Why are bras seen as mandatory for women with chests?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^
Bras Make Breasts Sag, 15-Year Study Concludes
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/259073#1

“Medically, physiologically, anatomically – breasts gain no benefit from being denied gravity. On the contrary, they get saggier with a bra.”

Prof. Rouillon used a slide rule and a caliper (a device used to measure the distance between two opposite sides of an object) to carefully measure changes in breast features of hundreds of women over a 15-year period at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Besançon.

...

Rouillon found that women who never wore bras had nipples on average seven millimeters higher in relation to their shoulders each year than regular bra users.

Ok, but aren’t women who have naturally perky breasts less likely to wear a bra? Seems like a chicken and egg question.

[Anonymous]

I'm 32E and wear a bra for comfort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^
Bras Make Breasts Sag, 15-Year Study Concludes
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/259073#1

“Medically, physiologically, anatomically – breasts gain no benefit from being denied gravity. On the contrary, they get saggier with a bra.”

Prof. Rouillon used a slide rule and a caliper (a device used to measure the distance between two opposite sides of an object) to carefully measure changes in breast features of hundreds of women over a 15-year period at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Besançon.

...

Rouillon found that women who never wore bras had nipples on average seven millimeters higher in relation to their shoulders each year than regular bra users.

Ok, but aren’t women who have naturally perky breasts less likely to wear a bra? Seems like a chicken and egg question.

The study controlled for this as a potential confounding variable and still found the same result.

[Anonymous]

I'm 66, B or C depending on my weight. Bras always felt like wearing a harness and I have always avoided as much as possible. If I couldn't conceal at work (fairly casual environments, I was partial to a snug t shirt and a loose sweater or a heavy weight shirt over the t shirt and buttoned enough to conceal. Bra off as soon as I got home. Have worn one maybe 2x in the past year! No sag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm 66, B or C depending on my weight. Bras always felt like wearing a harness and I have always avoided as much as possible. If I couldn't conceal at work (fairly casual environments, I was partial to a snug t shirt and a loose sweater or a heavy weight shirt over the t shirt and buttoned enough to conceal. Bra off as soon as I got home. Have worn one maybe 2x in the past year! No sag.

+1

About the same age--heavier than I should be and was flat chested in my youth. LOVED, loved, loved, going braless in the '70's when it was stylish. Would do it now, if I looked decent. But, agree, never wear one in the house.

[Anonymous]

It’s a comfort issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^
Bras Make Breasts Sag, 15-Year Study Concludes
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/259073#1

“Medically, physiologically, anatomically – breasts gain no benefit from being denied gravity. On the contrary, they get saggier with a bra.”

Prof. Rouillon used a slide rule and a caliper (a device used to measure the distance between two opposite sides of an object) to carefully measure changes in breast features of hundreds of women over a 15-year period at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Besançon.

...

Rouillon found that women who never wore bras had nipples on average seven millimeters higher in relation to their shoulders each year than regular bra users.

Ok, but aren’t women who have naturally perky breasts less likely to wear a bra? Seems like a chicken and egg question.

The study controlled for this as a potential confounding variable and still found the same result.

That article is hilarious. I’ll tell you who benefitted from this “study”- one Jean-Denis Rouillon, who likely was the envy of all his male friends. “Young women shouldn’t wear bras, but once you hit 45 please do. This is my unscientific opinion in a tiny ‘study’ that I myself acknowledge is meaningless.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because no one wants to see saggy breasts flopping around.

.

+1000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^
Bras Make Breasts Sag, 15-Year Study Concludes
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/259073#1

“Medically, physiologically, anatomically – breasts gain no benefit from being denied gravity. On the contrary, they get saggier with a bra.”

Prof. Rouillon used a slide rule and a caliper (a device used to measure the distance between two opposite sides of an object) to carefully measure changes in breast features of hundreds of women over a 15-year period at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Besançon.

...

Rouillon found that women who never wore bras had nipples on average seven millimeters higher in relation to their shoulders each year than regular bra users.

Ok, but aren’t women who have naturally perky breasts less likely to wear a bra? Seems like a chicken and egg question.

The study controlled for this as a potential confounding variable and still found the same result.

That article is hilarious. I’ll tell you who benefitted from this “study”- one Jean-Denis Rouillon, who likely was the envy of all his male friends. “Young women shouldn’t wear bras, but once you hit 45 please do. This is my unscientific opinion in a tiny ‘study’ that I myself acknowledge is meaningless.”

The sample included only 18-35 year old women and it sounds like the max age at the end of the study was 45?
It just sounds like the researcher was a pervert.

[Anonymous]

Huh, I always thought the opposite OP. I’m a very small chested woman (barely an A) and I’ve always resented having to wear a bra just to make other people comfortable, since it’s certainly not for my comfort. I always assumed women with larger boobs wore bras because they help support. That’s what my friends have told me.

And as someone who has gone braless a lot as an adult woman, I can tell you for sure that the people most worried about how inappropriate this is are middle aged women (I am middle aged, this isn’t again, I’m just sharing facts). They are the only ones scandalized by nipple visible through a shirt or who will pull you aside to tell you that you would look “more appropriate” in a bra. This is very much a self-policing thing with women, as most clothing issues are. Women will shame you hard if you don’t conform. It’s like “we are all suffering under these rules and unrealistic expectations, what makes you think you are so special that you can opt out?”

[Anonymous]

Are there women who don’t have chests? Very confused by the title of this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Huh, I always thought the opposite OP. I’m a very small chested woman (barely an A) and I’ve always resented having to wear a bra just to make other people comfortable, since it’s certainly not for my comfort. I always assumed women with larger boobs wore bras because they help support. That’s what my friends have told me.

And as someone who has gone braless a lot as an adult woman, I can tell you for sure that the people most worried about how inappropriate this is are middle aged women (I am middle aged, this isn’t again, I’m just sharing facts). They are the only ones scandalized by nipple visible through a shirt or who will pull you aside to tell you that you would look “more appropriate” in a bra. This is very much a self-policing thing with women, as most clothing issues are. Women will shame you hard if you don’t conform. It’s like “we are all suffering under these rules and unrealistic expectations, what makes you think you are so special that you can opt out?”

You’ve resented having to wear a nice stretchy handkerchief so no one has to see your nipples? Oh my god, the horror! A few inches of fabric?! How do you get along in the world while bearing this unbearable burden!? And support wise, you don’t need this? And you can just run without a serious bra, whenever you want?


Call me when you actually have to wear something with underwear that really trusses and lifts you because otherwise your back hurts, your boobs hurt, you change your walk to accommodate the movement of your breasts. Seriously have a trace of self awareness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Huh, I always thought the opposite OP. I’m a very small chested woman (barely an A) and I’ve always resented having to wear a bra just to make other people comfortable, since it’s certainly not for my comfort. I always assumed women with larger boobs wore bras because they help support. That’s what my friends have told me.

And as someone who has gone braless a lot as an adult woman, I can tell you for sure that the people most worried about how inappropriate this is are middle aged women (I am middle aged, this isn’t again, I’m just sharing facts). They are the only ones scandalized by nipple visible through a shirt or who will pull you aside to tell you that you would look “more appropriate” in a bra. This is very much a self-policing thing with women, as most clothing issues are. Women will shame you hard if you don’t conform. It’s like “we are all suffering under these rules and unrealistic expectations, what makes you think you are so special that you can opt out?”

You’ve resented having to wear a nice stretchy handkerchief so no one has to see your nipples? Oh my god, the horror! A few inches of fabric?! How do you get along in the world while bearing this unbearable burden!? And support wise, you don’t need this? And you can just run without a serious bra, whenever you want?


Call me when you actually have to wear something with underwear that really trusses and lifts you because otherwise your back hurts, your boobs hurt, you change your walk to accommodate the movement of your breasts. Seriously have a trace of self awareness.

I don’t understand the hostility in your comment. I already said that my understanding is that women with larger breasts wear bras for their own comfort, because they need to support. So I was surprised to hear that OP prefers to go braless— I had thought that was mostly something those of us with small chests preferred.

And at what point did I say it was “an unbearable burden” to wear a bra? I just said they are uncomfortable. And I didn’t mention this, but: expensive. Yes, I can wear a bra without underwire (though, FYI, a lot of wireless bras will still show your nipples and people will still judge you for it like you are being obscene by not ensuring that no one be exposed to the faint outline of this part of your anatomy).

But why should anyone HAVE to wear a bra at all just to make other people happy? It makes no sense. Again, my understanding (even based on replies in this thread) is that some women prefer to wear a bra because it is more comfortable. Great! Some of us find bras uncomfortable. Why do we have to wear them?

Very confused as to why you seem to be mad about my argument.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Huh, I always thought the opposite OP. I’m a very small chested woman (barely an A) and I’ve always resented having to wear a bra just to make other people comfortable, since it’s certainly not for my comfort. I always assumed women with larger boobs wore bras because they help support. That’s what my friends have told me.

And as someone who has gone braless a lot as an adult woman, I can tell you for sure that the people most worried about how inappropriate this is are middle aged women (I am middle aged, this isn’t again, I’m just sharing facts). They are the only ones scandalized by nipple visible through a shirt or who will pull you aside to tell you that you would look “more appropriate” in a bra. This is very much a self-policing thing with women, as most clothing issues are. Women will shame you hard if you don’t conform. It’s like “we are all suffering under these rules and unrealistic expectations, what makes you think you are so special that you can opt out?”

You’ve resented having to wear a nice stretchy handkerchief so no one has to see your nipples? Oh my god, the horror! A few inches of fabric?! How do you get along in the world while bearing this unbearable burden!? And support wise, you don’t need this? And you can just run without a serious bra, whenever you want?


Call me when you actually have to wear something with underwear that really trusses and lifts you because otherwise your back hurts, your boobs hurt, you change your walk to accommodate the movement of your breasts. Seriously have a trace of self awareness.

Case in point. The self-policing and shaming is strong among supposedly liberated women in America.

I started doing the pencil test when I was 10, and at 40 am still waiting to "pass" it. I don't like bras but wear them because I'm a conformist. May the next generation change things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Huh, I always thought the opposite OP. I’m a very small chested woman (barely an A) and I’ve always resented having to wear a bra just to make other people comfortable, since it’s certainly not for my comfort. I always assumed women with larger boobs wore bras because they help support. That’s what my friends have told me.

And as someone who has gone braless a lot as an adult woman, I can tell you for sure that the people most worried about how inappropriate this is are middle aged women (I am middle aged, this isn’t again, I’m just sharing facts). They are the only ones scandalized by nipple visible through a shirt or who will pull you aside to tell you that you would look “more appropriate” in a bra. This is very much a self-policing thing with women, as most clothing issues are. Women will shame you hard if you don’t conform. It’s like “we are all suffering under these rules and unrealistic expectations, what makes you think you are so special that you can opt out?”

It’s more that like seeing your nipples is a level of intimacy I don’t care to experience with you. It’s a part of your body I don’t care to see. I don’t want to see your belly button, breasts, or butt cheeks. Clothing puts those things away, so I can interact with your face. That’s enough for me.