# Why aren't women who wear padded bras mercilessly made fun of? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 11, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-women-who-wear-padded-bras-mercilessly-made-fun-of/549976 "2010-08-11T20:59:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-women-who-wear-padded-bras-mercilessly-made-fun-of/549976/41 "2010-08-12T01:20:49Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > > [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > > > As for the OP, I’d say the major difference is that women tend not to look at a guy’s crotch when judging his sexual attractiveness–either we don’t care about the size of your dick, or we’re pragmatic enough to know that size when flaccid has little or nothing to do with size when erect. So if you’re stuffing your pants, you’re doing it for yourself, or to impress other men. Men, otoh, do look at a woman’s boobs when judging her sexual attractiveness. So a padded bra could be for yourself or for other women, but it’s equally likely to be for guys. > > I think this is the big issue. A guy who thinks a bigger bulge is going to make him more attractive to women is comically clueless, an absolute adolescent. It’s something Beevis and Butthead would do. They aren’t being mocked for faking a package. They’re being mocked for thinking their lack of a bulging package is the problem. Adult women know the difference between Growers & Showers and we also know that less physically endowed guys can do a lot with creativity & eagerness to please. But guys who want to ridicule women are usually lacking in those two departments. And guys who have gained their knowledge of brassieres from ads, rather than from interacting with real live women, are also sadly lacking in experience. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-women-who-wear-padded-bras-mercilessly-made-fun-of/549976/42 "2010-08-12T02:02:32Z")
The OP’s argument carries more weight over in Japan. Here, padded bras are super-common. In fact, I’d go as far to say that un-padded ones are the exception to the rule. This leads to much sadness and disappointment. A girl with nice boobs will have so-so boobs. A small-chested woman will likely have no chest at all. As most women are in the same boat, I do not think they are mocked. I am not sure what the men think though, besides despair. :: sigh :: ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-women-who-wear-padded-bras-mercilessly-made-fun-of/549976/43 "2010-08-12T02:20:41Z")
As someone who deals with a house full of women (and their bras) I think we have a basic misunderstanding of terms here. The typical bra (in my household) isn’t what I’d call “padded” but, rather, “lined.” The lining is maybe 1/4 inch thick (and I think I’m being generous) and doesn’t affect the boobage at all, especially underneath clothes. As for a padded bra, aka “falsies” that actually increase the cup size from, say, a B to a C, I’m sure they’re still available, although I don’t think any normal female has worn them since the 1960s. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-women-who-wear-padded-bras-mercilessly-made-fun-of/549976/44 "2010-08-12T02:36:50Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > As for a padded bra, aka “falsies” that actually increase the cup size from, say, a B to a C, I’m sure they’re still available, although I don’t think any normal female has worn them since the 1960s. You would think, but no. I spent a week last month looking for bras in my size before giving up and ordering them from Hanes’ website. 34c isn’t a freakishly uncommon size, but of those I found in stores: 1 style was front closure; 1 style only had black left; every other bra in a 34c had _at least_ an inch and a half of padding stuck in them, and they were from multiple companies. Given finding my size was probably a problem due to back-to-school shopping it might be that these padded things aren’t real poplular, but they’re clearly out there. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-women-who-wear-padded-bras-mercilessly-made-fun-of/549976/45 "2010-08-12T02:41:25Z")
That’s crazy. I’ve never seen a bra with an inch and a half of padding. (I literally just measured that out with my hand, just to check). Now, I’ve seen bras with built in air pads, water pads, silicone cutlets, etc. But an inch and a half of foam? ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-women-who-wear-padded-bras-mercilessly-made-fun-of/549976/46 "2010-08-12T02:53:10Z")
It’s fashion. The guy equivalent _has_ existed in fashion, and I doubt they mercilessly made fun of during the height of the [codpiece](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codpiece) era. Here’s a very manly looking dude from the 1500’s sporting a pretty obscene looking codpiece: [![](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Giovanni_Battista_Moroni_009.jpg) ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Giovanni_Battista_Moroni_009.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-women-who-wear-padded-bras-mercilessly-made-fun-of/549976/47 "2010-08-12T04:56:05Z")
In the long ago days before I developed, i wore a padded bra. I also stuff unpadded bras with things (scarves–bad idea; kleenex–bad idea; socks–better). I will tell you, _girls_ who are known to wear padded/stuff bras are in fact reviled mercilessly. Once they’re women, everybody has grown up. Honestly. The other thing is, the comparison doesn’t work. Men may pick women because of their breast size, and, in fact, they do. Women _generally_ don’t select men because of their penis size, although I’m sure it’s happened. ---
**Author:** ![R.P.McMurphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@R.P.McMurphy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R.P.McMurphy)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-women-who-wear-padded-bras-mercilessly-made-fun-of/549976/48 "2010-08-12T05:01:27Z")
Maybe I’m the (straight male) aberration but size is much less important to shape and appearance to be attractive. Marissa Tomei doesn’t have the youngest or largest breasts buy they are certainly magnificent. Women dress to increase their attractiveness and that is a good thing for all of us. Men, did you ever have a pad in the shoulders of your suit? The well tailored suit is designed to increase one’s assets and diminish the negatives. That’s human nature. Dressing to be attractive is OK for men and women. The OP seems to have some issues beyond the complaint. Breast size doesn’t make the woman or her sexuality. If you need big boobs, there are plenty of women out there that have them. Don’t blame anyone else other than yourself if you find that the big-boob woman is a PITA. I often wonder about the big-boob woman who is a terrific person but only seems to attract men who only wants her boobs. How rare is it for such a woman hook up with a man that _really_ doesn’t care about her cup size? I don’t know. It’s a question. Women, don’t hide your nipples. They are part of you. Yes, they may attract some leers but get over it. They empower you. If you think some padding of lifting makes you more attractive then go for it. Cleavage is totally sexy. Enhance your assets. Making a connection between a padded bra and a sock stuffed in the crotch is ludicrous. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-women-who-wear-padded-bras-mercilessly-made-fun-of/549976/49 "2010-08-12T06:40:11Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > That’s crazy. I’ve never seen a bra with an inch and a half of padding. (I literally just measured that out with my hand, just to check). Now, I’ve seen bras with built in air pads, water pads, silicone cutlets, etc. But an inch and a half of foam? Next time you’re at walmart, see if they have [these](http://www.walmart.com/ip/Fruit-of-the-Loom-Fresh-Incredible-Push-Up-Underwire-Bra-and-Bikini-Panty-Set-Style-95092/12016885) and see for yourself. They feel more like stuffed animals than bras because of the thick foam padding. Actually, looking at the dimentions given for other bras [like this](http://www.walmart.com/ip/Danskin-Now-High-Impact-Racerback-Zip-Sport-Bra/11019719) one that aren’t padded, I under estimated given this bra say it’s 1.82" vs the 0.1" of the other one. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-women-who-wear-padded-bras-mercilessly-made-fun-of/549976/50 "2010-08-12T06:58:44Z")
Most bras I’ve had have at least some, but I have some really good ones from the company Wolford that have zero padding and are really nice/comfy. Those seem to be the exception, though… ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-women-who-wear-padded-bras-mercilessly-made-fun-of/549976/51 "2010-08-12T07:18:32Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > As someone who deals with a house full of women (and their bras) I think we have a basic misunderstanding of terms here. > > The typical bra (in my household) isn’t what I’d call “padded” but, rather, “lined.” The lining is maybe 1/4 inch thick (and I think I’m being generous) and doesn’t affect the boobage at all, especially underneath clothes. > > As for a padded bra, aka “falsies” that actually increase the cup size from, say, a B to a C, I’m sure they’re still available, although I don’t think any normal female has worn them since the 1960s. This. Well done my man. There’s a misleading premise in the OP. Padded bras, in the vast majority of cases, are not really about increasing cup size. They’re for lifting, smoothing and nipple hiding. The actual padding is pretty minimal and pretty universal, whatever the actual cup size. True ‘size enhancing’ padding involves adding ‘[chicken fillets](http://www.virtualvillage.co.uk/chicken-fillet-silicon-breast-enhancing-bra-inserts-a-cup-001052-001.html?utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=shcomp)’ and is generally the preserve of flat chested women who feel paranoid about their lack of. The OP gives the impression that we have a choice of padding depending on how big we want to be. Not so. I’m not a massive fan of padded or balcony bras as I prefer men to talk to my face. ---
**Author:** ![3trew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/13edae/32.png) [@3trew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3trew)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-women-who-wear-padded-bras-mercilessly-made-fun-of/549976/52 "2010-08-12T08:03:34Z")
> [@Polerius](#): > > Why do you think society is more accepting of women who pad their bras and of companies who make such products? It’s because once you get through the padding, you have breasts. The sight of breasts recalibrates the brain, because now there are breasts, and you can see them. Any further questions can be referred to the fact that there are breasts and you can see them. And they’re breasts. Testosterone is fun, but it has some serious drawbacks. ---
**Author:** ![Gustav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/919ad9/32.png) [@Gustav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gustav)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-women-who-wear-padded-bras-mercilessly-made-fun-of/549976/53 "2010-08-12T08:54:10Z")
Most men’s suits have padded shoulders to make you look all broad-shouldered and masculine. No one makes fun of those either, but they would probably look pretty ridiculous if they weren’t so common. Who does he think he’s fooling with those _obviously_ fake shoulders? ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-women-who-wear-padded-bras-mercilessly-made-fun-of/549976/54 "2010-08-12T16:43:20Z")
> [@](#): > > Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah, blah blah **BREASTS**. > > Blah blah blah **BREASTS** blah blah blah, blah blah blah blah **BREASTS** , blah blah blah blah blah . > > Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah **BREASTS** blah blah blah blah blah . > > Blah blah **BREASTS**. > > Blah blah blah, blah blah blah blah blah blah. That’s how we usually see it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-women-who-wear-padded-bras-mercilessly-made-fun-of/549976/55 "2010-08-12T18:45:58Z")
Back in junior high the girls at our dances would go into the bathroom and come back out much bustier than before. There was always a shortage of toilet paper after the dances. 😉 I recall copping a feel with a movie date when I was 13. Something didn’t feel quite right. I figured out later it must have been a falsie stuffed inside her bra. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-women-who-wear-padded-bras-mercilessly-made-fun-of/549976/56 "2010-08-12T18:57:14Z")
When the pendulum of fashion swings back to codpieces we’ll be asking the same question. Thank god I don’t have to teach my boys how to fit a training codpiece. ---
**Author:** ![Minnie\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Minnie\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minnie_Luna)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-women-who-wear-padded-bras-mercilessly-made-fun-of/549976/57 "2010-08-12T19:32:13Z")
Speaking of padded bras… My sister in law got married a couple of weeks ago. I was required to wear a strapless dress. I am a 32B, and all of the strapless bras I have are horrendously old and aren’t really all that functional. The tailor suggested to the smaller chested bridesmaids that we try [this](http://www.victoriassecret.com/ss/Satellite?ProductID=1265273721815&c=Page&cid=1265275334605&collAssetType=LBIProductSet&pagename=vsdWrapper). It really is miraculous. I had cleavage. It was worth the $55. After my mom saw the pictures from the wedding, she asked if I was pregnant because my breasts looked so big. ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-women-who-wear-padded-bras-mercilessly-made-fun-of/549976/58 "2010-08-12T20:29:47Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > As for a padded bra, aka “falsies” that actually increase the cup size from, say, a B to a C, I’m sure they’re still available, although I don’t think any normal female has worn them since the 1960s. > [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > In the long ago days before I developed, i wore a padded bra. I also stuff unpadded bras with things (scarves–bad idea; kleenex–bad idea; socks–better). I will tell you, _girls_ who are known to wear padded/stuff bras are in fact reviled mercilessly. > > Once they’re women, everybody has grown up. Honestly. > [@SanVito](#): > > There’s a misleading premise in the OP. Padded bras, in the vast majority of cases, are not really about increasing cup size. To the above posters, and to everyone else who claims that there are no bras today that are meant to increase the bust size of grown women: [QUOTE=Victoria’s Secret] **NEW! Miraculous™ Multi-way Bra** Special padding lifts you up and out, **instantly adding up to 2 full cup sizes** [/QUOTE] Thanks to **Minnie Luna** for [the link.](http://www.victoriassecret.com/ss/Satellite?ProductID=1265273721815&c=Page&cid=1265275334605&collAssetType=LBIProductSet&pagename=vsdWrapper) Look, maybe the majority of so-called padded bras are simply what **kunilou** refers to as “lined”, i.e. they don’t have much padding and are meant to provide shape and hide the nipples. But, there do exist today, in the year 2010, bras for smaller-breasted women to appear a couple cup sizes larger. It’s possible that the women responders to this thread are mostly big-chested, and so don’t come across thick-padded cup-increasing bras in their sizes, and only see “lined” bras which are labeled as “padded”, which would explain the experiences reported in this thread, but those are not the types of bras that I was referring to in the OP. In the OP I was referring to cup-increasing bras. If not all padded bras are cup-increasing, then fine, the question becomes why is it acceptable for women to wear cup-increasing bras and for companies to advertise them on TV? BTW, the info on the male “cod piece” was hilarious. I wonder if there was a discussion at the time about whether men who wore them were fake 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-women-who-wear-padded-bras-mercilessly-made-fun-of/549976/59 "2010-08-12T20:41:57Z")
> [@Polerius](#): > > …In the OP I was referring to cup-increasing bras. If not all padded bras are cup-increasing, then fine, the question becomes why is it acceptable for women to wear cup-increasing bras and for companies to advertise them on TV? … I still haven’t noticed that many ads for cup-increasing bras on TV, but know they’ve been around a long time. Here: Leer at [Frederick’s of Hollywood](http://www.fredericks.com/). Oops, sorry! Express your moral superiority to the temptresses who might choose to augment themselves. Maybe, someday, you’ll get to see a real woman in a real bra! Just how old _are_ you? ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-women-who-wear-padded-bras-mercilessly-made-fun-of/549976/60 "2010-08-12T21:02:15Z")
I think the difference is because breasts are typically on display whereas penises are not. So it’s acceptible to lift, smooth, pad out, etc breasts to strive for a more pleasing appearance. But penises are typically kept out of sight. Padding would only serve to take something typically hidden and bring it to the forefront. A woman can say “This bra just has a little extra padding then normal,” but what would a guy say? “This pair of underwear only has one more sock it than my other pairs?” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-women-who-wear-padded-bras-mercilessly-made-fun-of/549976.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-women-who-wear-padded-bras-mercilessly-made-fun-of/549976.md?page=4)