A New Battlefront in Office Etiquette**
You see them everywhere: spilling out of push-up bras on billboards, popping out of tops on internet sites, or precariously placed in advertisements selling the latest and greatest products. An abundance of cleavage on overblown bosoms seems to rule the marketplace. One could assume from such boob baring behavior that super-sized breasts are the key to success and happiness. Women with larger breasts may be considered more attractive or sexually desirable. But perceptions based on breast size – whether viewed as too large or too small – may actually hold some women back in the workplace. Studies show that women over estimate the breast size that men prefer, and men rank women higher on a personal and professional level if they sport a “medium-sized” pair.
Stereotypes based on breast size have always existed. Such boob banter is well documented both by the water cooler and in scientific journals. Men and women agree on these classifications: small implies greater intelligence and athleticism; large suggests nurturing and more sexually active behavior. Women have battled these labels for years, whether at the office or strolling down the sidewalk. Men, however, appear to view both extremes less favorably in a professional setting.
Researchers at the University of Central Florida set out to test the effect of breast size perceptions on both men and women. Participants were shown one of four videotapes featuring the same actress giving a speech on career choices. They were asked to rank her performance based on several positive and negatives characteristics. The only difference between each film was the size of the presenter’s bra, representing an A, B, C or D cup. While no bias was found among female viewers, men ranked the actress significantly higher on all levels when her breasts were represented (as in the children’s fairy tale) as “just right.” Men evaluated the same woman less positively when she projected too much or too little mammary mass. It’s not clear whether men are aware of this bias toward medium-size breasts. (Other studies suggest that men prefer no particular breast size, but are primarily attracted to proportionality in women with a specific hip to bust to waist ratio.)
While women appear less likely to play favorites among breast sizes when it comes to judging fellow boob owners, they do show anxiety about how their own measure up. In a group of American college women, those who perceived their own breasts as either too large or too small were the most dissatisfied with their breasts. Women also tend to over-estimate the size of breasts men prefer, ranking the size they believe men desire higher than what men actually choose. Another interesting highlight of the Central Florida study was the actress’ own reaction to her growing bosom. As she moved up the alphabet cup, she felt more self-conscious about her breasts. Many women are clearly happy in their own breast skin, but others may feel uncomfortable with all the attention paid to this part of a woman’s anatomy.
Boobs are beloved as symbols of femininity, sexuality, and nurturance. Everyone appreciates looking at breasts, but most of us rarely discuss their power to persuade – outside the realm of advertising. They could be speaking too loudly. Female characters on the boob tube may expose cleavage on the job, but the majority of men find these dress tactics distracting in a professional setting. Whether right or wrong, uncovered breasts trigger sexual thoughts. No one wants to talk about the rules of proper breast etiquette in the workplace, but everyone has an opinion on the subject. If it’s unsettling to co-workers to see breast displays, it is even more uncomfortable to bring the subject up to the offender. We often cover up our feelings with more decorum than we do our breasts.
Charting a new Boob Course
Being aware of breast power may be the first step toward helping women put their best breast forward professionally. Stereotypes are never fair, but they exist. Women should consider how they might be perceived when making key presentations or pursuing a particular career goal.
Get Real About “the Girls.” Bra fitters agree that most women are in “bra denial.” Breasts have gotten bigger over the past 10 to 15 years, and not from breast augmentations. Breasts are mostly made of fat, so any excess is likely to travel to a woman’s chest. Bra fitters say E is the new C, and DD’s are closer to the norm than the size appearing on the front of most women’s magazines. Without standardized bra styles and sizes, women are left to buy “off the rack” for their racks, resulting in up to 85% of them wearing the wrong size bra. They need to accept the fact that breasts are in a constant state of flux, and change sizes many times over their lifetimes, often even during the same month. Curvy girls wishing to downplay breast assets can invest in minimizer bras. Smaller women wishing to add more breast silhouette might make good use of a padded bra on occasion. Whatever the situation, women need to make sure they take care of their girls and visit a fit specialist on an annual basis. Most lingerie stores have fitters on hand to help steer women into a more comfortable and appropriate choice for their breasts.
Think Outside the Bra. Women can tone their arms and back to frame their breasts and keep them fit and healthy. Maintaining a regular body weight also helps. Women who yo-yo up and down the scale change the size and shape of their breasts. If she doesn’t want others defining her by her breasts, a woman may want to avoid making them the focal point of her dress. (Not sure whether you’re putting your best breast forward in the workplace? Ask a trusted friend or co-worker to critique your wardrobe; or check out the many “how to dress for your body type” books currently on the market. If you have any doubts, lean toward under, not over-exposure.)
Practice Basic Breast Etiquette. Women can wield the power of their breasts with intention, whether at work or at play. They can assess each situation and decide what they want to say — if anything — with their breasts. As a general rule, it’s best to leave cleavage out if it’s not part of the job description. It can backfire and hurt a woman in her career goals. But a woman unfairly judged on her breast size should take it up with her firm’s management. Studies of stereotypes and perceptions serve to expose our biases, as opposed to women’s breasts. It may be time to have an open and honest dialogue about what’s always been right in front of us.
**An excerpt of this post appeared recently in the Sunday London Times.
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