# Women why do you wear a bra? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 30, 2013, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-why-do-you-wear-a-bra/667576 "2013-08-30T12:15:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![want2befree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3e96dc/32.png) [@want2befree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2befree)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-why-do-you-wear-a-bra/667576/21 "2013-08-30T18:41:57Z")
Because I’m saggy and that’s not attractive. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-why-do-you-wear-a-bra/667576/22 "2013-08-30T18:53:50Z")
I’d vote that “its darn uncomfortable to not wear a bra.” As in painful to do much movement other than walk at a sedate pace. Bras aren’t the comfyiest things in the world themselves, but they aren’t painful - where going braless does cross into painful if I’m doing much more than lounging around. They also make my clothes look better and it isn’t really convenient to have to move them from between my knees when I walk. (I think men have this misplaced notion that natural boobs are perky - well at 47, starting pretty busty, after a pregnancy and nursing, gaining and losing weight over the course of a lifetime, no one is using me braless as a model for a Parvati sculpture. Maybe when I was 22 I could pull of perky while braless…no, not even then.) ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-why-do-you-wear-a-bra/667576/23 "2013-08-30T19:10:15Z")
Have you ever been to a Wal-Mart? Some women woefully need to wear one. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-why-do-you-wear-a-bra/667576/24 "2013-08-30T19:22:01Z")
Even with Bs, it is physically uncomfortable as fuck to have breasts jiggling/bouncing with even a moderate to fast walking pace. It pulls at the muscles on your sides and chest, and is seriously annoying. Oh, and to turn off the headlights, just wear a lightly-lined bra. There is a world of difference between that and “padded.” I find bras very comfortable, and throw out any that aren’t. Related uncomfortable realization at work: having a woman stand in front of my desk while I was asking her questions, looking up slightly to a view of nipples poking through sweatshirt, and realizing that I was looking at the region just slightly above her navel. I was immensely glad she was wearing a longer sweatshirt and not one of those just above the waist styles. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-why-do-you-wear-a-bra/667576/25 "2013-08-30T19:29:08Z")
Every reason you listed really. I chose ‘other’. Mine are very small and high-set ,and do not jiggle very much or need to be lifted, but in most clothes it’s completely obvious when I’m not wearing a bra since I have perma-hard nipples, so I usually choose to when out in public. I don’t like my chest being gawked at, much less the state of my nipples being commented on (it has happened). I also have breast tenderness for nearly a week out of every month and prefer to have them held in place during that time as going down the stairs hurts. During cardio exercise, it is by far most comfortable (and also probably best for the continued elasticity of my connective tissue) if I wear a sports bra which flattens me completely. I also find that my nipples get sore and chafed easily by fabric. And finally, many clothes fit/look their best with a bra on. I do go braless regularly, though, but only in certain outfits. And I own no push-up or heavily padded bras. Most of mine are from the kid’s section at Marks and Spencer’s and Target. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-why-do-you-wear-a-bra/667576/26 "2013-08-30T19:40:02Z")
> [@Macca26](#): > > Anything more than a fast walk is usually uncomfortable to painful for most women above an “A”. You never know when you’ll need to do something like jog across the street to make it before the light changes… Yes. I do. Never. ---
**Author:** ![Macca26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Macca26](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macca26)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-why-do-you-wear-a-bra/667576/27 "2013-08-30T20:35:07Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Yes. I do. > > Never. Alright then, I’m sure you’ll never, ever be in a situation for the rest of your life where without advance notice you may have to do something more than walk :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-why-do-you-wear-a-bra/667576/28 "2013-08-30T20:46:17Z")
To keep my nipples from pointing accusingly at everyone, to prevent nipple chafing against my shirt, and sometimes, the bra has padding so that I can actually fill out the shirt (so the shirt will hang right on me). I don’t really have enough to sag and a sports bra and any kind of strapless or bandeau top flattens me out completely and makes a mockery of my chest. However, I use the term “bra” loosely – a shelf bra built into a tank top is perfectly sufficient support and nipple coverage for me. Ditto wearing a non-shelf tank under another shirt. I wear tanks in the winter, under sweaters and sweatshirts, all the time. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-why-do-you-wear-a-bra/667576/29 "2013-08-30T23:56:04Z")
Really it’s to hide my nipples. I have a few shirts that are good at hiding my nipples, so I’ll go braless when I’m wearing them. Otherwise, it’s either a bra or the old band-aide trick, which I use when I don’t have a clean bra or I’m weird about my bra straps showing. Sometimes during that time of the month, my breasts seem to go up a size. Bras help on these days. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-why-do-you-wear-a-bra/667576/30 "2013-08-31T00:09:51Z")
When I was young, it was to support and restrain the girls. As I aged it was to keep them up where they belonged. Now, it’s just so no one will draw that line between my nipples and my navel. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-why-do-you-wear-a-bra/667576/31 "2013-08-31T00:25:28Z")
For me, simply more comfortable to wear a bra than not. Even light housecleaning, hanging around the house, where I might normally be sans-bra, I gotta put one one or things get uncomfortable, in the way, and sweaty. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-why-do-you-wear-a-bra/667576/32 "2013-08-31T00:47:02Z")
Hate them. Always have. Went along as a young girl, but found it annoying and uncomfortable. I was somewhat scrawny and perhaps underweight a tad. Nothing really jiggled, sad to say. So I just stopped wearing them. As someone up thread mentioned I always wore a camisole when going out to something more formal, work, etc. Now I’m over 55 and I find myself bowing to social convention a lot more. If I leave my house now, I put on a bra. And I loath it. It’s like wearing a harness, and it’s barely a bra as such things go. It’s the very first thing I take off when I come in. Also when I go on long flights, as soon as we’re in the air I go to the ladies room and take off my bra, putting it back on only when we’re about to land! I’m not so sure that all those years of complete freedom were so wise, after all. It’s kind of awful trying to get used to it at such a late age. ( I really do want to set them on fire sometimes.!) ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-why-do-you-wear-a-bra/667576/33 "2013-08-31T00:58:17Z")
The Mrs. reports her reason: “It soaks up sweat”. ---
**Author:** ![TashaKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@TashaKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TashaKitty)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-why-do-you-wear-a-bra/667576/34 "2013-08-31T01:23:07Z")
1. I’ll get teased/odd looks if I go bra-less 2. Breasts, unless they’re teeny tiny, need support for comfort 3. It’s unlikely that boobs sagging and flopping around under a shirt would be considered work-appropriate attire ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-why-do-you-wear-a-bra/667576/35 "2013-08-31T01:29:31Z")
You forgot option #6: _You never know when a double-barreled slingshot will come in handy!_ ---
**Author:** ![Eureka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/74df32/32.png) [@Eureka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eureka)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-why-do-you-wear-a-bra/667576/36 "2013-08-31T02:31:49Z")
I voted for support, but also would have voted for convention of society in a multi-choice poll. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-why-do-you-wear-a-bra/667576/37 "2013-08-31T02:42:14Z")
I wear sports bras in public because it’s the most I feel I can get away with. At home it’s the first thing I take off. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-why-do-you-wear-a-bra/667576/38 "2013-08-31T03:16:59Z")
It’s all about the support. I don’t really care about societal conventions (or I don’t think I do), but regardless of what those are, a bra keeps my breasts off of my ribcage, keeps them from getting all sweaty underneath, stops them from going in all different directions when I move fast, and makes it possible to move at all without discomfort. Just before and during my period, I wear a sports bra to sleep. Hell, there are days when I’d wear one in the shower if it didn’t keep me from washing properly. And although I’d like to believe my boobs were perkier in my youth, I distinctly remember, at the tender age of 14, wishing that they weren’t so droopy. I don’t care about showing evidence of nipples. I choose my bras for their engineering, and I haven’t seen a lined bra with cups that are shaped the right way for me. Besides, I figure that the giant seams will help disguise the nippleage, if anyone really cares. So although I don’t love my bras, I’m sure glad I have them. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-why-do-you-wear-a-bra/667576/39 "2013-08-31T05:13:04Z")
I need the support. I’m a D-cup, and bouncing _hurts_. Plus, I don’t want to end up with my boobs swinging around my knees when I’m in my 60s. I don’t sleep in my bra, but other than that, I’m all for the bra. In fact, it would feel weird NOT wearing one. (Almost like I’m my pjs, I guess). And yes, sorry, but I agree – extreme nipple-age and cleavage can be inappropriate in some settings. (Like work, for example) It’s not about “body shaming”. To me it’s like plumber’s butt. Yes, we all have a butt crack, but I don’t necessarily want to see your’s. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2013, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-why-do-you-wear-a-bra/667576/40 "2013-08-31T06:08:08Z")
I’m 59, I’ve breastfed two babies. I’ve also lost and gained weight more times than I can count. I voted for ‘support’. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-why-do-you-wear-a-bra/667576.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/women-why-do-you-wear-a-bra/667576.md?page=3)