'Get your boobs out at work to get ahead'

That’s a real quote, people.

It comes via Fairfax’s dating blogger Samantha Brett and her piece, ‘The Great Cleavage Conundrum: should men look if it’s on display?’, published on Fairfax websites a few days ago.

Brett wrote this piece in response to Bettina Ardnt’s column about women getting their boobs out and the effect it has on men (last week we discussed that on Mamamia – comments were fascinating). In Bettina’s original column, she asked whether women who dressed sexily at work were encouraging ogling from men and called the flaunting of cleavage an “up yours gesture of the most provocative kind”.

Brett takes the debate one step further by suggesting women should use their cleavage – whether real or fake – as a tool of empowerment.

Yep. Time to check the calendar to make sure it’s 2012 and then get your tits out for the boys. Who knows what it could do for your career!

We’ve highlighted some of the most interesting bits.

She writes:

Many women have cottoned on to the innate power of the simple act of showing a bit of chest flesh. And, while the fairer sex aren’t exactly sure what chemical reactions are sparked in the minds of blokes at the mere sight of a little décolletage, nevertheless over time they’ve learnt one vital life lesson: a little cleavage goes a long way.

And when it comes to the workplace, despite the fight for equal pay and equal rights, some women (many women) know that a good push-up bra is a better investment than any PhD. Besides, it sure as hell is something no man can ever attempt to compete with, no matter how many golf games or strip-club outings they organise for prospective clients. Women simply whip on a low-cut dress, some spindly stilettos and, voila! They’re ahead of the game by a long shot.

I only wish someone would have told me before I went to uni that all I really needed to do to be successful in life was nick down to Myer and pick me up a wonderbra. Hey Presto! A job! Empowerment!

Brett goes on to cite comments to Bettina’s piece from male friends, readers and colleagues. “Breasts are like jewellery, besides their natural function, they are there to attract attention & a possible mate,” was the response from one commenter. “Women know exactly what they are doing when they dress this way,” from another.

She goes on:

Many of the women I polled for this story say they are extremely self-conscious when it comes to cleavage of their own.

“It’s the absolute worst being flat,” a friend said to me before she decided to opt for breast augmentation surgery. “You feel as though everyone is staring at your chest for all the wrong reasons. No men call you sexy, and you definitely don’t get any wolf whistles. It brings down your entire self-esteem.”

Wait, really? Damn! I’ve been going about this beach business all wrong. I didn’t realise I was supposed to be competing with my larger-breasted sister girlfriends for male gawks and stares. I’ve been there just swimming this whole time. Silly me.

And finally, there’s this:

Whether fake or real, it undeniably empowers a woman, gives her a great sense of self-esteem, a colossal confidence boost and often gets her ahead of the men she’s long been trying to compete with.

Twitter erupted over the weekend when word of Brett’s article spread. It was “one of the most offensive pretensions to journalism I’ve ever read” according to writer Clementine Ford. She tweeted:

What do you think?