Synopsis
‘Excellent’ – The Economist
A fascinating study of the breast, bringing together health, social history, feminism, art, religion and intimate memoir.
Most women in the developed world are dissatisfied with their breasts. They dismiss them as silly boobs, lament their less-than-ideal forms, or renounce thinking about them altogether. Why is this emblem of womanhood so often derided and maligned?
Tits Up investigates breasts through the eyes and lives of women experts. It explores the truths of mammary glands, from strip clubs to operating rooms, human milk banks, and bra designers’ studios. With refreshing optimism, Thornton unmasks the sexism behind the perceived profanity of breasts and hopes to liberate them from centuries of patriarchal prejudice.
‘Will make any woman reconsider her body, and any man reconsider how he treats the bodies of the women in his life’ – Independent
'Tits Up asks readers to reimagine the bosom . . . as a site of empowerment and even divinity' - The New York Times
Details
Reviews
“A consciousness-raising romp around feminism via the rack.”Philippa Perry
“Tits Up is avant-garde sociology as well as a witty and important feminist contribution to knowledge.”Angela McRobbie FBA, Prof. Emeritus Goldsmiths University of London
“This witty and informative sociological study of women's breasts in Western societies is sometimes shocking, often hilarious, always revealing. Tits Up is a must read – especially for men.”Professor Simon Frith, Edinburgh College of Art
“Sarah Thornton strikes the perfect balance of personal experience, scholarship, and fun. This is an important book.”Professor Sarah Oglivie, University of Oxford
