Student Exhibits

Bra's of the Modern World
Katherine Diaz

When one thinks of a bra, there are many things that come to mind. First one gets the idea of something frilly and lacy, something that makes you feminine. Because as we all know a bra is something that is uniquely feminine. There are no male bras, although there are some guys that do look like they should be wearing one.

In the beginning the Bra was made to bind a woman’s breasts; at least that was the original idea. They were a way of keeping breasts from moving while a woman was up and about. The bra stretched out from the idea of the corset which was used to shape a woman’s body and to push up her breasts so that they seemed bigger. Sound familiar. That is the same idea marketer’s use today. Most women are made to feel inadequate by models and actresses, if they do not use at least a C-cup size. Therefore marketers came out with the Push Up Bra, the Water Bra, Padded Bra, and the air filled Bra that comes with its own unique pump, all of these are designed to give the illusion of bigger breasts.

At first the Bra was a liberating new technology when compared to its predecessor, the corset. But what was once associated with freedom has become just as binding as the corset. Wearing a bra has become as natural as breathing if you are a woman. A woman who chooses not to wear a bra is usually seen as being nasty, or slutty. The reason given is that it’s indecent because you can see her nipples. But what is wrong about seeing her nipples. Both men and women have nipples; the only difference is that women’s breasts are bigger than men’s. But like everything else about a woman’s body, its taboo to even talk about it. Even in the Victoria’s Secret Catalog’s a woman’s nipples are airbrushed out of the pictures because it’s ‘not right’ to show that a woman has nipples. Why is it that a woman has to hide what makes her a woman? What is so wrong about being female?

On the plus size, a bra does in fact help’s a big breasted women be more athletic. The Bra keeps breast from bouncing all over the place and provides support for those that need it. It also makes a women look and feel different depending on the style she wears. She can be athletic to girly to sexy. The variety of colors and fabrics offered is endless. All women need now is a bra that can accommodate her own unique size. Because as we all know, no two breasts are alike.