Persuasive

Addriana Carr

Dec. 8th 2008

EN 111

 

Breast Implants – A Woman’s Choice

            It is no secret that some women are now partially made of plastic. Ever since 1962, silicone breast implants have been made available to women around the world. Why would they do this? Pay the high cost of plastic surgery, just to add a few inches to their bust lines? Women get breast implants for many reasons, but it’s not usually because of the pressure felt to attract men, as many might assume.

            One of the reasons women purchase breast implants is psychological. Many women who are born with smaller breasts express frustration and sadness, feeling that they are less feminine than other women. Others say that they feel like they have the figure of a little boy and it really damages their self image. In American society today women are constantly surrounded with ‘models’ of the perfect figure, whether its seen on television, or splashed on a magazine cover, women everywhere are being told what the ideal feminine body should be. It’s not surprising then that after recovering from the one-to-two hour surgery, many patients say their self esteem is higher and that they “feel a sense of empowerment” (Teal).

            Women also choose to have breast augmentations after physical disfigurement. Many breast cancer patients are left with only one breast after they have beaten cancer and choose the surgery to restore themselves to their original form. Many times, after traumatic accidents, women are left with terrible scarring that is just as emotional as it is physical. These women go through many plastic surgery procedures in order to turn their bodies into something that they can recognize and relate to once again. They simply want to recapture a sense of normalcy.

            However, not all women get breast implants because they feel they are missing something. Many women get this operation to feel more confident in the workplace. Higher self esteem usually corresponds with higher levels of productivity. If a woman chooses to enhance how she sees herself, it will undoubtedly show up positively in her work environment. Some view the surgery as an investment, usually looking at the procedure as a positive career move.

             Many will argue, however, that breast implants are simply a way for women to impress or attract men. If you open a woman’s magazine like Glamour or Cosmopolitan you will undoubtedly find articles that address the debate over breast implants. These magazines survey men of every nationality and age, asking them their opinions on artificially enhanced chests. In all of these articles you will find that men argue against implants, stating that they prefer real ‘fun bags’ to fake ones. In one impromptu internet questionnaire, five out of six men said they’d rather meet a girl with small real breasts over large fake ones (John). The real people to interview on this issue are the women who want or have gotten the operation themselves. These women are usually willing to reveal why they’ve spent thousands of dollars to change themselves. Some men do request that their wives or girlfriends enhance themselves artificially, but the rate of women who go along with this request is very low. I think everyone would agree that a woman should only change her body for herself, and do it by her own standards. The statistics show that men do not prefer implants over the real thing, clearly giving evidence that women get this procedure for their own benefit. A woman’s reasons for breast implants are her own, and in most cases, she has thought on and researched the procedure for many years.

            On the whole, women choose to have breast augmentation operations for reasons that are their own, and not for the benefit of men. Women in today’s society live for themselves and for their own set of standards. The one person you should consult on such a decision is “yourself and only yourself!” (Teri). Whether it’s to improve your self- esteem, fix a disfigurement, or to further your career, the choice is yours alone. I believe the stigma of breast implants is unfair for many women. Before you roll your eyes and comment on a woman’s augmented chest, always remember the golden rule; treat others as you would want to be treated. It also doesn’t hurt to remember that woman cannot make another happy until she is truly happy with herself.

 

 

 

Works Cited

John, Skyy. Fake Breasts… Who Really Likes Them?! 04 August 2007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BtPq0dfAzc

Teri. Teri’s Story. Breast Implants 411.

           http://www.breastimplants411.com/share_story_winners/december05_winner.htm

Teal, Brandi. Phone interview. 15 November 2008.