[spot-on]

I can tell you based on studies that 10 years ago the average size was 34B I know this because I was a 34B (not now) and I was 'average', now the 'average' is a 36C. However that's not because boob size is increasing (well it kinda is but read on), it's because women's body size in general is increasing due to the obesity rates rising. I think nbdx0645 hit on an interesting point too, if we smallies are buying ours in the teen section are these surveys including that in their studies? And ditto with implants. They aren't natural so IMO shouldn't be included either, and if they are that would surely skew the results for larger breats. She also hits on the point that studies say women are wearing the wrong bra size, something like 80% of women are wearing the wrong size, so how do they know really what is average if everyone is wearing an incorrect size? Crazy!!! I'd also like to see a breakdown of height/weight/boobsize, I too love stats like that. IMO that's the only way to form an "average" as each body size differs greatly. However even then, boob size/shape differs too so I don't think there can ever be an average really. Like penis size I guess?

Allison, Honestly the main reasons for me not having breast implants are the same as yours. I have so many health issues to contend with as is, that I really don't need something else with the potential to 'explode' pardon the pun. But in all seriousness with everything I have had in my life I would be that implanted woman with the wonky pointing nipples, the half coconut look, and the infections and the hardening/migrating etc. I just don't do well with artificial stuff. Heck I had to have half my ear lobe removed because of cysts, I've had cervical cancer scares and had other lumps and have hereditary illnesses also! I can only imagine what my body would do with implants! Plus having new ones every 10 years. I won't lie though, I have thought about it, seldom, but I have. I just know that those moods pass and for the most part I am perfectly happy 98% of the time with my little boobies.

I will also mention anothermajor reason for me is that there is a big risk of losing sensation, sorry but I get pretty turned on by my boobs (yep as small as they are they work pretty well in that respect), no-one is messing with that! I know there is a rumor that a big boob celeb in the UK has very little sensation in her boobs since her ops and doesn't let her partners touch them, I feel kinda sorry for her. Boobs aren't there to turn men on, they are there to turn US on. That's why they are attached to us! Sure they may be fun for men to look at and touch, but WE get all the stimulation from the touching! If they were meant for male enjoyment then men would be playing with their own wouldn't they?

[nbdx0645]

Strongirl, you always have such good remarks that follow my posts. Same goes for everybody. Thanks for the help. I'm so glad this forum was created. I can tell that my body image is improving and I'm more confident -- even when I don't have a 'bump' where breasts usually are. I'm so glad we're all here to educate and support. Man, I thought I would never get over these feelings. I thought I was hopeless. But I think I am starting to. After I finish this beast of a post I'm going to do something unrelated to titties (haha, word correct wants to change titties to tittles. I love it.)

For the "average bra size," I wish that they did more of a height/weight breakdown + cup size (I love stats.) The average may be a 34C, but I am not average in height, build, and weight. That brings me to another point...I'm buying AA bras in the teen's section. I doubt they're counting my boobs into this. Also: A-cups have a limited size/color/style selection, across many major US brands. Maybe the size is shifting because 34~38C has the most options. Perhaps C's buy the most bras. Limited selection + special sizing = less available sales. Period. I'd like to see a large random sample where women were measured by a professional. (Most people buy the wrong size bra to begin with.) Could it also be some sly marketing by the manufacturers to get more women into their "golden zone?" I don't see how it's possible for a manufacturer to come up with one size. I would think they'd say a range. I wonder how strongly correlated the plot would be, then. If the 34C is the median, but the plot isn't showing a correlation, how valid is the result? I want a correlation coefficient, dammit! And even though I am that little blip on the far reaches of space, I'm going to be proud of it. I know I'm not alone, and we'd like some more options.

I hope I'm making some sense, there. What I'm trying to say is "Women's sizes vary to such a high degree. Wouldn't it be best to take the data, and instead going "HERE IS THE MIDDLE" saying, "holy dang, there's a fair amount of variation here. What are we going to do about this? Do we want to open up our size run? How can we display our data to show women that large variations in size are normal, and they should buy our brand because we understand this?" Really, they should only be allowed to say, "34C is our highest selling band/cup size." I could see the band being larger, the cup size being larger/smaller/the same.

I say this, unaware of a legit study. If one exists, I apologize for word vomiting all over the internet. Not like it's never been done before. =P

[Allison-Shine]

Kera, you and I are at opposite ends of the age spectrum in here but I just want to say you sound like such an incredibly cool, smart, and mature girl for your age. You keep on rocking your booblets - the world needs more awesome chicks like you!

I can vouch for that myself, Kera is indeed a great person

[Allison-Shine]

Well for me reasons not to get boob jobs outweigh the "yay I can fill out a bra"! The majority look obviously false, they don't look natural at all. For us smallies the breast tissue would most likely stretch causing unsightly stretch marks. They'd be uncomfortable. The don't move like natural breasts and tend to 'sit' on the chest rather than hang. But yes the rupture risks, the hardening, the loss of sensation all those are very good reasons to not get implants! Plus there is the risk of them looking in different directions.

Thanks but I'll keep my small pert itty bitties rather than risk all that!

Despite what I have been through with my self-image and comments from others about my breasts being on the small side, I have rarely considered breast augmentation. It is just an unnatural feeling to me both physically and mentally. I cringe of having something artificial surgically placed in me and the risks and feelings that come with it. Also I could never achieve full satisfaction that my breasts became the size that they are through nature or even genes.

Easier for me to believe all of this now this since I am straying into "average size" territory, being a 34B now. I felt differently at 32A or 32B. But hey, that's a good thing !

I wonder what is the average bra size of an adult female, I have heard somewhere between 34B and 36C, anybody have an idea?

[spot-on]

Well for me reasons not to get boob jobs outweigh the "yay I can fill out a bra"! The majority look obviously false, they don't look natural at all. For us smallies the breast tissue would most likely stretch causing unsightly stretch marks. They'd be uncomfortable. The don't move like natural breasts and tend to 'sit' on the chest rather than hang. But yes the rupture risks, the hardening, the loss of sensation all those are very good reasons to not get implants! Plus there is the risk of them looking in different directions.

Thanks but I'll keep my small pert itty bitties rather than risk all that!

[koffeewitch]

Since I noticed people were posting about boob jobs, I thought I would jump in with another reason NOT to get them. Besides the fact that you won't really feel any better about yourself and breast implants can be dangerous, if you ever decide to get pregnant you might have real trouble with mastitis (an incredibly painful infection of the breast tissue caused by clogged milk ducts). Women with implants can obviously get pregnant and they can breastfeed...but I've seen such women have too many unfortunate problems from the implants and most have to give up breastfeeding because of the reoccuring infections. Just another thing to think about.

[karategrrl]

on the face/body thing...i think it just upset me because I don't see myself as having a good body.

Starship, forgive me whilst I lovingly slap you upside the head.
Remember a few months back in here, when a bunch of us exchanged photos? I saved everyone's (no, not a stalker, just can't remember shit) and just took another look and DANG, grrl, you are BEAUTIFUL! I certianly don't see any "big 'ol childbearing hips" on you, and even if you did have 'em, you are so amazing it would certainly only add to your beauty, as far as curves and stuff. Rock, that body, grrl, You got it!!!!
<<RANT CONCLUDED>>

[spot-on]

nbdx0645, sounds like you had a good wake-up call with your meeting! Like I've said before for the most part I am happy (content?) with my boobs. For the most part I wouldn't want bigger ones because I am active and they'd most likely be uncomfortable and I'd have to wear more supportive sports tops/bras, whereas now I can get away with just a bralet type sport top. But there is that nagging in the back of my mind, that little voice that occasionally creeps into the forefront and puts doubts in there. Usually PMS time or if I am stressed about something else. I'd say negative thoughts don't occupy much of my day really. Now general boob thoughts of "hey I look hot, and my boobs look good in this top" that's a whole other story! I think I am in the start of a love affair with my own breasts, but then my sex drive in general has increased over the last 6 months so that maybe something to do with it? Hell if they were big boobs I could have a serious body loving problem! rofl! If you haven't been to the 007b.com site yet, go and look at the boob gallery there. Lots of regular womens boobs, small to large and everything in between. There is NO normal! The problem lies in the fact that we're bombarded with the image of the perfect woman having (usually fake) bigger boobs. When realistically if you just look around at your family and friends you see that's not the case. Heck look at actresses and celebrities, they are all different sizes too!

Strongirl, yep like you I've got friends who've had breast cancer. Two who have had mastectomies, and more with lumpectomies, plus the chemo after. Thankfully all my friends have survived through it, but it does give you a "what the fuck was I worrying about their size for?" slap in the face.

My own mother had a breast cancer scare a few years ago also. She has big breasts and often talks of the discomfort. I often wonder about genetics cos I sure didn't get my boobs from her! But then I've seen her naked and let me just say, gravity when you are older can be a bitch! At least I don't have to worry about that! That kinda worries me about some of the ladies with BIG fake boobs. How will they hold up to gravity and won't that hurt? Especially the women who opt for the ginormous implants for their body size. That has GOT to hurt! Seriously! I go without a bra sometimes, and if I have to run un-bra'd the breasticles do jiggle about, I wouldn't want to do it unbound for an amount of time. Seriously some of those big implanted women must not run/walk or do much indeed!

[strongirl]

nbdx, I have expressed concerns in here before about the risk of becoming obsessive and spending way too much time on the topic. I think the things you said below are important.

The encouragement we give each other and the positivity that we share in here are great ways to feel better and free ourselves up from wasting time thinking negatively about being small-breasted. But sometimes I think we (I) need to slap ourselves upside the head and just get over it, too. There's a very sad recent post in the large breast forum by a woman who is in severe physical pain. I posted in here a couple months ago about my large-breasted friend who suffers similarly. I read an article recently about a 26 year old woman who lost a breast to cancer, cancer that is likely to kill her in 1-2 years. She and her boyfriend are back to enjoying sex, but the adjustment to losing her breast was huge.

Every smallie who posts in here should thank her lucky stars and reach down and lovingly caress those little cuties right now.

[nbdx0645]

Hi everybody,
My office does a "Monday huddle" and we brought in a speaker from another department. She's an intelligent, spunky lady who is so great at her job. She said her favorite quote was "Don't let what you can't do interfere with what you can do." It made me realize...I spend way too much time looking for women who look like me. I also spend a large amount of my time worrying that I'm freaking people out with my chest. Sometimes, I wish people would just say "You're flat!" so that I can try to tell them off. Say something cool. Verbally kick their ass. Would I be over it, then?

I work 40 hours a week. I think I worry about my breasts 7 hours a week, now. When I stopped fitting into small A-cup bras, I'd take my too-big bra off, crawl into my bed, and stay there for the rest of the night. I couldn't stop thinking about what was happening, and why I was shrinking at 24, without losing weight. I still don't know why. =/ Has anybody else calculated how much time they worry about their breasts per week? Try to break it down by hours per day. It's frightening.

I've felt so much better since I joined this board. I also have a great coworker who is a bit bigger than me (I'd say a small A) but wears unpadded triangle bras to work and doesn't care. She's so awesome.

[buttercups]

Hmm just saw a VS commercial for a new push-up bra thats supposed to add 2 cup sizes, and it comes in 32AA. If someone tries it on please let me know how it fits, I unfortunately won't have time for shopping for awhile!

[strongirl]

Kera, you and I are at opposite ends of the age spectrum in here but I just want to say you sound like such an incredibly cool, smart, and mature girl for your age. You keep on rocking your booblets - the world needs more awesome chicks like you!

[KeraBear]

OUCH!!!!! Getting carded is flattering but THAT must hurt!

Yes. Thank God for my growth spurt!

In my 37 years I have NEVER had any complaints from men about my body/looks, the only time I ever had a negative image from men was a guy teasing me about my braces, but hey they weren't permanant so not counting those. Women on the other hand can sometimes be bitches with their comments, and I myself can be a real bitch to myself and tear myself down about my own body.

I hear that. Especially freshman and sophomore years at school I was teased SO MUCH about my tiny booblets. Surprisingly, it's mostly from the other GIRLS. I dunno, it's like they feel like they are superior to me or something just because they have bigger boobs (and taller AND have hips). We need to get off this stupid notion that bigger boobs = being more womanly. I blame the media.

My "bad booby days" are when i find myself around younger girls with bigger breasts than me. This includes BOTH my "little" sisters and a good number of junior highers. *SIGH* But I can't let it get me down. I'll just have to keep rocking my booblets extra hard.

[spot-on]

In my 37 years I have NEVER had any complaints from men about my body/looks, the only time I ever had a negative image from men was a guy teasing me about my braces, but hey they weren't permanant so not counting those. Women on the other hand can sometimes be bitches with their comments, and I myself can be a real bitch to myself and tear myself down about my own body. What we need to realize is that men are sometimes assholes. They say one thing and usually mean something completely different, especially when in the company of their peers. The thing is that we are our own worst enemy at times, and we need to realize that there are other people out there that probably would kill for our figures (regardless of how WE feel about it), like someone already mentioned "the grass is always greener"!

See that annoys me about the boob job, cos I know if I had it done I'd end up looking like I'd had 2 coconut halves shoved under my skin (a la Victoria Beckham, ewwww, though she had hers out now so yay!). They do say the more breast tissue you start out with the better the outcome. But I dunno, it's just not something I want to commit myself to for life (you have to replace them every 10 years). I wonder how many women in 20 years time we are going to see with pity stories because they need implant replacements but can't afford them? I'd hate to think of myself at 67 and going in for my 3rd breast implant op! Yikes!

but it's still hard not to get jealous when I keep meeting women who tick allll the boxes. and i dont know why it even bothered me because like aithinne neither my face or my body are amazing- i just have the odd nice feature scattered about my person. I think i'd rather have a stunning body or a stunning face than just be average all over- not fussy which!

oh and spot-on, the womans new boobs didnt even look that fake- thats what threw me because she had even less breast tissue than me. guess she just had a great surgeon and some luck because im pretty sure most wouldnt turn out like that. Has there ever been a poster on here who actually got a boob-job?

[starship]

thanks for all the positive words:)

Have you noticed how we smallies assume that "boobs boobs boobs" take that to assume big boobs? maybe the guys just look for overall proportion.

lol, i dont have that either! my body looks like one of those kids books where you flip the two halves of the page to mix&match the top and bottoms of different animals. really scrawny and tiny from the waist up and then these relatively big old 'childbearing' hips. but like others have said...i do have a good bum. oh and I once did the waist to hip ratio thing and was something like 0.71 which consoled me quite a bit.

on the face/body thing...i think it just upset me because I don't see myself as having a good body. If things were different and most men were most interested in faces or intelligence etc then there'd still be lots of women who weren't naturally blessed in those departments too so it would still seem just as unfair. you can go to the gym/read books/wear makeup as much as you like but theres still only so much we can do with what we're given. and why shouldn't women who's boobs are their best feature not get attention for it. but it's still hard not to get jealous when I keep meeting women who tick allll the boxes. and i dont know why it even bothered me because like aithinne neither my face or my body are amazing- i just have the odd nice feature scattered about my person. I think i'd rather have a stunning body or a stunning face than just be average all over- not fussy which!

oh and spot-on, the womans new boobs didnt even look that fake- thats what threw me because she had even less breast tissue than me. guess she just had a great surgeon and some luck because im pretty sure most wouldnt turn out like that. Has there ever been a poster on here who actually got a boob-job?

[edie52]

Re: face vs. body- if the article you guys were talking about is the one I'm thinking of, it was saying that more men said that they'd rather see a photo of the body, rather than the face (if they could only see one) of a woman they were going to have a short-term sexual relationship with, and more said that they'd choose to see the face of a woman they were going to have a long term relationship with. Women answered "face" for both situations.

It doesn't surprise me, nor does it upset me. For one thing, different men like all sorts of different bodies- our bodies are by no means excluded. (Straight) men are extremely turned on by womens' bodies, not just boobs of course but waist/hip ratio, butts, legs, genitals. Also, it makes sense that they'd give more importance to the body than the face if it were only going to be a one night stand. If it's just a one time hookup and it's in the dark or low light, you'll probably be way more focused on feeling and grabbing someone's body than the features of their face.

[karategrrl]

What annoys me is when i am handed the kids menus at restaurants.

OUCH!!!!! Getting carded is flattering but THAT must hurt!

[spot-on]

Yep I do wonder that about DH sometimes. You're right it's usually when I'm feeling down on my body image. Doesn't happen often much anymore (thankfully) but we all have our demons right?

I am feeling a bit better today. I just started a new contraceptive pill, and am getting over the flu so hormones are all over the place right now. I'm sure those things combined have a lot to do with my self esteem right now. I worked out today for the first time in almost 2 weeks (damn flu!) so I guess endorphins kicked in

i def check out other women's breasts all the time too. I have like a radar for it and I especially notice it when I'm with my bf and feeling inferior. I'll think that maybe he's looking at them thinking "why did I settle for this when I could have THAT??" *sigh*


Spot-on I'm sorry youve been feeling bad lately, obviously you can tell I know how that feels. I have up days and down days like I'm sure you do too, so knowing that then you can know that this too shall pass. * hugs*

[spot-on]

Have you noticed how we smallies assume that "boobs boobs boobs" take that to assume big boobs? maybe the guys just look for overall proportion. Some guys prefer small boobs so I dunno how much faith I put in that poll. On another forum I am on we did a "what's the first thing you notice about the opposite sex" thread. Some guys are ass men, some are alll about the face (and even then different things on the face). Hardly any mentioned boobs, maybe the elephant in the room? I dunno. But I think boobs were mentioned maybe twice in a 60+ page thread.

I will say that the first thing my husband noticed about me was my ass as I was playing pool with a friend. The rest as they say is history!

Hey ladies, haven't been able to get on in awhile bc school has been kickin my ass! So i havent read anyones post yet but i just wanted to tell you what i heard on the radio today. They were talking about what attracts women most and the people on the radio decided that women are more attracted to whats from the neck up and men are more attracted to whats from the neck down. When they polled men about what they noticed first on women it was, of course, boobs boobs boobs. Followed by butts and brains in that order. Yea it made me feel kinda shitty in a "what else is new" kinda way. But then I thought well hey..2 out of 3 ain't bad hahah.

Ok now on to reading your posts..

*much love*

[Aithinne]

I was reading some random article today about 'butterfaces' and it made me really sad. It was basically saying how most men would rather date a woman with a nice body than a nice face and how a woman's body is the most important thing blah blah. It wouldn't have upset me if I didnt think it was true! I've had that conversation with some really intelligent, decent men and theyve always kindof said the same thing.

It's weird, I've heard both from men- that either the face is more important or the body is. Have there been scientific studies on this topic? I've heard men say that as long as a woman has an attractive face, the body doesn't matter so much, but I've also heard from men that the body is what attracts them more. I'm not sure if this difference in men is biological or simply natural variation in what attracts them. Of course, men (and women as well) probably find different cues in both the face and the body for general health and reproductive potential. There's been numerous studies suggesting that the most attractive face is the most symmetrical face (and I imagine this probably extends to a desire for bilateral symmetry of the rest of the body as well, though I'm not aware of any studies on body symmetry and attraction). But on the other hand, there's been a lot of research on the waist-hip ratio (I think a 0.7 ratio is the most attractive), which fortunately has nothing to do with breast size... yay! Many people mistakingly associate large breasts with a better ability to breastfeed babies, but this is a complete myth and has been shown to be false. So I think men probably look at both the face and the body as sort of an overall summary of a woman's health and reproductive potential, but what they cite as more attractive (face vs. body) may be more of a matter of simple variation.

Lol, now that my fun biology hypothesizing is over, I'd have to say that I am not sure whether I secretly hope men are more into face or body. I'm not sure if I consider my own face or body to be more attractive than the other. Both have positives and negatives: on the face, I've got huge chipmunk cheeks (-), but awesome big blue eyes and long eyelashes (+), on the body, I've got darker body hair that is hard to get rid of (-) but a general shape that I like (+). Interestingly, I don't even have bad boobie days that often anymore and don't even consider them a negative.

Good stuff on the face vs. body conversation ladies.. I'd be interested to take another guy poll.