In 2020, a 16-year-old named Mia Johnson was pulled out of class for not wearing a bra, deemed “distracting” by her peers, particularly the boys. Rather than addressing the real issue, she was told to don an extra shirt to cover up and was even given Band-Aids to place over her nipples in the nurse’s office. Yes, this actually happened in an American high school. And the school had no justification; their dress code didn’t require students to wear bras.
As a parent, I was appalled when I read Mia’s story. If anyone shamed my child for her appearance like that, I would be furious. Unfortunately, this isn’t new. I experienced something similar over two decades ago.
During my senior year, I went through a phase where I chose not to wear a bra. I was exploring my personal style and found traditional bras uncomfortable. Despite my reasons, I was reprimanded by a female dean who claimed my choice was “distracting” to others. She insisted that some students had complained and felt uncomfortable, and that I should reconsider my wardrobe.
I stood my ground, arguing that if certain outfits bothered her or the students, it wasn’t my responsibility to police their comfort. Despite my defiance, I felt humiliated and ashamed. Like Mia, I later spoke out about my experience, writing a letter to the school newspaper that was ultimately rejected—presumably to avoid scrutiny.
When I heard Mia was silenced on Twitter by her school, I wasn’t shocked. Schools often react defensively when young women speak up against injustice. In both our cases, the institutions knew they couldn’t justify their actions; there is no dress code mandating bras in schools.
Telling any woman—be it a teen or an adult—to wear a bra is an outdated and misogynistic notion that we shouldn’t accept. Your personal feelings about bras are irrelevant. I personally chose to wear one again in college, finding it more comfortable then. But it’s essential to respect a woman’s choice to go braless for any reason. If her breasts are more visible, that’s not a problem for her to solve—it’s on you to manage your perception.
Going braless may not be conventional, but the idea that it’s mandatory for women to wear bras is a social construct. The first bra was only invented in 1914, and many cultures still don’t adhere to this expectation. While wearing a bra can seem normal to many, it’s perfectly valid for someone to choose otherwise.
If you have concerns about a girl’s choice to go braless, tread carefully. Unless her attire is genuinely inappropriate, she’s within her rights to dress as she pleases. If boys feel distracted, the focus should be on educating them, not shaming the girl. It’s unacceptable to normalize the idea that a girl is to blame for a boy’s discomfort; this perpetuates victim-blaming and reinforces harmful stereotypes.
We can and must do better.
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Summary
The pressure on girls and women to wear bras is a reflection of outdated societal norms. Schools should not enforce such expectations, and any discomfort experienced by peers should lead to conversations about respect and personal choice. It’s crucial to shift the focus from blaming individuals for their attire to educating everyone about body autonomy and respect.
Keyphrase
“pressure on girls to wear bras”
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