In a striking incident from 2018, a 17-year-old named Mia Thompson was pulled from her classroom for not wearing a bra. This supposedly “distracting” choice led to her being instructed to don an additional shirt to obscure her breasts and then sent to the nurse’s office, where she was shockingly provided with Band-Aids to cover her nipples. Yes, this truly occurred in a contemporary American high school, and the institution had no valid justification—there is no dress code mandating bra usage.
As a parent, I was appalled by Mia’s experience. If anyone dared to shame my child for their appearance, I would be furious. Unfortunately, I can relate to her plight. Two decades ago, I faced a similar situation. During my senior year, I chose to embark on a “free-spirited phase,” opting to forgo bras altogether. My discomfort with underwire led me to embrace a bra-less lifestyle, but my personal reasons were irrelevant. I was confronted by a female dean, who claimed my lack of a bra was causing discomfort among students. Although she couldn’t specify who complained, she insisted that my attire needed to be altered.
When I expressed discomfort with the revealing outfits some of my peers wore, I was told it was not my place to judge others. I stood my ground, though I felt humiliated and ashamed. Like Mia, who shared her story on social media, I attempted to raise awareness by writing to the school newspaper. Despite the staff’s enthusiasm, my piece was inexplicably suppressed, likely to prevent the administration from facing scrutiny.
Thus, when I learned that Mia faced similar censorship on Twitter, I wasn’t surprised. Institutions often seek to silence courageous individuals who dare to speak up about their mistreatment. In both our cases, the schools knew they lacked a legitimate foundation for their actions—there are no existing regulations that require students to wear bras or cover themselves with Band-Aids.
The notion of instructing any woman—be it a teen or an adult—to wear a bra is an outdated concept rooted in patriarchal attitudes that should not be tolerated. Everyone is entitled to their perspective on bras; I personally returned to wearing one during college for comfort. However, if a woman chooses to go without, that decision is hers alone. If her choice results in a visible silhouette of her breasts or a little more movement, that is something for others to reconcile within themselves. It’s quite straightforward to simply avert your gaze.
While going braless may not be the societal norm, the idea that every woman must wear one is a social construct. Historically, women have bound their breasts for centuries, yet the first modern bra only appeared in 1914. In various cultures, bras are seldom worn today. So, while most may consider wearing a bra essential, it is perfectly acceptable for a woman to reject that notion. Some even argue that avoiding bras can be healthier for breast tissue.
Regardless of personal feelings about a woman’s choice to forgo a bra—whether one finds it unattractive or inappropriate—the appropriate response is silence. We must respect individual autonomy regarding body choices. It’s important to recognize that all women, irrespective of how they cover their bodies, have natural curves and contours. Sometimes, those curves will be visible, and society needs to accept that without judgment.
If you find yourself concerned about a teen girl’s choice to go without a bra, proceed with caution. Unless her attire is overtly revealing, she is not violating any dress code. It is not your role to comment on her wardrobe choices. Furthermore, if boys are feeling distracted by her appearance, it is essential to address their reactions rather than place the responsibility on the girl. We should not normalize the idea that boys’ discomfort with female bodies justifies policing girls’ attire. This perspective perpetuates harmful narratives that imply girls are responsible for boys’ reactions, which is simply unacceptable.
We can and must do better.
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Summary
The article emphasizes the importance of respecting individual choices regarding bra usage, particularly for young women. It reflects on personal experiences of humiliation due to dress code enforcement and highlights the need to challenge outdated societal norms that dictate how women should dress. The responsibility for discomfort should lie with those feeling distracted, not the individuals expressing their autonomy.