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Book ClubsChapter 7: Breasts | "Woman: An Intimate Geography" by N. Angier
Hi Everyone! And thanks for your interest in reading "Woman: An Intimate Geography"! Since each topic is has so much information and is perfectly contained in one chapter, I will be making weekly threads per chapter to discuss each aspect of female biology described in this book. Note that there is a 1999 version, as well as a 2014 refresh with updated/additional information. I am using the 2014 version.
These threads will primarily focus on one book, and I ask that the discussion generally limit to the book itself. If after reading, you went off to do additional research, I encourage you to share how that has supplemented your engagement with the book. And of course, if anyone decides to pick up this book at a later date, you're welcome (and encouraged) to continue the conversation!
Ova, Chromosomes, Body, Clitoris, Uterus, Hysterectomies
Chapter seven is about the breasts.
I was intrigued by the idea that outside of lactation, the human breast is basically for aesthetic purposes. I thought she would go more into its role outside of reproduction (but maybe that just hasn't been studied/discovered yet?)
The part about humans being attracted to circles and rounded shapes was interesting. Some of the features Angier described like muscular frames and cheekbones are usually described as "chiseled", "angular", "cut", but she is correct in that they are not geometrically angular, no one has actual corners on their body. I wonder if that's something discussed in design (could be I'm totally wrong on this), but it seems like if design wants to "shock"/, be unique, or go against the grain they go for strict geometric shapes, while more commercial design is rounded.
edit: Link to next chapter
I wonder if we will learn more about the function of breasts when we have a generation of women with voluntary mastectomies to study. Perhaps those surgeries leave more lymph nodes than cancer-related?
I've heard people say "there are no straight lines in nature," but that doesn't account for crystals. Straight lines also appear in psychedelic visuals. But still, curves seem to be a sign of Things As They Should Be, aka aesthetic.
more soon.
I wonder if we will learn more about the function of breasts when we have a generation of women with voluntary mastectomies to study.
I wonder. I imagine it would be harder to extricate any effects with those of testosterone and such.
One reason why I haven't commented on this chapter until now is because I didn't take any notes on it. Very little seemed worthy of comment or further research. Which is strange because I love breasts so much. I never felt so much kinship with Linnaeus before, until I read here that he could have named our Class after our hair, our ear bones, or four-chambered heart.
I noted her comment about how all the women on Star Trek regardless of species is "bold in bust as in spirit," which is true, except for that one cringey episode when they visit the land of the Bad Lesbian Haircuts and Riker explains sexual dimorphism in humans. Even the murderous female Terrans in Discovery wear pointy chest armor. This passage also reminded me of the story from Original Recipe Star Trek that censors were ok with cleavage, but could never expose the UNDERSIDE of a breast.
(Meanwhile, when I'm not reading Women, an Intimate Geography, I'm reading The Amazons by Adrienne Mayor where I learned that not only did they not cut off their breasts --of course not--but they invented trousers.)
As I read the various evolutionary theories for human breasts, I waited for her to forget Elaine Morgan's Aquatic Ape theory. But she didn't! Of course She goes on to dismiss the theory as everyone else does with "lack of evidence" and with weak examples. Her theories about the roundness of faces and roundness of fruit are no less fanciful. I'm an Aquatic Ape partisan, and always will be.
Finally, can't finish this chapter without leaving this earworm: Heavy Boobs from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend