Recently, I was shopping at my favorite store with my mom. We were looking for dresses for an upcoming wedding this summer, and as always, I was struggling to find something that looked appropriate on my body type. Coincidentally, there was another girl in the dressing room next to me with her mother, looking for a dress for a church wedding as well. We both had picked out the same dress in different colors and I came out to show my mom. It was a cute dress -- it had sleeves, came down to right above my knees, and was a fit-and-flare. The only problem was, it had a slightly low neckline.In most cases, this wouldn't be an issue. On an average-size girl, the dress wouldn't show any real cleavage. Sadly, though, on me, my big, overly perky boobs popped out of the dress and I looked like I was ready for a night out in the club. As soon as I came out of the dressing room, my mom shook her head no.
The girl that had the same dress came out, and she looked adorable in it. Her mom oohed and aahed, and she immediately bought it.
This same situation happens to me on the regular. I am constantly realizing that there is no possibility of wearing any type of business casual outfit with a neckline other than neck high. The slightest scoop will make me look unprofessional -- in a way that it wouldn't most other women. It doesn't stop in the workplace, though. I often catch other women glancing at my breasts or making comments about how I should "put them away." As if I can make them disappear.
It's the sad truth. Put two women in a tank top. One has a small chest, and one has a large chest. The two women would be viewed differently. Recently, a Facebook post has gone viral. A woman claims that she was discriminated against at her local gym because of her large breasts. She states:
"I will start by saying my tank top was no different than many other women’s tank top at the club; except my chest size is much larger in appearance in comparison to my frame than many of the other women. After asking every woman at the club who I could find on the way out if my attire offended them and they responded no, it became clear that the only ones offended were the two women supervisors working at the club today. I pointed out to them that my shirt was no different than any other woman’s shirt. They informed me that it did not matter that due to my chest size I could not wear a tank top. I felt humiliated and discriminated against due to my figure. I was singled out and it is unfair to say I cannot wear a tank top and other women can! Different figures mean different rules?"
A full article regarding the situation can be read here. She posted photos showing exactly what she wore.
Whose fault is this? It's definitely not the everyday woman's fault! It's our media and our culture. Women with curves are sexualized and seen to be more promiscuous. It can be seen in our commercials, models, plastic surgery, and movies and TV. Women shouldn't be shamed or stigmatized because of their large breasts, but the sad truth is, they are. For some reason, women with larger chests are viewed as more unprofessional and, well, "sluttier."
Don't get me wrong. I love my body and I love my chest. I wouldn't want to be anyone else -- but at the same time, I sometimes wish that it were viewed a little differently. Maybe with more respect.
