A year ago I decided that I hated bras and I never wanted to wear one again. It took me some time to transition, but in the end, I decided that my own comfort and happiness were worth more than an illogical and unjust cultural taboo.
First, let's take a look at the purpose of a bra: supporting the breasts. That's it. That's the only purpose of a bra. True to purpose, I definitely had a lack of support when I decided to do away with bras, but not from my breasts, from people!
Daily I am judged wherever I go, all because someone can see the shape of my nipples through my shirt. The horror! And yet, someone seeing my nipples through my shirt has absolutely nothing to do with a bra's job of support. Which brings us to why I decided to stop wearing one...
I don't need a bra to give me support. I don't have much to support if you catch my drift. Not only is a bra completely useless on me, it actually flattens my tiny ta-tas to make them even more unappealing.
For myself and many other women, a bra is a needless, uncomfortable and expensive piece of clothing whose only purpose is to ensure that other people don't have to see my nipple through my shirt. The fact that this is even expected of women is absurd in and of itself.
As for the expenses of wearing a bra, let me fill in those of you who've never bought one. A decent bra is going to range anywhere from $10-$50, but can go beyond even that. And if it's a $10 one, you can be sure it's less comfortable and more prone to needing replacement. Not to mention the struggle of finding one that fits right, to begin with.
That's money I spent entirely on someone else's comfort--because they sure weren't comfortable to me, or useful! They're incredibly annoying: straps digging into your shoulders, metal poking your chest and boob sweat! It's not a fun time, and most girl's cant wait to rip their bras off when they get home.
We also have the complete exception of this cultural rule when it comes to bathing suits. Seeing a nipple through a suit is nothing to blink twice at as long as you're poolside. So, what's the difference?
It's important to note that some women both enjoy and need bras, either because they take pleasure in the way they make them look or they actually need/want the support. Sports, too, are another reason a woman might wear a bra, and I fully support all of these women.
But everyone who chooses not to wear a bra should be supported, too. If you think you're uncomfortable seeing my nipples, think of how uncomfortable I am wearing a bra!
Hopefully, you can understand now why some of you choose to go sans bra. The good news is that this discomfort is completely cultural and thus malleable. So, here's to altering our perception of bras and letting the bra wearing and the bra-less stand side by side, unashamed.