Social meaning attached to breasts and its influence on self-care in university women

Abstract

Objective: To determine the social meaning attributed to breasts and its influence on self-care in a group of young women at Magdalena University.

Methods: A qualitative methodology was used and information was collected through a structured interview. Thirty-one students were interviewed and a final sample of 18 representative individuals was selected for this report.

Results: Three study categories were identified: meaning of breasts, breast care, and acceptance of them. Regarding care, some manifested they performed the self-breast exam, even though they were unsure when during the menstrual cycle to perform it. There was similarity with other studies in that women concluded that breasts are a fundamental part of the condition of being a woman, as they are linked to issues such as fertility, nutrition, the mother-child bond, and sexual attraction.

Conclusions: Female breasts have been considered a symbol of beauty, eroticism, sexuality, reproduction, and affectivity; thus, breast deformity or loss thereof is perceived as a loss of sexual attraction, femininity, or both. This issue often leads to changes in body image, lower self-esteem, feelings of insecurity, anxiety, and depression. The women interviewed perceived their breasts as being a particular and representative characteristic of their femininity and were afraid to think that if for some reason they were to lose either of their breasts, they would not be the same, and would feel incomplete, sad, have a lower self-esteem, and limit exposure of this body part.