New feature: ‘Hasn’t anybody ever told you a handful is enough?’
by Jess McCabe // 15 December 2008, 00:05
Boys groped her, men shouted at her on the street, and girls and women reacted with hostility. Samara Ginsberg reports on growing up with large breasts
I was saddened to read Hannah Whittaker's article about her eating disorder a while back. I did, however, want to share the experiences of someone from the other side of the fence. I have what, for many women, is an extremely enviable figure. If I open a copy of FHM, the models don't look like unattainable visions of tiny-waisted pneumatic perfection. They look like me. With my size 6, 30E frame I could easily be a glamour model if I wanted – although of course I am probably over the hill at 25. And if I had a pound for every time I've heard a female acquaintance tell me I have 'the perfect figure', whatever that is, I'd probably have enough money for a breast reduction.
I must say straight away that I am happy with the way I look. There are things that I would change if it were easy to do so. I would like to have longer limbs and yes, smaller breasts. But I quite like my body. It's mine and it's familiar. It's good at martial arts and playing the cello and giving hugs. This happiness and acceptance however has been hard-won.
Founder of The F-Word, Catherine Redfern, has co-authored a new book with Kristin Aune. Find out more at the 
