My Two Cents' Worth on Training Bras

[shanmonster]

When I was in junior high, I was flat-chested. Other girls were wearing bras. Occasionally, other kids would come over to pretend they were going to snap my bra, and then they'd feign surprise that there was no bra to snap. I was mocked for my lack of a bra, and my lack of breasts.

I dreaded gym class, and getting changed. I wouldn't change in the changing area but in a bathroom stall, instead. Kids would pound on the stall doors, laughing at me. I didn't see the humour.

Eventually, my mother decided it was time I should get a bra. I was old enough. We went to a discount clothing shop somewhere and picked up a couple. One was white lace with a silly pink and green flower where my cleavage would be if I had any. The other was beige and unadorned. I was told I would need to wear these now, since I was getting grown up.

Obediently, I wore the accursed things. They were nothing but nuisances. I didn't see what purpose they served. Back in those days, I was horrified by breasts and bras. If a strap was showing at all, that was slovenly. If a blouse was sheer enough to show a hint of bra outline, that was trashy. And if a bra was textured and the texture pressed through a sweater, well, that was just gross. It was nothing more than an invitation for everyone and anyone to stare at that person's tits. And as for tailored tops which had darting for breasts? In my mind, that was obviously something only worn by harlots.

None of my shirts were sheer. I was already so ashamed of my body that I didn't wear anything like that. I had t-shirts and button-up shirts and a few thick acrylic sweaters. And now I had these horrible over-the-shoulder-boulder-holders to wear.

They didn't stay in place, of course. There was nothing to hold them in place. And so my days were spent surreptitiously hauling the elasticized torture garments out of my armpits and back down to my sternum.

The kids continued to mock me for not wearing a bra yet, and one day, one girl hauled my shirt up revealing the despicable garment. She laughed uproariously. "She's wearing a bra!" she said incredulously. She looked back at me. "Why are you wearing a bra when you don't even have tits?"

A new hell had been unleashed. On top of my regular abuse was this new one of having my shirt pulled up. The beige bra was the worst. It was given the name "pigskin" by the girls in my class.

When I finished junior high, and when I'd escaped the worst of the bullying girls, I ditched wearing bras full time. I still couldn't see the point of them. They did nothing but cause discomfort. I didn't tell Mom I wasn't wearing them, and she didn't ask. I still didn't have boobs, so they still wouldn't stay in place.

When I graduated high school, I was still as flat as a board, but I started wearing bras out of modesty. I'd taken a job as an activities counsellor at a park, and wore white t-shirts which would occasionally get soaked. I think that was the last time I wore bras on a regular basis.

I'm not exactly buxom now, but I only wear bras a couple of times a year. I still don't see the point in them, aside from making certain dressy blouses/dresses fit better. When I see articles on training bras for girls, I still can't help but wonder what exactly the training is for. Bras are not a necessary garment. Men with moobs don't wear 'em, and plenty of women around the world do without just fine (even the ones with big boobs). I don't think people should make their kids wear bras. Let it be their own choice.

Comments

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

Oh my god, that poor kid that was you. People are HORRIBLE. What the fuck is wrong with people. I cannot understand or comprehend it. I don't want to. They suck. UGH.

The term "training bra" is ridiculous and the idea needs to die.

I'm not hugely endowed, but I wear a 32D bra and am miserable when I don't wear one. My nipples start to ache and chafe against the fabric, the movement of flesh under my clothes bugs me, and I don't like the feel of them resting on my ribs--things get sweaty there because I sweat all the time, whether I'm hot or not. I don't take off my bra until, like the very last second before I climb into bed. The idea of exercising sans bra makes my skin crawl. I wear highly constrictive sports bras (forget the sports bras that lift and separate instead of compress and minimize) and still I occasionally clip my boobs on a particularly close clean.

But I agree with not forcing people to wear them. I don't think people should be forced to wear anything. Except maybe underwear because the idea of folks walking around butt-ass naked and sitting on public furniture is kind of nasty.

[threemilechild.livejournal.com]

I agree with you entirely. In my case, my mom didn't make me wear a bra and I put it off for longer than most girls at my school (considered by age or by size, really), but eventually the discomfort of NOT wearing one became greater than the discomfort of wearing one. I'd love to be able to go without without pain and skin issues.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

I'd love to be able to go without without pain and skin issues.

*fistbump*

I see enormously-bosomed women walking around sans bra all the time in the hippie town where I live and I just think HOW? NGL, sometimes I'm a teensy bit jealous.

[sageincave.livejournal.com]

I needed a proper bra and didn't get one for some time. Was thrilled to finally get a bra that was concealing, supportive, and pretty.

[dark-phoenix54.livejournal.com]

I'm still flat as a board! When I was in junior high, I was given the 'training bras' that I had no use for. Same thing you went through- the damn things rode up constantly. I couldn't win changing for gym- if I wore one, it was 'you don't have nothing to put in it' and if I didn't I was 'nasty'. I was awfully glad to get out of school. But at least I never had my shirt pulled up. I'm sorry you had to go through all that.

[twilightrabbit.livejournal.com]

I was the first girl at the age of nine to develop tits in my class and I was accused of stuffing my bra and was informed that I was not really a woman anyway until I started menstruating or grew armpit hair. I empathise with your being bullied, if the girls are going to single someone out, it will always be the most awesome person it seems :) Be proud of who you are in all your unique capacity.

I begged my mother for a bra. My back ached, they sagged. My father insulted me for not wearing one at times because in a loose T-shirt it was like I had sagging water balloons stitched to my skin. I couldn't go without one.
My mother eventually conceded and felt all I needed was a training bra. It was a nightmare. It took years before she finally believed I needed a proper one. I kept telling her "too small" shouting through the fitting room door. She finally threw me one that fit and I exclaimed relief. She was shocked. She said she passed me that 48D as a joke.
I'm now a 36DD. I have similar issues to clevermanka when not wearing a bra. To play sports I have to strap the girls down or I experience pain.

I agree it should be a choice what people wear. For those who need them they're important to have. You never should have been forced to wear one and whether you needed one or not was nobody's business. Thank you for sharing.

P.S. I strapped them down once to cosplay Ozzy Osborne for Halloween. That is the last time I play a man. My poor lungs and tits.

[clevermanka.livejournal.com]

What the hell, Mom?

Would love to see any pics of you as Ozzy, if you're inclined to share!

[twilightrabbit.livejournal.com]

I decided to make the photo a journal entry. (http://twilightrabbit.livejournal.com/272657.html)

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I'm enjoying seeing everyone's feedback. It seems like we all have some training bra horror stories.

I still don't see the point of a training bra. An actual bra, sure, but a training bra doesn't accomplish much other than acclimatize someone into eventually wearing the real thing.

Do guys have something comparable? I can't think of anything.

[sboyko.livejournal.com]

We have nothing similar, no. I suppose the transition from "tighty whities" to boxers might be remotely similar, but I don't think that's really a rite of passage. Boys find ways to mock other boys anyway. Kids are nasty.

[the-lucky-nun.livejournal.com]

Seems kids will pick on anyone who deviates from the norm. I remember the alpha pack of girls tormenting my classmates in the junior high locker room. All the small chested girls were accused of being "dykes", all the large-chested girls were called "sluts", and one poor girl whose breasts were different sizes was reduced to tears nearly every day by those hags. I don't remember the gym teacher interfering. When I tried to stick up for my friends, my clothes and shoes were flushed in a dirty toilet. I hope their boobs rotted off. Actually, two of those bullies are dead now, so I guess their boobs did rot off.