Are bras still a thing?

I ask my partner, genuinely, ahead of a video conference: "If I layer up, throw a cardigan over a thick cotton t-shirt, maybe add a hoodie, or angle the camera just so…do I need to wear a bra?"

It was never a question before the coronavirus. Before COVID-19, we wouldn’t dream of leaving the house pant-less, braless, tits hanging, swaying to the beat of their own drum, or some incredibly strong gust of wind.

But the pandemic wave has placed us all on a great lockdown, trapped in with only the essentials—and the reality is, I don’t want to wear a bra. As a member of the species, I advocate all women shouldn’t. Brassieres are the original COVID. They constrain breathing and lay heavy on the chest. They cause fevers and crush ribs.

The support bras claim to provide is propaganda.

That's right. The support they claim to provide is propaganda; a farce strategized by marketers. “Here, let me hold you up (and hold you back).” Ok, fine, tits can be cumbersome. They weigh you down and can hurt some women’s backs. Women who throughout the ages have also been told to sit down, stay quiet, and refrain from exercising any valuable muscles.

Now you may be saying, this is all just my humble opinion. And, you're right. Because like public schooling, women's health is severely underfunded. So, let's turn to some soft science.

You may recall when a few years back, a French Professor and Sports Doctor named Rouillon threw the world in a frenzy when he asked, why bras? After a 15-year study spent analyzing and measuring 300 French boobs, Rouillon broadcasted on French radio that: “Medically, physiologically, anatomically – breasts gain no benefit from being denied gravity. On the contrary, they get saggier with a bra.”

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

However, it must be stressed that this was a premilinary study. Even Rouillon admits, “the small sample of 320 young women is not representative of the entire population—that would require something like 300,000 subjects.” But any man who would choose to study women's breasts for 15 years sounds like a smart man to me.

Now, I'm not proposing my +DD ladies head out and burn their bras. I've heard the value. Sometimes, I've witnessed the struggles (pain, rashes, difficulty breathing). But are these bras truly being made for our bodies? Or do they just conform when socially pressured?

And, just for some additional food for thought—in response to Roullion, John Dixey, former CEO of bra maker company Playtex stated: “We have no evidence that wearing a bra could prevent sagging, because the breast itself is not muscle, so keeping it toned up is an impossibility…. There’s no permanent effect on the breast from wearing a particular bra. The bra will give you the shape the bra’s been designed to give while you’re wearing it.”

Which...of course, he would. But what about all the other muscles surrounding your breasts. Have we given any thought to those?

A few days ago, I posted the question on Facebook: “are bras still a thing?”

A few months ago, I posted the question on Facebook: “are bras still a thing?” Seems they’re not anymore, along with underwear, socks, ties, or belts. What is a thing now? Baking. Growing your own garden. Meditation and yoga. Nature walks. Cooking. DIY face masks. Paint by numbers. Online courses. Counseling. Being nice. Coughing indoors. Accessible healthcare. Building your own loom.

And if corona were to end tomorrow, how do we go back? After over a year of almost consistent braless-ness, why force these little ladies back into polyester caves? Or push people back into long days at the office, away from children, pets, home-cooked meals, and 5 minutes of extra sleep?

In this age of illness, we're seeing a demand for wellness.

There’s a beautiful old Arab adage that goes something like, don’t hate anything lest it be a blessing to you. In this age of illness, we’re seeing a demand for wellness. Governments rush to provide tests and apologies. Companies rush to enforce positive health and tax policies. People deserve more. Tits deserve more. You deserve more.

Now that we’ve gone back to basics look at everything around you with the same critical eye. Do you need it? What value does it add to your life? Does it kill you or make you stronger? With the world on pause, it’s time to ask louder. Get on zoom, don’t let your nerves falter; no question is stupid enough. Time to take the global bra off and breathe free, again, together.

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Sources:

1. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/259073#4
2. https://www.thelocal.fr/20130411/breasts-better-off-without-bras-french-study/
3. https://www.thelocal.fr/20130411/women-doubt-controversial-french-bra-study/#.UWarJMqwRqk
4. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/women-bras-study-france-false-necessity_n_3062114
5. https://www.foxnews.com/health/french-scientist-bemused-by-buzz-over-bra-research