why did the bra become an essential part of womens outfits?

Question

I am 16 and I hate wearing bras. obviously before bras were invented women coped well without them. why can't we go without now?

Answer 1

there's no law requiring women to wear bra.

Answer 2

Some women can and do go without wearing bras these days- check your school policy to see if it is even an option there.

The trouble is so many of the outfits today are either sheer or made to have a bra in place, and of course, being a society of many "obsessions" , women are also subject to much inuendo and comments when going braless.

As for before they were invented- I feel our bustlines declined quicker- and it was not long when clothing came along, that most of them had some built in support that either was tied around etc to provide some support in any case.

To wit:

Years ago, the bra was unknown. In Ancient Rome and Greece, in the third and fourth centuries, women wore simple tunics with no shaping undergarments. This floppy tradition continued on into the twelfth century. Somewhere in the thirteenth or fourteenth century things began to change. A stiff underbodice called a "cotte" was developed and by the fifteenth century it was named a "body" or more appropriately a "pair of bodies" since it was made in two pieces. In Spain they added wire, steel, whalebone, and other forms of reinforcements. It was not a very comfortable garment to wear.

Answer 3

because of today's fashion (thin t-shirts see through shirts) and all other revealing attire women wear bras to cover it up

also for support (push up bras) to help with appearance

Why wear a bra?
Over 90% of North American women wear a bra, many without ever asking why. This article talks about different reasons women give for wearing a bra. Some women with large breasts need it and want it - yet some women suffering from fibrocystic breast disease can get tremendous relief from breast pain by going without bras.

For most women (excluding the large-breasted ones) bra wearing is not a necessity for their breasts' sake; it is worn for cultural reasons.

Brief history of bras
Bra has basically developed from the corset, in an attempt to manufacture a more comfortable underwear piece. The purpose of corset was to shape a woman's body the way the fashion dictated, and the small waist was a fetish for men at those times. Before the time of corset there is only a very little evidence of any garments that could be considered bras. So history of the bra is strictly linked to fashions and to the idea that women have to dress in a certain way in order to please men's eyes.

Even today bra is not used worldwide. And where it is used the most - in western culture - it has been turned into a sexual garment: its main purpose is to emphasize the sexual nature of breasts.

It is no wonder feminists symbolically threw bras to trash in the 60s. Even today, going braless is sometimes connected with feminism. Still, putting feminism aside, there are some health reasons to consider not wearing bras.



So why do you wear a bra?
"Because breasts need to be supported."
And so your breasts dont start sagging.

Answer 4

The first modern brassiere to receive a patent was one invented by a New York socialite named Mary Phelps Jacob in 1913. Mary had just purchased a sheer evening gown for one of her social events. At that time, the only acceptable undergarment was a corset stiffened with whaleback bones. Mary found that the whalebones poked out visible around the plunging neckline and under the sheer fabric. Two silk handkerchiefs and some pink ribbon later, Mary had designed an alternative to the corset. The corset's reign was starting to topple.

An unhealthy and painful device designed to narrow an adult women's waist to 13, 12, 11 and even 10 or less inches, the corset is attributed to Catherine de Médicis, wife of King Henri II of France. She enforced a ban on thick waists at court attendance's (1550's) and started over 350 years of whalebones, steel rods and midriff torture.

Answer 5

Just think of the clothes that women wore before bra's. I think if you had to choose the layers of clothing that women use to wear or a bra, you would choose a bra. Of course, the other side of this is that there is no law saying you have to wear a bra, you would just have to get use to the stares you would get from everyone who will notice.

Answer 6

Sure, if you want your boobs flapping in the wind well before their time, go ahead, and never wear a bra. (we got smarter as time went by you know). They are not a fashion accessory, they are for support, so you don't stretch them out with excessive activities. (I had a friend in high school who was a D cup and she never wore proper support for soccer or basketball, and now her boobs look like she's had 6 kids!)

Answer 7

Before bras women wore corsets. Be thankful you don't have to wear one of those.

Answer 8

In short, form and support. But I think social standards of modesty and beauty forced the piece of equipment on women though of late it has become functional (sports bra) and an accessory (lingerie). That apart, less is more and natural beauty is under appreciated these days.

Answer 9

There is no law for this.However Everybody wants to look beautiful and smart in their Life which is why it is our endeavors to shape up our body and women's beauty lies in their curves.More you are in shape more people will be attracted by you and have friendship with you.It is right of every women and it is rightly said that beautiful object is a source of constant delight.

Answer 10

Why not..... Your young you can go without a bra, but when you get older you will learn to appreciate one.