#FreeTheNipples: Going braless to release your inner women

Written by Anouk Lauzon Groleau

I constantly see comic strips showing a woman taking off her bra at the end of the day, screaming “FREEDOM!” implying that all the women are waiting for this moment.

And frankly, it shocks me.

Why don’t we be more comfortable all day long?

I WAS JUST LIKE YOU

“Come on, EVERYBODY IS GOING TO STARE AT ME/TO STARE AT THEM!”

“People will be able to tell and will be uncomfortable, and I’ll be the first one!”

“I have big boobs, and it’s not for me.”

“They will be hanging when I am older!”

IT’S NOT TRUE

When you begin to let your attractive and beautiful assets free, you quickly realize one thing: nobody cares.

You are the one who will be annoyed being braless, because we taught you to hide them and also to show them, to enhance them… only according to some very strict and uncomfortable standards; plunging bra, padded bra, strapless bra (Was I the only one trying to hitch it up under my sweater!?)

And do you breathe hard after climbing the stairs because your bra can’t let you breathe? #YouKnowWhatIMean

And if you are the kind of person who really wants to be comfortable, watch out! Large straps, drab colours, impossible to wear a spaghetti strap cami without showing that you don’t care about the beauty standards of lingerie, in that case, you are categorized as a dropout.

And even more, if you say out loud that commercial underwear’s bad for your boobs’ health, that you don’t want to be categorized, that it’s bad for your body, you win the title of radical feminist.

If you think maybe that the free the boobs movement is only for those who wear a A or B cup… You are wrong! The Internet is full of testimonials of women with big breasts who flushed their bra. And they live very well without it (I read a testimony of a woman who embraced this movement, and she wears a 95E!)

And about hanging… girls, your boobs will be firmer and healthier without your cute black lace bra, because your breasts’ organic tissues could keep their elasticity more easily by being continuously moving instead of being completely still… It’s a little bit like rubber bands, if you never use them, they’re going to lose their elasticity and break as soon as you use them.

IT’S THE SAME FOR YOUR BOOBS!

Their tissues need to move to stay healthy! Leaving them still makes them fragile. Gravity will do its job, bra or no bra, but you will keep the curves of your breasts longer.

If you’re still not convinced about the benefits of leaving them to breathe, studies show that wearing a bra doesn’t make a difference for your boobs. It’s the opposite, throwing away this piece of your closet will increase your blood and lymphatic circulation, your self-esteem, and contribute to reducing the development of mycosis in this area (Hi girls with big boobs!).

FASHION TOLD WOMEN THAT BREASTS WERE AN ACCESSORY, AN OBJECT OF DESIRE YOU NEED TO ADJUST TO NOT CROSS THE LINE BETWEEN SEXY AND VULGAR.

They must be round.

Completely symmetrical.

Curvy around the cleavage.

Not a big areola.

Having just enough.

Not small ones.

Not big ones either.

WAKE UP, GIRL. It’s not real life.

You have the one with one boob.

The one with one, bigger than the other.

The one with a pear shape, the other one with a banana shape.

The one with a big areola.

The one with a birthmark on it.

The one who has too much for her health.

The one who barely has any.

And you know what? It is okay.

Yes, there are women with perfect curves, but it’s far from the majority. And instead of seeing your flaws, why don’t we see their characteristics? And why not being proud of it?

In our society, we speak more and more about women’s liberation. But to be honest, I don’t think it’s the right thing to do: why don’t we begin to free ourselves, in our daily life, in our body and our conscience, and then help other women to free themselves… Instead of being okay to let the society choosing when and how this important liberation will happen?

Yes, I advocate the #FreeTheBoobs movement because I think it’s a symbolic way to show the world that it is OUR body. On the other hand, YOU need to find your comfort zone in this process (or getting out of it, you may find great surprises!).

What is important is that the standards don’t have to define whether your body is beautiful.

What is important is you and your choices.

Your body feeds you.

Your body makes you breathe.

Your body makes you dance.

Your body makes you live.

And that what makes it beautiful.

I say yes to reclaim my body. I say yes to release the power of the society on my boobs. I say yes to release them, and mine.

Reclaim your own body, beautiful Goddess, and let it shine with love.

This post was translated from French to English by: