Pros and cons of wearing a bra

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To wear a bra or not to wear a bra, that is a question. It’s a question I face every day. For the first part of my day, I never wear a bra. In the morning, when it’s time to take my dog for the first walk of her day, I just throw on whatever tank top or t-shirt is at the top of my drawer, grab some sweatpants, and we’re on our way. I’m not going to clasp up a brassiere just so that my dog can handle her business. It’s 8:30 in the morning and hopefully my neighbors will allow for the fact that I don’t need to completely put myself together just so that my dog can piddle. By late afternoon, I’ve run an errand or two, still bra-less, and the world did not fall apart. So when evening rolls around and it’s time for me to officially “get ready,” I often wonder, “Why put on a bra now?” So sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I do. Sometimes not wearing one has made me uncomfortable. But so has wearing one. Here are the pros and cons of wearing a bra.

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Pro: Control boob shape

If you aren’t content with the shape of your boobs, a good bra can help you manipulate that. It can round out slender ones, or make saggy ones look perkier. It can make bulbous ones have that teardrop shape. Bras give you control over your look in that region, to which you are entitled.

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Con: Encourage shape standards

On the flip side, there’s no such thing as “right” or “wrong” boob shape. Boobs are awesome—all boobs. Saggy, perky, teardrop, bulbous, pear-shaped, pancake, and every last one. Maybe we shouldn’t let men believe that all boobs do or “should” look a certain way by manipulating them with bras.

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Pro: Control boob size

Whether you’re flat chested and want to add a little something there, or you have very large breasts that you’d like to contain a bit, a good bra can help.

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Con: Encourage size standards

Again, though, there is no right or wrong boob size. And, ideally, you want someone to be attracted to you as you naturally are so you don’t need to keep up a ruse forever, right? As someone with small breasts, it has been a bit embarrassing for past hookups to discover I do not actually have a handful in there. Not because there’s anything wrong with that, but because I had clearly been uncomfortable with my actual size since I wore a padded bra.

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Pro: Hide the nipple

Let’s face it: when it gets cold, the nipples become like high beams for our chest. Everybody looks at them—they can’t help it. Even I, a heterosexual woman, am distracted by someone who is nipping out. Bras prevent that.

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Con: Restrain the nipple

Bras do, however, keep precious airflow from our precious nipples. Those babies need to breathe. There’s nothing quite like sweaty nipples to make you feel uncomfortable.

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Pro: Lift boobs for now

Quality bras can provide a nice lift while you wear them. If you want to create a little cleavage where there otherwise is none, a strong bra has you covered.

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Con: Possibly cause sag later

Unfortunately, some research suggests that regular bra wearers are more susceptible to saggy breasts later in life. So it may be worth foregoing manufactured cleavage now to maintain more of the real thing later.

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Pro: Protect from synthetic materials

If a lot of your clothes are made from synthetic materials, a bra separates the sensitive skin on your breasts and nipples from those materials. That’s a good thing since your boobs are a place you don’t want rashes.

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Con: Unless the bra is synthetic

The last pro is only true if you purchase bras made from natural materials like cotton or linen. If you buy bras made from synthetic stuff, you may face some chafing and itching.

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Pro: Pairs cute with panties

When you want to look and feel sexy—maybe for date night—a beautiful set of lingerie is great. And a bra adds an element of allure—it’s one more thing for your partner to take off.

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Con: Oh-so-pricey

Matching bra and panty sets are expensive. Bras are expensive—at least the ones that will actually last you more than one wash.

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Con: But men should keep it together

Should we perhaps be training men to, like, get over it? In other words, to compose themselves in the presence of free nipples? It’s really not a big deal, but if we usually hide the nipple, it becomes a big deal to men. Overall, we should be teaching them to be more body positive.

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Pro: Provide back support

Bras provide much-needed back support for bigger-chested women. There’s no denying that. And, even small-breasted women need the support when they jog or power walk.