From one generation to another, it has been passed from one woman to another that she should wear a bra, simply because of tradition and social acceptance, but also because it helps with back pain and forms and lifts up the breasts.
THE CASE STUDY
In this particular study 330 volunteers took place and gave the measurements of their breasts for scientific purposes. This was a continuous study that took about 15 years. The results were totally opposite from what we have thought about bras and their purpose!
- Women who didn’t wear bras had firmer breasts
- Women who didn’t wear bras had about 7cm lifted up nipples since their first measurement
- women who wear bras had more stretch marks
A logical result from the study was that not wearing the bra stimulated the actual human muscles under the breasts and on the back to be firm enough to hold the breasts, without any help or support from a bra.
We have to mention here that the volunteers in this study were between the age of 18 and 35 and haven’t been wearing bras as much as some older women. So that’s the limitation of this study – we don’t know if the same results would occur for women who wore bras all their lives, completely neglecting their actual muscles for this purpose.
Since the results from this study are completely contradictory to what we’ve been taught, we have to ask: is this a marketing trick over the health of the body?
TIPS ON GOING BRALESS
- wear a bralette – A bralette is actually a bra without any wires and padding. This is probably the first step for you going braless if you have wore a bra since your puberty.
- Start out small – Depending on your age and how long have you used a bra, you should probably start one step at a time. Surely not go to work, or show braless in your favorite bar. This way, not only your surrounding would be more comfortable with your change, but also you.
- Exercise your natural posture – do this especially when sitting or standing still. When you are still, muscles tend to relax and since you wore a bra before, your muscles are kinda lazy on the field of posture. Give them more work and exercise your posture, even in front of a mirror.
Why going braless???
Here are some very logical and also “good for your body” reasons t stop wearing a bra.
- Bras are expensive – based on information found on Statista, most women spent between 16$ and 30$ per bra in the year of 2017. And since laundry has become a fashion accessory, the prices went up! Imagine buying a bra in a Victoria’s secret store…
- It takes long to find the right bra – though they have numbers, and probably you know your size, it still takes time and so much undressing to find your right bra.
- To be honest, they’re not so comfortable – remember when you first started wearing a bra? You had to get used to it! That explains just how much comfortable they are! The breasts never get a chance to breath underneath those tight, wired cups.
- They aren’t necessary for every occasion – unfortunately, society has taught us that wearing a bra is decent clothing and behavior. For the price of not getting enough air in your lungs because your bra is tight. Or you feel puffed today. But, since there’s no actual law on this, besides the social norms and the judgement of passengers, it’s totally up to you!
Another fun fact from this study showed that preteens actually should NEVER wear a bra, especially while their breasts are still in development. Normally, if you squeeze a big plant in a small pot, it shall not grow as much as if you let it grow outside.
This is pretty much the same thing that’s going on here. Although it’s expected for girls to start wearing bras when their breasts start to grow, it’s actually not scientifically proven to be better or healthier for you.
As the study also showed, not wearing a bra actually helps specific muscles to grow around the breasts and become stronger, thus, naturally lifting up the breasts.
CONCLUSION
Though we presented many interesting facts and scientifically proven points up in the text, wearing a bra or going braless should be totally up to you. You shouldn’t join the movement of going braless if it doesn’t fit you and no one will judge you.
However, it’s recommended for young girls not to wear bras to let their natural muscles for this purpose to develop. Later in their puberty, it should be their choice to start wearing a bra, but not while developing breasts.
Anyway, you should try both sides before choosing a side, am I right?
