Official Comment Count: 1,034,834

Reality is always more complicated than you think.

Profile

jake-head-shot.jpgJake Young is a MD/PhD student at Mount Sinai School of Medicine focusing in Neuroscience. He is due to graduate in 2032. He received a BS and a MS in Biological Sciences from Stanford University -- where he spent most of his time drinking heavily and building vegetable catapults instead of learning information that would now be eminently useful. When he is not failing terrifically to perform his sworn duties, he enjoys watching bad movies, ethnic food, and running.

Pure Pedantry is a blog about science -- social sciences and otherwise -- as well as academic and scientific culture. No one can live on science alone, so I also like to dwell on pop culture, periodically explore the humanities, and indulge in other types of geeky goodness.

Jake is joined periodically by two wonderful guest bloggers: Kara Contreary and Kate Seip. See the About Page.

DISCLAIMERS: 1) Jake Young is not a licensed physician (yet). He is merely a medical student. The information published on this site is not intended for use in medical decision making. Please seek advice from a licensed, medical professional before making any health decisions. 2) The opinions expressed are my own or those of my co-bloggers. They do not represent the views of SEED magazine or the educational establishments we currently attend.

Search this blog

Archives

Blogroll


raptor.jpg

« People to Cows: "Could you make mine skim, please?" | Main | Chewable Birth Control? »

In Breast-related News...

Category: Women's Health
Posted on: June 4, 2007 10:15 AM, by Jake Young

This falls into the rather broad category of things I will post but about which I will not comment. This is in part because I think the results are relatively self-explanatory. Maybe it is because I am a big prude. But mostly it is just because I am not touching this. No way...not with a ten-foot pole... (Just visualize me trying to decide whether I should put a photo of cleavage in this post.)

Anyway, here is your brief synopsis of breast-related news:

ABC details an interview with Elisabeth Squires, author of Boobs: A Guide to Your Girls, wherein she discusses appropriate cleavage for the workplace. Money quote:

What looks sexy for a night out on the town may not be appropriate in the workplace. In fact, Squires said cleavage should never make an appearance in the office.

"It's way too big of a distraction for men and women," she said. "If cleavage isn't in your job description, don't put it in."

From where I am standing, cleavage has not been a large issue in lab work. Perhaps it is the possibility of toxic chemicals, but most people I know -- men and women -- wear the grungiest, most-covering clothes they own to lab.

Incidentally, in reference to this article Ann Althouse has some truly hysterical comments such as "Okay, so night time is the 'prime time' (for cleavage). Clearly, there are other times. What are they? Hanging about cafés in the summertime? Catching a light lunch with a former President? We need to know."

The article cites two papers in relation to breast size and public perception.

Koff and Benavage look at how breast size makes women feel about themselves. Main conclusion: "Over and above the effect of weight preoccupation, smaller perceived breast size was associated with lower breast size satisfaction and with more positive body image, while larger size was associated with higher breast size satisfaction and with less positive body image." Message: Be happily average.

Tantleff-Dunn looks at how breast size changes how women are perceived. Women don't care, but men rate women of average size higher on social and professional characteristics. (Sadly both articles are behind subscription walls.)

So there you go...have at it...

Hat-tip: Daniel Drezner.

Comments

Thank you for keeping us abreast of this very important issue. It certainly deserves a closer look, and of course more hands on experience could be extremely relevant. However, your research failed to determine whether or not more than a mouthful is indeed a waste, as has been hypothesized, so clearly the thrust of deeper research in the future should be more fully developed along these lines.

Posted by: J-Dog | June 4, 2007 11:21 AM

Post a Comment

(Email is required for authentication purposes only. Comments are moderated for spam, your comment may not appear immediately. Thanks for waiting.)





Having problems commenting? (UPDATED)

Blogs in the Network

Advertisement

Top Five: Readers' Picks

Search All Blogs