Realty check - body image

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Kenda, I think there are PLENTY of natural A cup women out there...and plenty smaller too.

In my twenties I was a 34AA (all the way through breastfeeding two children for 3 years, too). Then at about 35 I became a 34A. Now in my 50's I'm a 36A. I don't feel too small at all! Maybe you are seeing a lot of A cup women wearing padded and pushup bras nowadays and they just look bigger- those bras are everywhere, and they do make one look bigger.
(remember the "36" is just the measurement around your ribcage, under your boobs. The "A", "B", "DD" etc is the actual cup size.)

I think the huge perky rock-hard grapefruit look is what we see everywhere in magazines, on the internet, in the movies... It's NOT what most women look like naturally....not by a long shot. Unless you are nursing a baby and are painfully engorged with milk- breasts are supposed to be soft and hang on the body in a natural graceful way. And natural breasts don't have cleavage on TOP when one is just standing naked. Natural breasts are beautiful, whether large or small, yet we are bombarded (boobarded?) with the promotion of structurally altered fakeness geared towards making us feel less beautiful about our own bodies.

Sorry....couldn't help a little rant....

[Grog]

I think the huge perky rock-hard grapefruit look is what we see everywhere in magazines, on the internet, in the movies... It's NOT what most women look like naturally....not by a long shot. Unless you are nursing a baby and are painfully engorged with milk- breasts are supposed to be soft and hang on the body in a natural graceful way. And natural breasts don't have cleavage on TOP when one is just standing naked. Natural breasts are beautiful, whether large or small, yet we are bombarded (boobarded?) with the promotion of structurally altered fakeness geared towards making us feel less beautiful about our own bodies.

Just to add to your rant: I am about 34A/AA and I actually really like being like that. However it's nearly impossible to get a bra that has no padding in that size. It's assumed that I'd want to show more than I have. I find this really annoying. The only option otherwise is the flat-chesting sport bra. And when I find a non-padded 34A, it's usually not really well constructed. *sigh*

[Eden]

Just to add to your rant: I am about 34A/AA and I actually really like being like that. However it's nearly impossible to get a bra that has no padding in that size. It's assumed that I'd want to show more than I have. I find this really annoying. The only option otherwise is the flat-chesting sport bra. And when I find a non-padded 34A, it's usually not really well constructed. *sigh*

My favorites are the "Barely There" brand - I like a bit of support, but I won't buy a bra with padding or wires in it. Of course they don't even call things by this description bras... they call them bralets.... http://www.barelythere.com/style.asp?cid=4&id=33
Love their cami's too