Recently a popular opinion amongst women is to go without a bra. This is not a new idea by any means. In the 1960s, women stood up and spoke about the same issue. But today's movement is gaining momentum quickly especially with the younger generations and millennials. There are many different aspects lending itself to why women are participating in this, including the over-sexualization of girls, the independence from societal pressure, and the equal rights movement.
From a young age girls are taught to wear a bra. Companies make bras and bra-like garments for girls starting at size six, some even smaller. This just reinforces the idea that girls are a sexual thing that need to be covered up for the comfort of society, specifically men. In fact, most schools state in their rule book that bra straps must not show. In many cases, girls have gotten in trouble and even sent home for issues related to a bra strap, including statements that the mere sight of one had made the male teachers uncomfortable. Adult males working with children were made uncomfortable by the thought of a child in a bra. Outraged parents took this issue to the media and it has only helped the campaign. Showing everyone, girls and boys alike, that a child’s education is not as important as a girl being covered up.
However, when that girl grows up she will learn that this injustice does not just happen in school, but all around the world in every aspect of many women’s lives. The idea of a woman in the workplace without a bra on is not seen as professional, and she can be reported, written up, or worse, all depending on her outfit instead of her work performance. The idea that a woman’s career should be in the hands of an uncomfortable metal rod holding up an extra piece of clothing is preposterous!
Many women are taking this issue and spreading it like wildfire, that women should be allowed to wear or not wear whatever kind of underwear they want, as long as they follow the guidelines of “business” attire, and do their job correctly. This is only helping the idea of going braless.
Speaking of metal rods, another big reason that people are choosing to ditch the undergarments is the pain and toll it takes on their body. If we look just at the fact that bras are designed to hold part of the body tight against itself, supported all by your shoulders, that alone should be plenty of reason to toss it off for good. Remember what it was like to carry a backpack all around with books and paper weighing down on those two straps, and how good it felt when you got to set it down? Well imagine that but in sometimes centimeter sized straps and all the time for the majority of your day. Starting to get the picture? Now imagine that backpack is digging into your skin at the bottom of it leaving an awful red irritated line where it sits for hours at a time. God forbid they break out of the lining and start poking into your skin, which is a very common problem. That’s the kind of example of what some bras can do. And then there is the all so sexy imprints left on your skin after you finally get to take it off. That’s always fun to feel the lines of your clothes dented into your skin after a long day at the office.
While the idea of going braless is a wonderful idea, backed by strong points and even medical studies, it is not always realistic. My friends of the “Big Girls Club,” the “Big Tittie Committee,” and the “Chub Club” know all too well, going without a bra is almost impossible. They are a vital part of life. As much as we would love to say goodbye to the hassle of a bra, going without one is that much more of a hassle. Which is sad because all my people with larger cup sizes will tell you that it is not always fun and games. Having a large bust can be nice, but it makes almost everything hard to do. When it comes to finding a bra, our choices are even worse than the Vampire love section at Barnes and Nobel. We have the option of beige or black. If we’re lucky we’ll find one in white, maybe. But chances are it’s not in your size. Forget getting a cute style or any lace or sex appeal at all. Add that to the pain it puts on your shoulders and back to wear it, and it would seem that going without would fix all our problems. What you don’t know is the pain your breasts flopping around can cause. Dropped something? It’s gone forever, because there is no way to get it back without hitting yourself in the face, flashing someone, or some extremely flexible skills.
So for most of us, wanting to join the No Bra movement will have to wait till after reduction surgery for my bigger girls. This is not to say that it’s not possible; bigger women are getting in on the action standing up for body positivity and “fat acceptance” in their stand against bras. More power to those who can proudly go without during the day. Just remember not to yell at your fellow bra-wearers for choosing to wear one if they want. The whole point of the No Bra idea is to embrace equality for women and letting them choose what they want to wear, and disintegrate the idea that they are required, not that they aren’t useful.
Hopefully this has inspired you to look into the movement more, to see if it’s for you, maybe even throw out some of those evil contraptions! Maybe it’s just reminded you that you need a new bra next time you’re at the mall. Whether you’re part of the Free the Nipple Campaign or just looking into the idea of wearing that cute shirt, that looks perfect without a bra on underneath, times are changing all around us and it is up to us to accept it and change the way the world sees bras and women in general.
