Burning the BraBurning the BraFeminist Pop Culture RevisitedFeminist Pop Culture Revisited

Why Do Women Why Do Women Need To Wear Need To Wear BrasBras??

Medical MythsMedical Myths

The Ugly Sagging BoobThe Ugly Sagging Boob

All Those Against The SagAll Those Against The Sag

● Dr. Miriam Stoppard – author of Dr. Miriam Stoppard – author of The Breast BookThe Breast Book

● Growing breasts produce stretch marks Growing breasts produce stretch marks and stretch the ligaments that ultimately and stretch the ligaments that ultimately result in sagging. Precautions in the result in sagging. Precautions in the form of a bra have to be taken sooner form of a bra have to be taken sooner rather than later.rather than later.

Stoppard – pg 52Stoppard – pg 52

More From Dr. StoppardMore From Dr. Stoppard

● Any sport that results in a jogging Any sport that results in a jogging movement will cause the suspensory movement will cause the suspensory ligaments to take the full weight of the ligaments to take the full weight of the breast every few seconds. breast every few seconds. A sporty A sporty adolescent therefore needs breast support adolescent therefore needs breast support earlier than her less active sisters. (my earlier than her less active sisters. (my emphasis)emphasis)

● A teenage girl should be introduced to the A teenage girl should be introduced to the notion of wearing a bra long before she notion of wearing a bra long before she needs it.needs it.

Stoppard – pg 53Stoppard – pg 53

When does a girl need a bra?When does a girl need a bra?

●The Pencil TestThe Pencil Test– When you place a pencil beneath your When you place a pencil beneath your

breast, if the pencil stays in place, then you breast, if the pencil stays in place, then you need a braneed a bra

●According to Dr. Stoppard, this test fails According to Dr. Stoppard, this test fails because because it is too late. it is too late.

– The breasts are already a B cup before the The breasts are already a B cup before the pencil will stay.pencil will stay.

Stoppard – pg 52Stoppard – pg 52

What About Big Breasts?What About Big Breasts?

““All girls with [extremely large All girls with [extremely large breasts] should be informed of the breasts] should be informed of the

possibility of surgical breast possibility of surgical breast reduction and offered councelling.”reduction and offered councelling.”

Stoppard – pg 46Stoppard – pg 46

The Truth!The Truth!

Lauersen – pg 22, Love – pg 21, 007b.comLauersen – pg 22, Love – pg 21, 007b.com

THERE IS NO MEDICAL REASON TO THERE IS NO MEDICAL REASON TO WEAR A BRA!WEAR A BRA!

The Myth of the Sagging The Myth of the Sagging BoobBoob

● Sag has nothing to do with brasSag has nothing to do with bras● Proportion of fat to connective and Proportion of fat to connective and

mammary tissuemammary tissue● AgeAge● Weight loss/gainWeight loss/gain

Love – pg 22, 007b.comLove – pg 22, 007b.com

On the ContraryOn the Contrary

● There are suggestions that wearing a There are suggestions that wearing a bra can actually increase the breasts' bra can actually increase the breasts' sag.sag.– Ligaments that receive artificial support in Ligaments that receive artificial support in

paraplegics often atrophy. Same process paraplegics often atrophy. Same process may be going on in your breast.may be going on in your breast.

007b.com007b.com

Real BoobsReal Boobs Saggy And Beautiful! Saggy And Beautiful!

The Myth of the Painful BoobThe Myth of the Painful Boob

● Pain during exercisePain during exercise– Exercise does NOT damage your breastsExercise does NOT damage your breasts

● Pain after going bralessPain after going braless– Due to connective tissue reassuming their Due to connective tissue reassuming their

intended role of supportintended role of support

007b.com007b.com

On The ContraryOn The Contrary

● Not wearing a bra can actually Not wearing a bra can actually strengthen the pectoral muscle, which strengthen the pectoral muscle, which can support the breast and provide a can support the breast and provide a natural liftnatural lift

● Bras can cause headaches; shoulder, Bras can cause headaches; shoulder, back and neck pain; and painful fibroids back and neck pain; and painful fibroids in the breast. One well-known study in the breast. One well-known study even suggests bras can cause cancer.even suggests bras can cause cancer.– Due to damage to lymphatic systemDue to damage to lymphatic system

007b.com, Lauersen – pg 22007b.com, Lauersen – pg 22

Social MythsSocial Myths

Comfort and PrivacyComfort and Privacy

● Provides protection against peeking Provides protection against peeking when wearing sleeveless shirtswhen wearing sleeveless shirts

● Keeps nipples and areolas from Keeps nipples and areolas from showing throughshowing through

● Prevents movement under a shirtPrevents movement under a shirt● Provides comfort during exerciseProvides comfort during exercise

– These are really just protections against These are really just protections against social criticism and/or teasing.social criticism and/or teasing.

Jukes – pg 16, 007b.comJukes – pg 16, 007b.com

At The WorkplaceAt The Workplace

● MYTH: Many women site the need to MYTH: Many women site the need to wear bras because of a dress code or a wear bras because of a dress code or a desire to look professional.desire to look professional.

● FACT: Few if any dress codes actually FACT: Few if any dress codes actually define what constitutes a bra. If define what constitutes a bra. If alternatives such are camisoles are alternatives such are camisoles are worn, it can be very difficult to tell worn, it can be very difficult to tell whether or not you are wearing a bra.whether or not you are wearing a bra.

Why Is Going Braless A Why Is Going Braless A FeministFeminist Pop CulturePop Culture

PracticePractice??

Definition of FeministDefinition of Feminist

● Bras and bra-wearing hails women into Bras and bra-wearing hails women into the ideology of the feminine and the ideology of the feminine and womanhood. (Althusser)womanhood. (Althusser)– The female body is property to be The female body is property to be

maintained, controlled, exploited and traded maintained, controlled, exploited and traded (here, as sexual currency). (Wendell)(here, as sexual currency). (Wendell)

● Deals with the lived, bodily, material Deals with the lived, bodily, material experience of women on a day-to-day experience of women on a day-to-day basis (Wendell)basis (Wendell)– Media images constantly reinforce the braMedia images constantly reinforce the bra

Definition of Pop CultureDefinition of Pop Culture● Taking advantage of an antagonistic Taking advantage of an antagonistic

moment already present in ideology. . . moment already present in ideology. . . and presents it as an unassimilable and presents it as an unassimilable option against the dominant ideology option against the dominant ideology (Kipnis)(Kipnis)

● Body as the site of resisting or Body as the site of resisting or struggling against dominant ideology struggling against dominant ideology (Darling-Wolf)(Darling-Wolf)– Resistance can help a woman come to terms Resistance can help a woman come to terms

with her body image and increase her self-with her body image and increase her self-esteem (Rice)esteem (Rice)

Popular DiscriminationPopular Discrimination

The ability of a group to decide NOT The ability of a group to decide NOT to buy/use a popular product (Fiske)to buy/use a popular product (Fiske)

Thus, Pop Culture is by definition Thus, Pop Culture is by definition already-always a practicealready-always a practice

If You're Not ConvincedIf You're Not Convinced

● AlternativesAlternatives– Listed on the 007b.com websiteListed on the 007b.com website– Include camisoles, vests, A-line tanksInclude camisoles, vests, A-line tanks

● If you must wear a bra, at least wear one If you must wear a bra, at least wear one that properly fits!that properly fits!– You are more than welcome to come ask me You are more than welcome to come ask me

to teach you how to measure for your proper to teach you how to measure for your proper sizesize

Resources for Those Who Resources for Those Who Want To Be BrafreeWant To Be Brafree

● 007b.com/why_wear_bras.php007b.com/why_wear_bras.php● goingbraless.netgoingbraless.net● Me!Me!