 2018.
Illustration of the demonstration.
People's reactions to the boob cortege. I circled people clicking a picture.
To provide an anthropological analysis to this topic, it was essential to look at languages, speeches, and body language theories. The body is a talking material but thus, what are its codes and significations? What does his/ her body say about someone? What specifically means exhibiting your breasts nowadays based on historical and cultural facts? Is the message delivered through the body of feminist movements activists in coherence with what they claim?
Click on the arrows to go through pages.