A History of the Breast

This lecture looks at changing ideas about the healthy breast. It will explore notions of beauty, sexual pleasure, and age in both men and women. A lecture by Joanna Bourke, Gresham Professor of Rhetoric 16 January 2020 6:00pm UK Time There has been a great deal of research on breast cancer, surgery, and implants. This lecture looks at changing ideas about the healthy breast. It explores notions of beauty, sexual pleasure, and age. Early maturation of girls, coupled with a greater focus on the breasts of older women, have had major effects on cultural expectations and experiences. The lecture also asks: what happens when we turn attention to the male breast? Gresham College has offered free public lectures for over 400 years, thanks to the generosity of our supporters. There are currently over 2,500 lectures free to access. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds