Tag: breast

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Should My Daughter Be Wearing A Bra?

"Should my daughter be wearing a bra?" is a question that some parents never pose to themselves.  Other parents are unsure. "Listen to your daughter" and "Let go of the idea that breasts are something that need to be hidden" suggests Meagan Murphy in this pithy, powerful guest post.  ~ Katharine

Does my daughter need a bra?

The decision to wear a bra or not wear a bra, or in the mother’s case, whether to buy a bra for your daughter, is one that merits careful consideration.

Breasts are emblems of nature, little buds that grow into unique flowers. These flowers are part of a woman’s body for the rest of her life, and will change as she gets older.

The impulse that these flowers should be tamped down, that breasts should be hidden by bras from a young age, is the same impulse that drives humans to disconnect from nature.

Tips to help you and your daughter make a choice about bras:

  • Decide whether or not bras are something that make you feel comfortable by either trying one on or letting your breasts be free.
  • Listen to your daughter as she discovers how she wants to cultivate her own “flowers” (breasts). Young girls hold a wisdom that has yet to be touched by societal influences.
  • Interact with nature.
  • Interact with your breasts 

The culture says we need bras to disguise our breasts

Let go of the idea that breasts are something that need to be hidden. These thoughts are one imposed by our culture, and while it is necessary to work within societal norms in some contexts, the home you share with your family can be a place of growth and comfortability.

~ Meagan Murphy 

Meagan Murphy is the producer of The Breast Archives (to be released this fall). She brings 20+ years of experience in film and broadcast, including 12 years with PBS. Meagan earned a Communicator’s Award for her work with teens and a Medical Journalism Fellowship. She also completed a 2-year women’s mystery school and Journey of Young Women's Mentoring Girls Certificate Training.

Find The Breast Archives on Facebook. Watch the trailer.

Art by Emilano Ponzi and Daniela Uhlig

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Breast Care and the Sensual Self

Here's a wonderful post on breast care by Meagan Murphy, my former student and producer of the upcoming documentary The Breast Archives.

So often, adults assume that girls’ breasts are sexual breasts.

Not true! The breasts and nipples of teens aren’t as sensitive as those of an adult.  Puberty is a great time for girls to begin caring for and exploring the body’s landscape.

Breast self-care is actually an ideal introduction to the sensual self, and the beginnings of a long and healthy relationship with one’s entire body!

If a breast-massage practice feels unnatural or awkward at first, that’s OK. Stick with it, and imagine your breasts as the face of your heart. Your routine could even feel meditative or spiritual.

Try some of these ideas to build your process: 

  • Find a calm, safe place away from a mirror. 
  • Take a few moments to breathe deeply and get comfortable.
  • Put on some calming music or light a candle if that works for you. 
  • Listen to what your heart is telling you through your breasts.

At every stage in our lives, from puberty on, our breasts are with us. Caring for them should feel good, mentally and physically.

~ Meagan Murphy

Ms. Murphy is the producer of The Breast Archives (to be released this fall). She brings 20+ years of experience in film and broadcast, including 12 years with PBS. Meagan earned a Communicator’s Award for her work with teens and a Medical Journalism Fellowship. She also completed a 2-year women’s mystery school.

"I believe lasting social change can be generated through storytelling and film. When we share our stories with courage and daring we help create a world where everyone is seen. My journey with The Breast Archives documentary project has awakened and inspired me to develop a concept called 'sensual feminism,' which is empowerment that’s derived from the integration of the sensual self with our day-to-day psyche.

Connect with Meagan on Facebook at The Breast Archives. Watch some clips from the documentary here.

Ms. Murphy is the producer of The Breast Archives (to be released this fall). She brings 20+ years of experience in film and broadcast, including 12 years with PBS. Meagan earned a Communicator’s Award for her work with teens and a Medical Journalism Fellowship. She also completed a 2-year women’s mystery school.

"I believe lasting social change can be generated through storytelling and film. When we share our stories with courage and daring we help create a world where everyone is seen. My journey with The Breast Archives documentary project has awakened and inspired me to develop a concept called 'sensual feminism,' which is empowerment that’s derived from the integration of the sensual self with our day-to-day psyche.

Connect with Meagan on Facebook at The Breast Archives. Watch some clips from the documentary here.

Art by Akseli Gallen-Kallela

Night Sky Riders is my new Women Who Run with the Wolves Online Study Group for women, launching Wednesday, September 9.  Sign up for the free preview on August 26 here.