Summary
(Victoria Bateman, author of Naked Feminism: Breaking the Cult of Female Modesty)
Do you sometimes look at yourself and think, «I can’t wear this without a bra – my nipples are showing»? Have you ever heard someone tell you that «you can’t go out like that», after looking you up and down?
This book is a thought-provoking exploration of the double standards faced by women. Through personal stories and insightful analysis, it challenges Western societal norms and the pressure to conform. Delving into the complex interplay between femininity, bras and societal expectations, this empowering read invites individuals to redefine their understanding of what it means to be «decent» in a patriarchal society.
Excerpt
Table Of Contents
- Cover
- Title
- Copyright
- About the author
- About the book
- Contents
- List of figures
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 The making of the indecent breast
- Chapter 2 Why are you so provocative?
- Chapter 3 Social media and objectification of women’s breasts
- Chapter 4 Women vs women
- Conclusion
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
Acknowledgements
This project has been an essential part of my academic and personal journey and would not have been manageable without these fantastic people. First, thank you to my supervisor, Emma Rees, who answered every question I had – believe me, there were a lot of them – and motivated me. I am equally grateful to Louisa Yates, who provided many inspirational writing exercises during the Boot Camp and helped stimulate our creativity. I must also extend my thanks to Roger Hyde and Alex May, who spent so much time correcting my English and whose kind words always motivated me to keep going. Jasmine, thank you for putting so much work into this beautiful cover; you are so talented and brought it to life. A special mention goes to my wonderful editor, Laurel Plapp. Your guidance not only made my first experience with publishing enjoyable but also taught me so much.
Thank you to all my friends and family who listened to me talk about this project for hours and reassured me every time I got stressed – a special shoutout to Brett who probably spent hours motivating me on the low days. To Mum, Tatiana, and Mica, thank you for answering all the calls and helping me figure out the answers when I didn’t know what to think. I am so grateful for you. To all my friends, your involvement and shared excitement for this project mean the world to me. Finally, thank you more specifically to my parents and brother, who supported me through my ongoing fight against misogyny. Thank you for spending years making our household a safe space so I could be myself.
Introduction
She should hide her breasts.
Why is she trying so hard to attract men?
Her nipples are showing; that’s so indecent.
She’s such a prick-tease. She’s begging to be raped.
Upsetting, isn’t it? Hearing these comments is as disturbing as reading in the news that 20% of French people still believe that visible nipples could justify men assaulting women.1 Bras have always been a subject of debate, used to entice, support, eroticise, or only worn for comfort. Still, women’s breasts have rarely been free from the constraint of having to be moulded or padded. For decades, they have been considered sexual in Western countries and are now highly regulated body parts.2 In this book, a central concept explored is ‘decency,’ which is frequently linked to femininity and nudity.3 It is a term often used in hushed tones when people observe a woman revealing too much skin. ‘Decency’ serves as the foundation for defining which parts of women’s bodies are deemed acceptable to expose.
While dress codes apply to all genders, there have been, historically, many more concerns and control over female clothing choices.4 In other words, ‘decency’ regulates women to ensure they display their bodies without causing scandal.5 You have undoubtedly heard it at least once: ‘What will people think if she wears that? That she doesn’t respect herself.’ You might even have said it yourself or looked at your reflection in the mirror and thought, ‘I should get changed; people will think I am a slut.’ Yet, what you did not know that day is here; these thoughts were the product of decency norms. They are repeated so often in women’s environments that they infiltrate how we think, perceive, act, and judge.
Researchers have worked on how breasts or lingerie became sexual, but none truly worked on the relationship between the two. Therefore, my research aims to enlarge the scope of knowledge in gender studies on this matter. Moreover, my research is based in France, which is a country where gender studies are not entirely accepted yet.6 France is often described as a country with a liberal attitude towards sexuality and nudity, sometimes perceived as an ‘erotic’ nation.7 This led me to delve into the question of whether its reputation as a ‘sexually liberated’ country truly embodies absolute freedom or if it is merely a façade concealing the continued oppression and objectification of women. This research also aims to raise awareness of women’s oppression through underwear. My work might help people be more aware of their own internalised decency – see below – and, therefore, allow women’s bodies to be less regulated. Although I focus on French women, the scope of this book goes beyond France. As you read through these pages, you may recognise some of the experiences I describe and think, ‘Yes, I’ve felt that too.’ Sadly, the truth is that most women in Western countries, and many more across the world, have encountered the decency norms that I address in this book – albeit with some variations. This global issue affects patriarchal societies everywhere, so even if you are not French or particularly interested in French culture, I believe you will find this book relevant and relatable.
Details
- Pages
- XII, 116
- Publication Year
- 2024
- ISBN (PDF)
- 9781803741468
- ISBN (ePUB)
- 9781803741475
- ISBN (Softcover)
- 9781803741451
- DOI
- 10.3726/b20742
- Language
- English
- Publication date
- 2024 (March)
- Keywords
- Feminism gender bras decency misogyny gender studies women oppression Christianity capitalism social norms
- Published
- Oxford, Berlin, Bruxelles, Chennai, Lausanne, New York, 2024. XII, 116 pp., 1 fig. col., 1 fig. b/w.