Were you part of the 'burn your bra' group? - YouLookFab Forum

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Were you part of the 'burn your bra' group?

deb

Veteran

I just read Sally's post about the politics of bras and wondered how many YLF'ers went braless for a time in their lives. I went sans bra for about 15 years, during the 70's and 80's and off and on before and after that. Not for political reasons but because I did not need one and did not like how they felt on my body. OK, and because men did not have to wear them. During this period of my life when asked why I did not wear one, I had varied answers but if the person was male my stock answer was usually, 'when men have to wear jock straps daily then I will wear a bra daily'. I do not think I was political, just rebellious. So, how about all of you?

Dressing

40 replies

Latest reply was from Archer

Grey Rainbow

I was right there with you! In that uniform Adelfa mentioned recently in her post about hoodies -- black Danskin leotard, jeans, grey hoodie. Agree for me it was not really political (no matter what I was claiming at the time). Comfort, and rebelliousness. And, I liked the way I looked. My first day in front of a class as a grad student TA, I realized I needed more armor. Thanks for the memories!

Anonymous

Never. I've always supported the girls.

catgirl

Veteran

Well, that was a really thoughtful post by Sal. I never felt physically able to do what I wanted without a bra due to my large cup size - running, hiking, climbing, etc. And I happily consider myself an old-school feminist and wholly respect and admire the groundbreaking bra-burning movement. What was so wrong with that?

Yes, women should be able to live how they choose, be comfortable if they wish, and not have every single thing we do with our bodies be laden with paralyzing political implications - and unfortunately, that is a political concept that someone has to uphold until things truly change.

Imagine if men had to do what women do to be "presentable"... and yet we have idiots complaining just because Jennifer Lawrence got a pixie cut.

Warning: This article is PROFANE and not that well written but does make a certain point.

http://jezebel.com/dudes-are-s.....1461182233

deb

Veteran

Una, the Jezebel article is hilarious, profane but hilarious!!

Echo

Veteran

I was a little late to the movement to have been part of the bra rebellion. Additionally, I've always been too sensitive to go without one, so it isn't comfortable for me NOT to wear one. I also don't appreciate the look - much like I don't prefer to see men going commando in dress slacks, either, kwim?

But I've always considered myself a feminist, and took multiple women's studies courses in college, and participated in many rallies on the capital. It is true that a woman's fashion choices are political in a way that men's never will be. But women are often as judgemental as men about what other women wear or how they look, so it isn't a patriarchal control issue as much as it is a patriarchal societal issue that is so deeply embedded as to be reflex for men and women alike to think that way.

catgirl

Veteran

Echo, absolutely - my brother once observed that men make the rules, but women enforce them socially (we were talking about female circumcision and how women are the ones who carry it out on their daughters for fear of social repercussions - obviously FAR more complex than that, though).

Sorry to sideways-hijack on related topics, Deb!

LACeleste

Veteran

No. Sadly without a bra I have kneevage, not cleavage. Gravity--such a force to be reckoned with!

bj1111

Veteran

I love going braless. It's not rebellion, just comfort.

Peri

Veteran

I was just a little late for that, time wise, although I remember it being part of the social discussion. I wouldn't have been tempted anyway cause of the whole 34D issue.

But...I've always thought women's shoes are just as significant as bras in terms of putting up with unfair things for the sake of looks. I guess bras make for a more exciting discussion!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I am post bra-burning generation, but even though I consider myself a feminist, I was never comfortable without a bra. My girls are of sufficient size to need support. Quite frankly, I think most of us -- especially beyond a certain age and a certain cup size -- look better with a little support.

DonnaF

Veteran

I remember that, but the more political thing at my college was not to shave one's legs and one's armpits. Maybe the boob jiggle was too titillating? So for awhile I stopped shaving until I decided I preferred to shave my pits because really, the more feminist thing was to decide I had a CHOICE. I stopped shaving my legs and use that scotch tapey stuff to wax my legs now and again. But as far as I recall, I've always worn a bra and have always felt that bra burning never really occurred.

Greyscale

Veteran

I didn't wear a bra throughout college and for a few years after. I didn't need one for comfort. But, I do have a medium-sized chest (32Cish) and I eventually realized I looked much better with support. In college in the late 90s I wore almost entirely men's jeans and tshirts, so I wasn't exactly dressing to flatter my figure to begin with. I was at MIT where fashion wasn't at the top of the priority list and being one of the guys seemed more important.

I still prefer very lightweight bras, though, that give a more natural look. Underwire but no lining.

rebekahphoto

Veteran

I too, was a little post the burn bra era, and my girls certainly need support most all the time! I do enjoy some bra free weekends for sure. My Mom hates them, and I think has become a bit more independent in her later years (68) & enjoys dressing the way she wants.

One of my co-workers was right in there, burning her bra as a staunch feminist art student in Chicago. She still prefers no-bra, (and has relatively small breasts) but has taken to wearing vests for modesty in the classroom. Its amazing how distracting a nipple or 2 can be....

MuseumGal

Veteran

I am feminist through and through - however I also wear a G or H cup. I NEVER leave my house without a bra. If I woke up and my house was on fire, I would grab my glasses and a bra on my way out the door.

rachylou

Veteran

No. Well, ahem, I can't say I had boobs in the '70s and '80s, but... I mean, no man ever made me wear a bra.

I should mention that I was raised in hippie dippie land, home of the bra-less. So there are many things I don't understand. Also, at the same time, my home life was very Edwardian. I mean, for a man to go without a shirt and undershirt was as scandalous as a woman going topless.

MsMaven

Veteran

I was still an undergrad in the late '60s when the no-bra look arrived. I already had two babies when I returned to school, so I felt that it wasn't a good idea to go braless. I was all for feminism though. I did witness several instances of male harassment on of large breasted braless women on campus, and it was nasty and rude.

I was raised in a religious environment where female modesty was enforced, especially by women. So I did occasionally have rebellious moments when I went braless--on vacations for example.

Then the no-bra bra came along, or the "natural" bra. I wore those for years and admit I got many curious looks at my chest as people tried to figure out, "does she or doesn't she?"

Sally's article is thought-provoking. Now I generally wear a bra because I am a 32-G. It dons on me that even on days when I am working at home in front of my computer I wear a bra and am always conscious of it. Really there is no reason to wear one if I don't go out. Hmm.

Clothes do generally look better with the breasts hiked up and pushed forward. But I do think that is because we have been trained to think that way from childhood.

deb

Veteran

Such interesting perspectives.

LaCeleste, 'kneevage', what a great term!!!

Rachy, it is hard for me to put hippy-dippy together with Edwardian. It must have been interesting.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

MsMaven's comment about natural looking bras brought back an unfortunate memory. One time many years ago, when I was in my late 20s, I was walking into a bar with a male friend. I was wearing jeans and a plain white men's tee shirt. The bouncer looked at me and said, "Around here women wear bras." I was so shocked all I could think to do in response was pull the neck of my tee aside so he could see the strap of my nude "natural" bra. I've worn what I call "non-nipply" bras ever since. :-/

minimalist

Veteran

I'm pro-choice on all fronts (incl. for infant males, another area where man-made infringements are enforced by women), but wasn't part of the political bra-burning when it happened.

As a pre-teen, I distinctly needed a bra for well over a year before I got one. My older sister matured later than I did, and DM decided to make me wait for a bra until DS needed one. Sibling fairness, or something. DM had no idea how to fit a bra, nor how to identify undergarment quality; the only criteria was absence of color and adornment. The first bra I bought on my own was a matronly off-white full-coverage underwire from Sears, with a little bow at the cleavage: it felt scandalous, but I left the bow on. I didn't find my way to a decent fitting until well into my 20s. At times, I've found halter tops with shelf bras that offered surprising support and comfort, at least until my neck and upper back got tired.

This blog post makes some interesting points.
http://bornagainminimalist.com.....t-the-bra/
Still, I'm firmly (LOL) Team Bra.

Classically Casual

Veteran

Thanks for triggering a funny memory. I worked in a large open office at the time, and the workers were mainly female. One day my very quirky desk mate stood up, took off her bra, and threw it in the garbage. That was the last time she wore one. A couple of weeks later she quit her job, because it was spring...

Echo

Veteran

Janet, that is awful and hilarious at the same time! My mother, being the very conservative woman she is, always said in relation to bras, "Pointing isn't polite."

deb

Veteran

Janet, there is no response button for your comment. I cannot believe someone would actually do that to you. What part of the country were you in?

Sona

Veteran

I grew up in a family that was very modest. The first time I came to the US and went swimming with my cousins, my cousin had to warn me that there would be naked women in the changing room.

I kept my eyes down and was embarrassed. I still feel uncomfortable with nudity. I have always worn a bra.

Interestingly bebe does not like it when I take my bra off to change into pajamas. And she is appalled that I would do it in front of (her)Dad. She is very modest and this seems innate because as I mentioned she has seen my boobs many a time.It will be interesting to see what happens as she grows up.

Back to the braless issue: for the first time last week as I was examining her heart and lungs I discovered that my patient was braless and actually began to feel weird.

I have issues with nudity it seems.

I guess I am one of those that would never burn a bra!

deb

Veteran

Amy, I am not sure I agree with the chest muscle reasoning but it is an interesting article.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Deb, it was in downtown Baltimore, believe it or not. Mere blocks away from where one could go see women dance with little more than a g-string on. I don't think this was policy, just an ignorant employee.

Anonymous

I have always worn a bra, I think I have modesty issues, lol. However, I have always been large chested, even as a teen so brakes is not comfy for me.

When I sleep at someone's house or have company, I always appear in my pjs with a bra.

E

Veteran

I'm too young to have been in the original anti-bra movement but having recently read Gail Collins' When Everything Changed (and being a proud feminist) I wish I was there!

I have a small, self-supporting bust (30C/32B in underwire, a 32C in Gap's wireless t-shirt bras which are the comfiest I've found) that is more comfortable without a bra; I never wear one at home, where I spend most of my time. They're shaped in such a way that a lot of the time if I'm wearing a woven top (especially in a waist surrendering style), no one can tell whether I'm wearing a bra or not. So I have quite a few woven tops and dresses that let me go braless even in public with no one the wiser. I love it! Especially during the summer, when the last thing I need is something else to sweat under. I do always put one on before I leave the house when I'm wearing a knit top (more frequent in the cooler months) or any top where people would be able to tell, but I take it off first thing when I get home.

elpgal

Veteran

What is a 'natural bra'? An unpadded one?

I have gone without bras on ocassion and it does not bother me. I had a lactation consultant visit me at home when we were having some breastfeeding troubles post-partum and she was very uncomfortable with me being braless. That was interesting! I could not stand to wear a bra for a few days at that time.

peacechick

Veteran

I'm from the post-bra-burning generation but I'm also heavy busted and would be in pain if I didn't wear them. Rather than thinking of bras as oppressive, I love the support, the firmer the better!

I agree with DonnaF that the feminism statement of this generation is not shaving or waxing. Interestingly, where I grew up, women shaved legs and armpits but not down there. It wasn't till I moved to North America that I found out like male circumcision, bush trimming/waxing is seen as a norm for "hygiene". I'm not sure if it's just the people I know?

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