Bare breasts on TV: Healthy?
Is showing a semi-nude breast exam on local TV during prime time instructional or exploitative?
A woman gives herself a breast exam.
(Rainbow/Corbis/Chris Rogers)
WJLA, a cable news station in Washington, D.C., aired a prime-time segment featuring an uncensored semi-nude woman examining her breasts as a precaution against cancer. The station says it was simply providing a medical service to viewers, but critics say it was just trying to boost ratings. Was it really necessary to bare all on prime-time TV? (Watch the controversial WJLA report of an uncensored breast exam)
This serves a serious purpose: Conservative groups such as Concerned Women for America have said this was strictly for ratings, says Dr. Logan Levkoff in The Huffington Post. "You know what? I don't care." People need to think more about how to stay healthy. "Knowing how to do self-exams saves lives."
"Those Bad Breasts"
This was just a publicity stunt: Most of the women watching already know how to check themselves for breast cancer, says Lily Robertson in Seacoast Online, and men couldn't give "two figs" about women's health. So this was a publicity stunt, "pure and simple." Women are smart enough to care about their own health without "some cheeky broad giving us a Girls Gone Wise medical display."
"Live! Nude! Girl!"
The video was misleading: There's a "bigger question here," says Tami Dennis in the Los Angeles Times. Are breast self-exams even necessary? "Many experts aren't so sure." Self-exams can "increase unnecessary testing and biopsies," and create anxiety. The "crucial" thing to remember is that the self-exam is "NOT a substitute for regular breast examinations from your doctor."
"Video aside, the bigger question is whether a breast self exam is needed"
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15 Comments
Posted by uh...., Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 12:03 pm I find it funny how sensitive so many people are in this country over the human body and sexuality in general. The female body in particular, especially the 'private parts' are sexual in of themselves. So god forbid if we see a bare breast on TV, even if it is for an important medical purpose. A bare breast on TV will only server to corrupt the minds of innocent children! /end sarcasm Get over your body anxiety people and grow the hell up. Christ.
Posted by James Charlet, Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 12:56 pm This is one of the most absurd controversies I have ever heard. Apparently, it's okay to show a decomposed, rotting breast in a duffle bag on every procedural crime drama on prime time, but one in a news segment about breast cancer gets the conservative groups in a tizzy. How many of the people worked up over this religiously watch Law and Order or CSI with no problems. Americans apparently hate breasts unless they are being shredded by a bullet.
Posted by JohnW, Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 1:35 pm Let's see. Jackson can bare her breast, and nipple ring. Wanna be stars can bare it all on tv movies BUT it's HORRIBLE to show a breast on an informational and instructional show? Grow up, people. This show is trying to save lives, not exploit. As a breast care doctor, I dispute the claim that MOST WOMEN KNOW HOW TO EXAMINE THEIR BREASTS. That is not true. Most women know they are SUPPOSED to do it, but they do not on a regular basis. Most women THINK that they know how to self exam, but they do not.
Posted by Kelly, Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 1:53 pm I agree with all three posts before me here. This is ridiculous. We are one of the most censored countries in the world when it comes to television!! Go to Canada or Europe and you'll see evil bare breasts all the time and they don't have half the social problems relating to sexuality as we do including teen pregnancies in which THE UNITED STATES IS 1 look it up!!. This relates to teaching abstinence in schools as well. Do you really think that telling teens don't have sex is going to prevent them from doing it? No you idiots.
Posted by jennifer, Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 2:08 pm the real issue here is that people make it an issue. apparently the victorian era ended and we didn't get the memo. the bigger the fuss made about it the more provocative it becomes and leads to an abnormal perception of the human body and sexuality. which is sick because to suggest that a breast examination is in any way sexual is exactly symptomatic of this abnormal perception. people will find any reason bitch about something and this was an easy target. i suggest getting a life.
Posted by jennifer, Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 2:08 pm the real issue here is that people make it an issue. apparently the victorian era ended and we didn't get the memo. the bigger the fuss made about it the more provocative it becomes and leads to an abnormal perception of the human body and sexuality. which is sick because to suggest that a breast examination is in any way sexual is exactly symptomatic of this abnormal perception. people will find any reason bitch about something and this was an easy target. i suggest getting a life.
Posted by Patrick Gerini, Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 2:41 pm I am amazed on how puritanical we are about the human body in this country. I just don't get it. You can show mutilated, decomposing bodies on any number of crime shows and parade provocatively underdressed teen nymphets on socalled sitcoms. However, once you display an unblemished uncovered breast people become unhinged.I just don't get it....it's just a breast, folks.
Posted by Roger, Tuesday, November 3, 2009, 3:04 pm Come on. News readers, especially on Fox, just about bounce out of their blouses, and break out the seams on their skirts. An educational show, that can be shared in a family, is good. Busty, ugly, teased blonde hair broards on the news is not good. It is pathetic, and allowing them to sell sex on the news is lame. Let's tame them down before we attact a show for teaching something important.
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