Impacts of Breast Size on Post-Pubescent Female at Birth Dancers: A Three Phase Study / Amelia Millward (2021)

The challenges caused by female specific anatomy remain widely under researched in both performing arts and sport science. Within dance, the crossroad of art and sport, this research is non-existent. Previous literature displays a narrow focus, exploring only into biomechanics of breasts while running and the effects of sports bras, with little development of sociological and psychological understanding. This research aimed to explore the psychological, sociological, and physical impact of breast size on post-pubescent female at birth dancers. This was done through an exploratory sequential quasi mixed-methods framework consisting of three separate studies, with the results of each previous influencing the development of the next. Phase 1 explored the current perceptions of breasts within the dance community at large through a Likertscale style survey with a subsequent open-ended prompt. Descriptive statistics and a small-scale narrative analysis from responses (n=333) exposed a largely negative psychological and sociological relationship between dancers and breasts. Largely in part, due to negative perceptions and objectification of breasts. Phase 2 tested several baseline biomechanics of 10 dancers to understand their inherent tendencies. The results from these tests showed a significant difference in the centre of force measurements, but no other significant difference in foundational biomechanics small and large breasted bodies. Phase 3 studied the biomechanical differences of a matched pair of dancers with different breast sizes during dance specific movement through 3D movement analysis. This comparison suggested that larger breasts move more and at a lower rate of speed than small breasts. Overall conclusions from the synthesis of these results suggest that dancers with large breasts face several challenges, physical and psychological, which may hinder their professional progress. This research has provided foundations from which further research can advance.

Keywords: Breasts, biomechanics, perceptions, objectification, displacement, female specific anatomy, career development