Free The Nipple, As Told By A College Student
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Free The Nipple, As Told By A College Student

My breasts are not political statements; they are just breasts.

537
Free The Nipple, As Told By A College Student
Pixabay

The age of censorship is finally being destroyed by women across the United States supporting one cause: the Free the Nipple campaign.

Since this movement was introduced by Lina Esco in the drama/comedy, "Free the Nipple," dialogues about gender equality continue to spread nationwide. Now, any woman who decides to set her breasts free is viewed as a radical feminist seeking equal rights.

Well, Lina Esco and supporters, my nipples are not a political statement. I did not wake up one moment and decided, "For 2 years I will not wear a bra because it is trendy and I want to belong to a movement." It is actually simple - I freed my nipple! I freed my breasts!

Throughout my youth, I succumbed to the societal norm of wearing a bra. "Ant bites," my fifth-grade pubescent friends would tease. And I, with worry of not fitting in with the popular crowd I worked so hard to be apart of, ran to my mother in hopes of easing the peer pressure inflicted by mockery. While this marks my first bra, it also introduces the start of my brassiere journey.

As my breasts grew from ant bites to mosquito bites late in middle school, I discovered my ticket to womanhood: a striped pink and blue matching bra and pantie set from Target that I could not wait to show off on my Myspace page. Staring in the mirror as I click the camera button, I affirm that the painfully annoying underwire and circulation-cutting straps are worth my entrance into womanhood.

As I enter my first year of college, the age of Victoria's Secret's "Very Sexy" push-up bra became my staple of accentuating my new found sexual liberation and growing C-cup breasts. As I moved through college, I found every reason to purchase a new bra every semi-annual sale until my breasts could not take the constriction and sweat. It was a constant reminder that I am only wearing a bra to make myself "look better" - and I became less interested in pushing up my breasts, and more interested in finding that one comfortable bra. I became more interested in freeing my breasts. Then, my junior year of college ended my brassiere journey.

Entering a four-year college introduced me to being comfortable with exposing and exploiting myself. I became unapologetic about my values and my body. In hand, this led to my blunt form of self-expression. I TOOK MY BRA OFF. For good. As I dawn the campus with busty, hard, and poking nipples, I receive looks of wonder, looks of temptation, looks of disbelief - all kind of looks. I admit, this made me slightly uncomfortable and it urged me to run back to masking my nipples behind heavy padding; however, I realized most people should be aware what is beneath the grasp of a bra. So why hide it?

2 years later, I am still bra-less and gaining the knowledge of the shape of my breasts, an appreciation for a quirky unevenness, and a love for them as accessories to a great crop top.

Women are supposed to get dressed and include undergarments, especially the piece of clothing where you have to double down just to clip on the third row. For the first half of my life, my understanding of the decision to put on uncomfortable bras was because I wanted the passage to womanhood. I did not think of my decision as a way of stripping the taboo of the female nipple. I burned my bra for convenience and comfort. So, welcome to my: "Free the Nipples for Comfort" movement.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

39886
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

24439
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

950347
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

130235
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments