Tits Up: What Sex Workers, Milk Bankers, Plastic Surgeons, Bra Designers, and Witches Tell Us about Breasts

Breasts as Social and Cultural Symbols

Sarah Thornton crafts a vibrant analysis of breasts as more than mere body parts, examining their role as mirrors for society’s anxieties and obsessions. Through meticulous research and intimate interviews, she uncovers the emotional and political landscapes that shape how breasts are seen and experienced. The book draws from spheres as varied as sex work and milk banking, making visible the diversity of ways in which breasts are rendered meaningful or controversial. Thornton’s approach is both empathetic and incisive, capturing how breasts become sites of empowerment, vulnerability, and negotiation.

The Medicalization and Commodification of Breasts

Central to the book is the discussion of medical and commercial industries. Thornton exposes how plastic surgery and bra design influence perceptions of the ‘normal’ or ‘ideal’ breast, often enforcing narrow beauty standards. She highlights stories of those seeking surgery—some for validation, others for relief—and the complicated motives underpinning these choices. In contrast, the flourishing of milk banks unveils new economies around breastmilk, demonstrating both solidarity and the commodification of women’s bodily capacities. These chapters illustrate the paradox of progress and exploitation within medical and commercial frameworks.

Breasts, Desire, and Agency

Desire, pleasure, and sexuality form another key strand. Thornton spotlights sex workers and their perspectives on breasts as tools of empowerment, play, and survival. She presents counter-narratives: breasts are not simply objects of the male gaze, but can also be sources of pride and agency for those who wield them expertly. Thornton explores the erotic and subversive dimensions of breasts, grappling with questions of consent, control, and feminist resistance in a world keen to police female sexuality.

Norms, Taboos, and Stigma around Breasts

The book also delves into how breasts have historically been stigmatized—particularly through the lens of witchcraft—exposing centuries-old connections between breasts, perceived threats to patriarchal authority, and the policing of women’s bodies. Thornton unpacks ongoing cultural taboos around breastfeeding in public, bralessness, and aging, tracing threads of shame and pride that persist today. She argues that these stigmas are neither natural nor permanent, but products of shifting power dynamics and collective anxiety.

Ultimately, "Tits Up" is a rallying call for a radical rethinking of how society views breasts. Thornton advocates for greater acceptance of diverse bodies and experiences, arguing that understanding breast narratives can help redefine femininity, undo stigma, and enrich conversations around gender and personal autonomy. By threading together deeply personal stories and sharp cultural critique, she invites readers to reconsider what is truly at stake when we talk about breasts—and, more broadly, about the rights of those who have them.