We interviewed Laura Dodsworth about eschewing our illusions and celebrating the real female body - here's a peek at three stories from her new book Bare Reality
“My milk went when Hitler marched in”
This woman, born in 1912, tells how she and her husband fled the Nazis and came to England after she persuaded the Gestapo to release him from Dachau concentration camp. She was later given a mastectomy, even though the lump was benign.
“I was conscious of the mastectomy and never exposed my chest. I would never have gone topless anyway, even in my younger days. I’m very careful with my appearance. I wear a prosthesis. I forgot it once on holiday. I had to use loads and loads of plastic bags!”
“I’m proud I decided to have a tattoo”
After having her breast removed 10 years ago, this woman decided to have a tattoo created where her breast had once been.
“It makes a statement and it’s pretty to look at. I’m proud of it. I want people to realise you don’t have to hide away just because you’ve had breast cancer.”
“Sport has changed my body image”
Following her divorce, this woman thought having a ‘boob job’ would help her find a new partner. After realising that surgery wasn’t the answer, she turned to sport and is now pleased her small breasts don’t get in the way.
“Sport has changed my body image because my body has become more functional… It’s changed all my attitudes – shown me that someone can find you attractive for what you can do, not for how you look.”
Read our full interview with author and photographer Laura Dodsworth
Bare Reality published by Pinter and Martin, £25
You can follow the book on Twitter
