Tits Up

1. Breasts are a profound, misunderstood part of womanhood, not just passive sex objects.

Having a body that misrepresents one’s sense of self is unnerving.

Personal journey. The author's double mastectomy and subsequent reconstruction, which resulted in unexpectedly large implants, sparked a deep personal quest to understand the multifaceted meanings of breasts. This experience of bodily dissonance, akin to what a trans person might feel, highlighted how deeply breasts are intertwined with one's sense of self and gender identity. The initial dismay over "silicone aliens" led to a broader inquiry into what had been lost and gained.

Beyond aesthetics. Historically, breasts have been reduced to symbols of either eroticism or motherhood, often overlooking their complex roles. From ancient Venuses to modern pinups, the ideal breast size and shape have shifted, reflecting societal pressures rather than biological function. The author's own experience with sexual aggression and the #MeToo movement further underscored how breasts are often objectified and controlled, leading to a "surveillance fatigue" that prompted her mastectomy.

Reclaiming meaning. The book argues that breasts are primary, not secondary, sexual characteristics, essential for human reproduction and sociality. Anthropological evidence shows that erotic attraction to breasts is culture-specific, with the sexualized breast largely originating as a "French perversion." This historical context, coupled with widespread dissatisfaction among American women regarding their breasts, underscores the urgent need to demystify and appreciate them beyond narrow, male-centric views.

2. "Tits" are active, monetized tools of agency in sex work, challenging patriarchal norms.

In this world, tits are eroticized, monetized, and subject to à la carte menus.

Empowered performance. In the realm of sex work, breasts are not merely passive objects but active instruments of seduction and financial gain. Strippers like Barbie and RedBone strategically deploy their "tits" to manipulate male desire, game the system, and extract income, demonstrating a shrewd navigation of patriarchal dynamics. This perspective challenges prudish and classist assumptions about sex workers, highlighting their agency and resilience on the "frontline" of gender relations.

Art and activism. Burlesque performers like Jo Weldon and Dirty Martini transform breasts into witty, empowered spectacles, using elaborate costumes and tassel-twirling tricks to subvert traditional notions of submission. Annie Sprinkle's "pleasure activism" further reclaims breasts through art, such as "Tits on the Head" photos and "Bosom Ballet," turning them into "sex toys or objects of worship and healing." These artists use their bodies as "research laboratories" to explore sexuality and challenge taboos.

Decriminalization as liberation. The chapter emphasizes that the decriminalization of sex work is a fundamental human rights issue for all women. Pioneers like Carol Leigh, who coined "sex work," fought to reframe prostitution as labor deserving of basic protections, rather than a sin or crime. Trans feminine and nonbinary dancers also use their breasts in sex work and burlesque to affirm their identities and challenge binary gender norms, underscoring that true bodily autonomy requires the freedom to choose how one uses and presents their body, monetized or otherwise.

3. "Jugs" are life-saving, community-building sources of nourishment, essential to human evolution.

Breast milk, I read, was “liquid gold.”

Altruistic flow. The Mothers' Milk Bank of San Jose showcases breasts as vital sources of nourishment, saving the lives of premature infants and improving the health of adopted babies. Donors like Vivien Lee, a bereaved mother, and Kelly Adams, a high-capacity pumper, exemplify altruism, finding personal healing and purpose in their milk donations. Their experiences highlight the profound emotional and physical benefits of lactation for mothers, including hormonal well-being and reduced health risks.

Allomothering and community. The concept of "allomothers"—"other mothers" who breastfeed infants not their own—underscores the cooperative, community-oriented nature of human survival. Unlike commercial wet-nursing, allomothering is a non-profit exchange, where human milk is a personal gift or community offering. This practice, prevalent in Indigenous cultures, reveals how breasts are central to our species' sociality and the development of neural networks related to love and attachment.

Systemic challenges. Despite the undeniable benefits of human milk, breastfeeding faces significant societal and systemic obstacles.

• The term "milk ejection reflex" often disavows its nurturing function.
• Formula manufacturers have historically marginalized breastfeeding, using misleading marketing and influencing medical education.
• In countries like France, cultural pressures prioritize appearance over nursing, leading to low breastfeeding rates.
• In the US, government programs like WIC, administered by the Department of Agriculture, inadvertently undermine breastfeeding by distributing free formula, perpetuating a legacy of "food oppression" and treating women as "chattel or, for that matter, cattle."

4. "Treasured Chests" are aesthetic canvases, shaped by fashion, culture, and personal identity, not just medical necessity.

My beauty ideals are at the center of the bell curve.

Artistry and ideals. Plastic surgeons, like Dr. Carolyn Chang, are seen as "renovators" who reshape breasts to align with evolving aesthetic ideals, often moving away from overtly large implants towards more "natural" and athletic forms. These surgeries, whether explantations, lifts, or augmentations, are deeply influenced by fashion trends and cultural perceptions of beauty, which vary significantly across regions and socioeconomic classes. The pursuit of beauty, while often seen as vain, can be a means of self-reverence and rebuilding identity.

Beyond the binary. Breast surgeries extend beyond cisgender women, playing a crucial role in gender affirmation. Trans women may seek augmentations to align their bodies with their feminine identity, while trans men often undergo masculinizing mastectomies to alleviate gender dysphoria. Dr. Elisabeth Potter's DIEP flap microsurgery, which reconstructs breasts from a woman's own tissue, offers a powerful form of healing for cancer survivors, allowing their bodies to "give back" and fostering a sense of sovereignty and being "at home" in one's body.

Feminist re-evaluation. Historically, feminists have condemned cosmetic surgery as internalized misogyny, but the book argues for a more nuanced view. Plastic surgery can be a complex choice, influenced by social pressures but also serving as a means for women to take ownership of their bodies and empower themselves. The debate between "natural" and "enhanced" breasts often reflects deeper societal values about authenticity, class, and the right to self-determination in a world where beauty standards are constantly shifting and often dictated by external forces.

5. "Apexes" are censored symbols of female autonomy, policed by society and fashion, yet vital to liberation.

Nipples are more threatening and distasteful than boobs.

The unspoken taboo. In the apparel industry, "apex" is a euphemism for the nipple, highlighting a pervasive societal discomfort with this fundamental body part. Bras are designed not just for support but for "modesty," often using foam cups to hide the nipple's outline. This censorship extends beyond clothing, with nipples expunged from conversation and images regularly suppressed in media, from historical Comstock Laws to modern social media algorithms.

Historical battles. The fight for "free the nipple" has a long history, from Annette Kellerman's arrest for wearing a man's swimsuit in 1908 to Ramona Santorelli's legal battles in New York State in the 1980s. These movements challenged the bizarre inconsistency that women could dance topless for entertainment but were denied the freedom to go top-free in public. The "Nipplegate" incident involving Janet Jackson in 2004 further underscored the disproportionate policing of female nipples compared to male ones.

A path to liberation. The book argues that the suppression of visible female nipples is a deeply ingrained form of repression integral to male supremacy. Men's nipples poke through shirts unnoticed, while women's are deemed "indecent" or "distracting." Reclaiming the right to display nipples, whether through subtle outlines under clothes or overt toplessness, is presented as a "covert 'free the nipple' movement" and a "tiny salute to women's liberation." It challenges the sexualization and dehumanization of breasts, asserting women's right to bodily autonomy and self-possession.

6. "Holy Mammaries" connect women to ancient divinity, nature, and spiritual power, challenging secular and patriarchal narratives.

Reclaiming our breasts is important work.

Spiritual re-evaluation. The author's journey into pagan retreats and goddess worship reveals breasts as sacred, linking women to nature and ancient spiritual power. The "Fool's Journey" participants, many identifying as witches, embrace body positivity and venerate aging, transforming "crone" from an insult to a symbol of wisdom. This perspective challenges the historical marginalization of breasts in religious discourse, which often associates them with intellectual inferiority or sin.

Divine nourishment. Londa Schiebinger's research highlights how the term "mammal" was a "political act" by Carl Linnaeus, linking women to animals while elevating men to "Homo sapiens." This historical context underscores how religion and science have conspired to justify women's subjugation. In contrast, diverse spiritual traditions offer breast-affirming narratives:

• Hindu goddesses like Artemis and Kali are depicted with multiple, powerful breasts, symbolizing abundance and non-conforming bodies.
• Judaism celebrates Sarah's miraculous milk as a vehicle for religious conversion and views "El Shaddai" as "the God with Breasts."
• Buddhist mystics conceive of the divine feminine, Shekhinah, as flowing through the breast, infusing humans with spirituality.

Healing and empowerment. Artists like Chitra Ganesh use multi-breasted figures to critique Western ideals and envision nipples as "third eyes," symbolizing extrasensory perception and somatic knowledge. Clarity Haynes's breast portraits offer "body therapy," helping women heal from trauma and reclaim their dignity by being seen with a "healing gaze." These spiritual and artistic approaches demonstrate that women's liberation can be enhanced by embracing the sacredness of their bodies, challenging patriarchal narratives, and fostering a culture where breasts are revered rather than suppressed.

7. Reclaiming language and diverse perspectives on breasts is crucial for women's overall liberation and bodily autonomy.

Our rise depends in part on their higher worth.

Beyond "boobs." The disparity in vocabulary for breasts between genders, with men using a wider range of terms like "rack" and "tits" while women often stick to "boobs," reflects deeper gender inequalities. The book advocates for "self-labeling with slur terms" as an empowering tactic to reclaim language and unshackle breasts from prejudice and shame. This linguistic reclamation is a step towards redefining breasts beyond passive erotic playthings.

Multifaceted value. The book's exploration across diverse contexts—sex work, milk banking, plastic surgery, fashion, and spirituality—reveals breasts as complex, active organs with profound significance. They are:

• Salaried assistants in sex work.
• Evolutionary anchors of human survival.
• Canvases for self-expression and identity.
• Unruly dissidents challenging societal norms.
• Sacred symbols of divinity and nature.

A liberated future. An emancipated rack is not defined by a particular appearance or subject to an objectifying male gaze. It embodies choice: to breastfeed or not, to have surgery or go flat, to wear a bra or go top-free. The book argues that the censorship of female nipples is a self-perpetuating problem, as concealment only heightens their sexual charge. By elevating the status of breasts with thoughtful appreciation, rather than dismissal, women can be seen as whole human beings with intelligence and agency, meriting the bodily autonomy and physical freedoms enjoyed by men.

Last updated: December 10, 2025