'Breasts' or 'Boobies'? Does language matter?

I often refer to my "mutant boob" (breast with lumpectomy).  I think it depends on context and who's using the cute euphemisms and who the target audience is.  I do reserve the right to call my breasts whatever I feel like, they're mine to "name". 

In most cases I prefer the use of "breast" for awareness campaigns and such things -- to use cute terms demeans the message.  However, sometimes off-the-wall terms or presentations can reach people who never paid attention before.  There was a commerical in Ontario a year or two ago that showed a beautiful woman with lovely breasts, shashaying around a pool in a bikini.  I forget how they tied it in to breast cancer awareness but they did.  Many people were offended, but I liked it -- it reached out to people who might not pay attention to the more serious ads.

Probably not a great response to your question -- I can change my mind on this depending on my mood.  I'll be interested to see what others post about this.

I pretty much cringe. Personally, I always use the word "breast" (though I have been known to refer to my prosthesis as a boob-in-a-box).  What bugs me more than the choice of words itself is when awareness campaigns use sexually-charged appeals - e.g., the sign I saw at a Race for the Cure, proclaiming that "men have a BREASTED interest."  (Not sure how I would have reacted to the ad that Konakat liked!)

I do agree that sometimes cute/funny/sexy gets the message across, but even the "feel your boobies" campaign directed at young women, which I support, makes me cringe a little.  I guess I'm just old (50 on my next birthday) and stodgy.

Very interesting question, Ricki13!

L

I think that cute euphemisms demean and trivialize the message. It also sexualizes it, which is a whole other problem. I hate the 'i heart boobies' and 'save the tatas' themes.

I was told many years ago from a latina aunt (while breastfeeding) that "they were not chi chi's, but pechos. In other words not boobs, or tits but breasts. She was telling me to be dignified and proud of my breasts, and breastfeeding. I suppose you could translate to breast cancer also. Even if there cancerous there still breasts. Just how I have been raised.

Julieann

I agree with otter, all the "cutesie" terms make me cringe, it is pure and simple terms of derision and disrespect.  If we apply any of these euphemisems to men, it is crude.  I agree that all the slang terms sound like they are coming from a teenager's vocabulary, they are in very bad taste and should not be used in any form of campaigning for funds, awareness.

I agree with others, when it comes to breast cancer, I use the term breasts. In other context I use boobs or boobies or even the girls, but I don't like when others refer to my breasts as anything but breasts. and the term titties makes me cringe, I feel like I am talking to a teenage boy.

Sassa -- I saw that public service announcement Sunday night that you referred to...either during 60 Minutes...with Anderson Cooper interviewing Lady Gaga...or during the Grammys broadcast that followed..with Lady Gaga hatching from her egg.  It was all a blur to me!  BUT NOT THE COMMERICAL!  I, wholeheartedly agree with you that the guy saying, in so many words...that his significant other should be feeling his jewels WAS TACKY!    Did you just hear that sound?  That was my loo flushing because I just barfed at recalling the commercial! 

I worry that the next public service announcement will be asking significant others to start feeling women's racks! Oy!

I refer to the reconstructed area as "tissue mounds." They are not breasts. They are suggestive of "breasts." They are lumps of flesh - but they are not shaped like breasts.

I dislike the term "foobs." That's just me. To each their own.

Just don't force me to call them breasts. 

[Copied from the other thread, 'cause I don't feel like re-typing it]:

Where's the evidence that the same women who are offended by terms like "tits" and "funbags" are the ones who want to be "defined by the pink ribbon"?  And, since when is my disgust with the terms "tits" and "funbags" an indication of political correctness?

I guess I need to take my own advice and walk away.  I promise I'll be first in line next October to resurrect the "Pepto Bismol" thread.

otter

BTW, the "family jewels" commercial was for SELF exam, not getting a SO to examine them.  I can certainly see where that would have you running for the loo    ---we do enough for our SOs and examining his "jewels" is SO not something I'm up for.  I examine mine, he has to do his. LOL

I don't care what anyone calls the mammary gland (s) --except in professional  circumstances.  If my onc or pcp asked to examine my boobs, I'd be insulted and tell him where to shove it.  Of course, I'm free to call them boobs in their offices.  If in a professional situation myself, I'd call them breasts. 

 Otherwise, I have no problem. (funbags is not really flattering, is it?) At 67, I figure I can call'em what I like.  I think even my adult son called them boobs.  My now gone MIL shyly whispered "boobies", long long ago.  My Very long gone mom remebered being a child in church and telling Her mom: Titty, mommie!   (We've come full circle with women breast feeding kids to a ripe age.)

They do have 2 purposes: fun and feeding.  One serious and one not so much.  Guess we can have different names and obviously, we have lots of opinions!  LOL

Some words I find offensive.. tits, funbags (that is a new one for me), some I find cute and use myself, boobies, boobs.  When I went into my surgery one nurse asked me routinely what are you here for as verification.  I told her I was getting a boobectomy..  LOL

JBinOK -- I'm wondering if you've ever had a medical problem with another intimate body part?  I have -- with anus and vagina -- I would never return to a doctor's office for treatment of those problems if on the office wall they'd had a poster referring to "asshole" or "pussy" !!!

(Even though I may be quite fond of those terms in the context of "pillow talk" -- but isn't that exactly the point?  Terms used for sexual fun between intimate partners are exactly what I DON'T want to hear from a medical professional!)

Just my opinion!  Please don't bother calling me a whiner, since I already imagine you think so!

It came from the other thread (from which you copied a post onto this one), which had been started by a woman offended to see a "Save the Ta-Ta's" poster in her breast surgeon or oncologist's office.