Tenderness

Breast Stories has said it many times but our existence is dedicated to promoting understanding between men and women.

It's a tall order. Maybe even a fantasy. Certainly only and idealist would try and many people won't like the approach we take.

However, from the beginning, one of our deepest passions is to develop a new language which enables this dialogue to occur.

It strikes us today that language must be based on a deep and respectful tenderness for what do breasts represent if not tenderness.

Even though we belong to the species, we have been critical of men for their disrespect for women. But tenderness would have us understanding that it is a difficult task. Learning the new language takes courage, but before courage comes the need to have knowledge. Knowledge about what we do and the effects we have. This knowledge requires a language. So we are caught in a loop.

Yet tenderness and gentleness rather than argument and anger may be able to shift perceptions on all sides.

Women need to understand that it can be really difficult being a man today. Many of the roles we built for ourselves have been torn down — some of them quite rightly. But others that are to do with our valuable contribution to society used to give us a sense of worth. With many traditional jobs disappearing we can find it hard to find a role that seems to fit.

Of course none of this excuses violence or anger towards women, but it might help to explain. Explaining might leed to understanding. Understanding might leed to different actions — for both men and women.

At the heart surely it would help if we found the tenderness within us.

Breast Stories will start by looking freshly for that new language.