I thought about starting a debate on this subject, but thought that a good discussion with multiple people might be better. May I ask that people wait to vote on the poll until a good discussion occurs?
I am opposed to cosmetic surgery in general, but especially to breast implants and am looking for some good Christian conversation on this topic. At the outset, however, I want to clarify the difference between cosmetic surgery (which I oppose) and reconstructive surgery (which I support). Just by way of information, I am a male in his later 30s.
Reconstructive surgery repairs body parts due to illness, accident, and medical abnormalities. As such I support breast reconstructive surgery when women have had a mastectomy or facial surgery if someone is burned or was born disfigured. Again, I support reconstructive surgery. Cosmetic surgery is the augmentation of functioning body parts, such as a woman with smaller breasts that wants larger ones or a man with a perfectly functioning nose who wants a different shaped nose. I oppose cosmetic surgery.
Breast implants are becoming a very common cosmetic surgery. My rationale for opposing them, based on both Christian values and health psychology research evidence, is below.
First, Savior taught to see the insides of others, not the outside. I believe the very act of getting a breast implant is based on the worldly view that female worth is located by breast size. In the world, real woman have larger breasts. As such, women with smaller breasts or women who had mastectomies are then labeled in society as less than. This in turn, causes them to dislike themselves and question their worth. We need to act like the Savior and I do not think he could support the view that breast size equates female worth. I think the Savior (and therefore Christian people) should see inner attributes of female worth such as kindness, humility, meekness, intelligences, a strong work ethic, service and so forth. By getting or supporting breasts implants, it send a worldly message -- non-purposeful -- that women with smaller breasts are less than.
Further, the underlying ideology behind breast implants is that female worth is based on being a sex objects, more or less for the male gaze. Sexual objectification is being made into a thing for others sexual use, rather than seen as a person with the capacity for independent action and decision making or valued due to other characteristics (e.g., intelligence, hard work ethic, sense of humor). Although some women may report that the decision to have cosmetic surgery breast implants was taken independently of pressure from sexual partner, it is impossible to separate womens choices in this matter from cultural influence, which is primarily pressure from men. The destructive health consequences of the sexual objectification of women are well document both in the media and by the American Psychological Association (I could not post the URLs internet links, this website would not allow me but I can provide them if needed). Women treated as sex objects leads to a host other health concerns, such as eating disorders, depression, and so forth. At the end of the day, though, men, I think more so than women, need to stop sexually objectifying women, so that breast implants surgeries (which is an act of sexually objectifying oneself) can end.
I am opposed to cosmetic surgery in general, but especially to breast implants and am looking for some good Christian conversation on this topic. At the outset, however, I want to clarify the difference between cosmetic surgery (which I oppose) and reconstructive surgery (which I support). Just by way of information, I am a male in his later 30s.
Reconstructive surgery repairs body parts due to illness, accident, and medical abnormalities. As such I support breast reconstructive surgery when women have had a mastectomy or facial surgery if someone is burned or was born disfigured. Again, I support reconstructive surgery. Cosmetic surgery is the augmentation of functioning body parts, such as a woman with smaller breasts that wants larger ones or a man with a perfectly functioning nose who wants a different shaped nose. I oppose cosmetic surgery.
Breast implants are becoming a very common cosmetic surgery. My rationale for opposing them, based on both Christian values and health psychology research evidence, is below.
First, Savior taught to see the insides of others, not the outside. I believe the very act of getting a breast implant is based on the worldly view that female worth is located by breast size. In the world, real woman have larger breasts. As such, women with smaller breasts or women who had mastectomies are then labeled in society as less than. This in turn, causes them to dislike themselves and question their worth. We need to act like the Savior and I do not think he could support the view that breast size equates female worth. I think the Savior (and therefore Christian people) should see inner attributes of female worth such as kindness, humility, meekness, intelligences, a strong work ethic, service and so forth. By getting or supporting breasts implants, it send a worldly message -- non-purposeful -- that women with smaller breasts are less than.
Further, the underlying ideology behind breast implants is that female worth is based on being a sex objects, more or less for the male gaze. Sexual objectification is being made into a thing for others sexual use, rather than seen as a person with the capacity for independent action and decision making or valued due to other characteristics (e.g., intelligence, hard work ethic, sense of humor). Although some women may report that the decision to have cosmetic surgery breast implants was taken independently of pressure from sexual partner, it is impossible to separate womens choices in this matter from cultural influence, which is primarily pressure from men. The destructive health consequences of the sexual objectification of women are well document both in the media and by the American Psychological Association (I could not post the URLs internet links, this website would not allow me but I can provide them if needed). Women treated as sex objects leads to a host other health concerns, such as eating disorders, depression, and so forth. At the end of the day, though, men, I think more so than women, need to stop sexually objectifying women, so that breast implants surgeries (which is an act of sexually objectifying oneself) can end.
