100 Women Bare Their Breasts in Daring New Book (NSFW)


The way women feel about their breasts can get pretty complicated. Photographer Laura Dodsworth decided to explore those emotions in her project Bare Reality, which has morphed into an upcoming book.

The Kickstarter-funded publication will feature 100 un-airbrushed photos of topless women between the ages of 19 and 101, accompanied by quotes about how their breasts have affected their self-esteem, sexuality, and views of themselves. The women vary in size from AAA to K, and some of them have even undergone mastectomies. “We see images of breasts everywhere,” Dodsworth told the Guardian, “but they’re unreal. They create an unflattering comparison but also an unobtainable ideal. I wanted to re-humanize women through honest photography.”
 

The societal spotlight is shining on women’s chests right now, says Dodsworth on her Kickstarter page, citing the fierce debate over breastfeeding and the Free the Nipple campaign. “I think the time has never been better to hear how women really feel about their breasts, and to see how they really look,” she writes.

Dodsworth even included a non-anonymous photo of herself in the project, which she struggled with. “One male friend said that I couldn’t do it because my husband’s business partners would see, and one asked how my sons would feel when they grow up [they are seven and nine],” Dodsworth told the Guardian. “But both arguments were about the men in my life, and I thought they weren’t reason enough to stop me as an artist, a woman, and a feminist.”

That’s pretty admirable, as is the project’s commitment to women’s health. A portion of each book sale will go to the charity Breast Cancer UK, which focuses on preventing breast cancer related to environmental and chemical issues. Kudos to Dodsworth for working to keep women healthy as she proves that all breasts are beautiful.

More from Women’s Health:
31 Ways to Have More Fun With Your Boobs Every Day 
The New Breast Cancer Gene You Need to Know About
11 Weird Facts About Your Breasts