By
Maggie Burnett
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Breasts are not the key to success
Contrary to popular opinion, "the twins" are not just a less-than-favorable baseball team residing up in frigid Minnesota (dontcha know).
In fact, myself, along with every other female in the known universe possesses a set of her own "twins"... jugs, melons and, dare I say, "boobies."
Yes, breasts are a definitely a large part of what physically forms a woman - physically being the operative word.
However, Jenna Franklin, a 15-year-old British girl, seems to think that breasts, specifically the size of a woman's breasts, are the key to fame and success.
Franklin's parents, who are both coincidentally employed in the cosmetic surgery industry, have agreed to let her get breast implants as a gift for her 16th birthday.
The Guardian newspaper in London quoted Franklin as saying, "I want to be famous. And I don't think you can be famous without boobs... every other person you see on television has had implants. If I want to be successful, I need to have them too."
As contorted of an idea as this might seem to be, Franklin has a point. Just look at the way women's bodies (and breasts) are glorified in the media. But really, there are two sides to this issue.
The less-pervasive issue at hand involves the medical and psychological implications behind an operation of this caliber. Several doctors have expressed concern that Franklin's body is not physically mature enough to handle breast implantation. Also, breast enhancement can bring along with it a barrage of psychological problems, such as negative feedback from her peers while still at such an impresionable age.
Now, the more obvious issue at hand is Franklin's desire to become famous and maintain success. Somehow, she has managed to associate success with physical attractiveness.
Gee, what a surprise.
Take for example Latin-pop icon Jennifer Lopez. She tantalized the audience at the 2000 Grammy Awards with her low-cut Versace dress, later commenting she had "no idea" her provocative wardrobe would cause such a stir.
Likewise, while performing at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards, teen-sensation Britney Spears tore off her modest dress-suit getup to expose her scantily clad torso and breasts, proving once and for all that she really is not that innocent.
Based on the aforementioned accounts of undoubtedly successful women, it is no small wonder that a young teen such as Franklin would desire breast enhancement.
So why is it that this one girl's quest for larger breasts has ignited such a firestorm of controversy? Women all over the world have been hopping on the boobie-bandwagon and following through with breast implants for years. Facial enhancement and tummy tucks have been popular for an even longer time. The controversy brewing around this one case does not seem to stack up.
What it boils down to is this: anyone - male, female or otherwise - who feels their physical appearance is more important than intellectual persona is kidding him/herself. In the case of Franklin, the doctors are right - she is not only too immature physically to receive implants, she is not mentally developed enough to realize the importance of aptitude over appearance.
So, Franklin will undoubtedly achieve new status among the ranks of "the silicone generation." And though I find her solution to happiness shallow and unnecessary, I wish her all the luck and happiness in the world. Hopefully the public will not freeze her out like Minnesota did to the Twins.
