I recently read about a French study that researched the effects on women's breasts when they went bra-less. The study showed, contrary to everyone's beliefs, the women's breasts became perkier each year over 15 years. So, I decided that I would go bra-less as often as possible.

I am not someone who is overly confident about my breasts, but I am certainly not ashamed of them. Also, something about going without a bra felt empowering to me. It is as if this is one of the few things I can control in my life, so I better take advantage of it.

The first public place I went to was a popular mall. Back to school season is upon us, so the mall was filled with teenagers and their parents running around from shop to shop. It was packed. I was wearing a form fitting tank top, nothing special.

The reaction I got from most of the people there was definitely not what I expected. I had people looking at me like I was crazy. The expressions on their faces read, "You aren't wearing a bra! Are you crazy?" They looked horrified that I was going sans-bra.

Then there were a few people that had to throw in a few unwanted comments as they were walking past me. The interaction that bothered me the most was when I was sitting down, waiting for my boyfriend to come out of the restroom. A girl and her boyfriend came around the corner and when she saw me she made a point to show that I wasn't wearing a bra and, in between laughs exchanged with her boyfriend, she said one word: ew.

Why she would make a point to bring me down, I do not understand. But what I do know is that I did all I could to cover up my bra-less boobs for the rest of the day. I was ashamed just for making a personal choice that really didn't affect anybody else but me.

The day wasn't a complete bust, though. There were a few girls that looked at me and gave me a smile or gave props to me, because they weren't brave enough to do what I was doing. Those gestures alone made me feel pretty good about myself. This also goes to show that something as small as a smile can make someone's day turn around, or can give them the strength they need to face their fears.

The second public place I went to was Disneyland. I didn't get any positive feedback there. As I was walking through the amusement park, people's eyes were drawing to me like magnets. And on every face all I saw was a frown, they were silently shaming me for choosing comfort! This got so extreme that even my boyfriend noticed and was doing everything he could to stand up for me and assure me that it wasn't that noticeable and that I looked perfectly fine. It was no use, I also spent a decent chunk of the day trying to cover my breasts up, ashamed once again.

Now, as I look back on those days, I no longer feel ashamed. I feel upset people felt the need to show me how much they disliked my personal choice. Now, all I can say to them is, mind your own business. Why should it bother anybody that I don't wear a bra? I believe that that is a personal choice that every woman will make in her lifetime and everybody should respect that choice, not shame it. So I will keep my bra off, and no matter how many disapproving looks I get, I will keep that bra off as long as I see fit!