Episode 496: How Breasts Became Erotic – The Surprising History
April 28, 2026 by Justin Lehmiller
You might think that breasts are inherently sexual and that humans have always eroticized them. Historically, however, breasts haven’t always been seen this way, and even today, breasts are barely sexualized in some cultures. In today’s episode, we’re looking at the fascinating story behind how breasts became eroticized, and how the cultural meaning of breasts has changed over time.
My guest is Sarah Thornton, a sociologist, non-fiction writer, and author of four critically acclaimed books. Thornton’s most widely read book is Seven Days in the Art World, which is translated into over 20 languages. Her latest is titled, Tits Up: The Top Half of Women’s Liberation, which explores the significance of breasts across radically different social worlds.
Some of the specific topics we explore include:
- How did decoupling breasts from feeding make them more erotic?
- What role did infant formula play in that shift?
- Historically, was breast sexualization partly a privilege of wealth?
- How do culture and concealment shape what we eroticize?
- Why is the nipple where we draw the line?
Check out Sarah’s website to learn more about her work.
Got a sex question? Send me a podcast voicemail to have it answered on a future episode at speakpipe.com/sexandpsychology.
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Credits: Precision Podcasting (Podcast editing) and Shutterstock/Florian (Music). Image created with Canva; photos used with permission of guest.
Dr. Justin Lehmiller
Founder & Owner of Sex and PsychologyDr. Justin Lehmiller is a social psychologist and Research Fellow at The Kinsey Institute. He runs the Sex and Psychology blog and podcast and is author of the popular book Tell Me What You Want. Dr. Lehmiller is an award-winning educator, and a prolific researcher who has published more than 50 academic works.
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