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Original poster

Why wear a bra?

42 replies

BettyCF · 14/04/2014 18:14

Not a question from a 14 year old boy !

I’ve seen several threads here about boobs and bras. Many posters says things like “ I hate my bra and the first thing I do when I get home is take it off”

Surely in today’s liberated and freedom loving society we should be free to go around in public without a bra – or is that only for the brave? Are we really forced to wear something we don’t want to just to please others (men?, other women?, the boss at work?)

Of course, some of us feel physically more comfortable in a bra – especially if you have heavy breasts. But is a bra necessary to be comfortable in the head?

B

OP posts:
rinabean · 14/04/2014 18:26

I have heavy breasts and I'm much more comfortable without (after the first month or so which was sometimes painful, I guess the ligaments realign or whatever). And yes, they were all properly fitted.

Bras are part of a 'modern' alternative to a corset from a hundred years ago. But they certainly seem mandatory.

Nocomet · 14/04/2014 18:33

Because It's what expected in society. A woman isnt considered decent unless she is wearing a bra and (if they show has her legs shaved).

Both conventions that massively piss me off.

DD2 would be mortified if I didn't wear a bra in the presence of anyone she knew. (she has to lump the fact I do not wear one on holiday anywhere hot).

This is despite the fact she BF for years and was very adept at shoving my bra out the way.

TimeForAnotherNameChange · 14/04/2014 19:16

Interesting question. I'd say no, a bra is not necessary to be comfortable in the head, and I say that as the proud owner of a rather large pair of 30HH's! I happily go braless around the house on occasion and sometimes will go out for a quick jaunt to the shops without one if I've a thick coat over the top. But in terms of physical comfort I generally prefer to wear one, and I also look vastly better with one on as it keeps them up and front as opposed to round my waist!

ProfondoRosso · 14/04/2014 19:22

I'm a 32F and I just don't feel comfortable being out and about without a bra. My boobs bounce everywhere and hurt. I tend to get into my dressing gown when I get in from work so go braless then but I'm not moving around much.

soaccidentprone · 14/04/2014 19:23

I assume if your breasts are in the slightest bit droopy, that you would get skin rubbing against skin where the great meets the chest area, which would then make an excellent warm, moist breeding ground for bacteria, thrush etc (nice).

Also a bra lifts the breasts and gives a more defined waist as it separates the 2 areas.

I also think you would get loads of stretch marks on the top of the breasts where the tissue and skin is pulled down by gravity.

soaccidentprone · 14/04/2014 19:24

Great? = breast. No idea how that happened!

LadyintheRadiator · 14/04/2014 19:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ExcuseTypos · 14/04/2014 19:28

I'm 28FF. If I didn't wear a bra my boobs would be bopping and swinging about all day long.

Notfastmainlyfurious · 14/04/2014 19:33

No way would I ever consider going out braless, that would be so uncomfortable. I don't take mine off when I get home either. Hate that jiggly wiggly feeling and being pregnant they're heavy and sore just now too.

Raskova · 14/04/2014 19:33

Because it's bad enough people see my stomach if I reach up, let alone the bottom of my spaniels ears boobs Hmm

Once I've finished procreating spawning I'll have a boob job. Shock

Marylou2 · 14/04/2014 19:58

I'm a 34g and I only remove bra to shower or bathe. I wear support vests in bed.I hate the feeling of no support even for a few minutes.

Redcoats · 14/04/2014 20:03

Because It's what expected in society Not for me. I'm a GG cup, going without would be uncomfortable. My back and shoulders ache with the weight of them as they are.

I don't wear one in bed or in the shower. That's it. I've even got a bra built in swimming costume.

Bunbaker · 14/04/2014 22:22

I wear one so that I don't look like a boy.

Original poster
BettyCF · 14/04/2014 23:57

I posted the original question about why wear a bra. Thank you all for your kind and illuminating replies.

My post really concentrated on why society makes us wear bras. Is it respectability? or to stop men being turned on by the natural shape of a breast? Or...

I realise that many women are physically more confortable (less pain!) in a bra, but that was not the intention of my post.

..B

OP posts:
Eastpoint · 15/04/2014 07:18

I think that if you don't want to wear a bra you don't but the people who have chosen to comment do wear bras because they find them more comfortable than not wearing a bra.

Last year Oxfam ran a campaign asking women to bring their unused bras in - women in developing countries are keen to be more comfortable and apparently bras sell quickly in clothing markets.

Big Bra Hunt

Bunbaker · 15/04/2014 07:27

I think women are very critical of other women who don't wear one. Especially when it is clear that they would definitely benefit from the support they give.

AnnieFrance · 15/04/2014 12:11

I really smiles when I read these comments. I'm old enough to remember the times when....

.... all respectable girls HAD to wear girdles (late 50s, early 60s). We had tightish skirts and to show 2 buttocks was a no no. I and my friends started girdles when we were 15, whether we needed to not - we were less chubby in those days. My mother could tell at 25 paces if I was not wearing my girdle and sent me upstairs to "become respectable".

....trousers were for wearing at home only. Remember the early 70s when many companies banned women from wearing trouser suits to the office? I remember girls not being allowed to wear trousers to school even in a very cold spell with icy winds.

I know what the original post was asking, if we have got rid of the rules that you MUST wear a girdle, why MUST you wear bra today. Wear a bra through choice yes, because someone else says so "no".

I've worn some really tight, uncomfortable and impractical clothes in my time, but I've done so (except for those schoolgirl girdles!) through my choice, not because someone expected me to wear them.

I think it's sad that women HAVE to wear a bra today because other people expect to see a slightly artificial shape and no wobble.

Love to you all...........Annie

helzapoppin2 · 15/04/2014 14:57

BettyCF, sometimes I find them really restricting. I was out one night, walking through a city, trying to keep up with everybody and thinking "Youre feeling your age, girl!" We arrived at the destination, I unhooked my bra, and on the return journey, walked back in comfort and happiness.
Why do we have to have a thick band of elastic round our chests? I also believe I'm not in need of an intervention, size wise.

LaurieFairyCake · 15/04/2014 15:03

Each boob weighs a stone.

My comedy breasts need support.

sybilfaulty · 15/04/2014 15:07

When I qualified as a solicitor in 1996, the "lady fee earners" as we were called (ie the solicitors as opposed to support staff) were not allowed to wear trousers! That's not even 20 years ago. My firm was very traditional but still. They didn't say anything about bras though....

I have big boobs and always wear one. Even when I come home and put pyjamas on I still have the bra until I go yo bed. I wouldn't like to be seen outside the house without one. And too uncomfortable.

ErrolTheDragon · 15/04/2014 15:12

I wear a bra because when I don't, I need to manually support my boobs if running, or walking up and down stairs. Quite a lot of the time I wear a sports bra - I see this as being liberating, rather than the reverse, allowing me to be as active as a bloke in comfort.

It's nice to take it off in the evening when I can lounge around and am not carrying stuff up and down stairs. As someone says, like taking off your shoes.

ErrolTheDragon · 15/04/2014 15:14

My post really concentrated on why society makes us wear bras

I really don't believe it does. If you don't want to wear one, just don't.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 15/04/2014 15:16

I think it's left over from Victorian corsets - I hope someone invents something more comfortable or we just do without and let them go free!

ArsePaste · 15/04/2014 15:25

I wear a bra because if I don't, my knees tend to get sweaty.

ErrolTheDragon · 15/04/2014 15:34

I hope someone invents something more comfortable
The most comfortable support I know of is a wetsuit, but that doesn't really work well on dry land Grin