The Social Area of the Breast: An Evolution Through Cultures and Centuries

Abstract

Breasts have evolved as a functional and aesthetic unit. The perception of society toward social exposure of the breast has been extremely diverse, not only temporally through the same civilization but also among contemporary parallel societies in geographically diverse areas. This article explores the spatial and temporal evolution of the outlook toward social exposure of breast over the past 3000 years among different societies, countries, and religions. The level of "acceptance" or "tolerance" toward visibility of breast in social situations was historically guided by social conditioning. Recently, the personal attitudes and preferences of the women themselves have become more deterministic of the clothing choices. Consequently, the conventional oncoplastic notion of a "no-scar zone" being the upper-inner quadrant of the breast must also be redefined to match the dynamic personal preferences of the patient. It is important to know what the patient thinks is the "most social" area of the breast for her, and then to avoid scars in those areas if possible. The article discusses the quest to minimize scars and the importance of shared decision making.