Going braless is probably one of the most liberating things a woman can do. You don’t feel like something’s restricting your chest, and you can wear anything without worrying about what bra to pair an outfit with.
We know not every woman is comfortable with not wearing a bra because some use it for extra support. What we’re saying is it isn’t wrong if someone chooses to opt out of it, and that’s what Sue Ramirez did.
In a “Tonight with Boy Abunda” interview, she shared how she’s not comfortable with wearing a bra because she feels restrained. “Nasisikipan ako, naiinitan ako, hindi ako komportable. (It feels tight, I feel hot, and I’m not comfortable.) So I decided nung April to stop wearing bras,” she said. “[It’s] very, very liberating.”
Just like a lot of women, Sue said she felt the need to wear bras because “feeling ko hindi komportable yung mga tao sa paligid ko.” (I felt like the people around me were uncomfortable.) The fear of being judged for not wearing a bra is real because it would be improper to have our nipples on display, or simply not having any support for our breasts.
Recently, Sue was the target of online harassment after a photo of her and Hayden Kho before the ABS-CBN Ball went viral online. Creepy netizens were quick to point out Sue’s breasts and sexualized her for not wearing a bra.
One Facebook page also emphasized how Sue’s nipples were sticking out from under her shirt. Seriously, people need to get a life and focus on more important things.
What we’re seeing here is how society still looks at women as sexualized objects, and people would justify this is the reason why we’re “required” to wear a bra. But the reality is that women still get harassed and slut-shamed regardless if they’re wearing a bra or not. When they do go out of the house without one, they’re not opening themselves up to catcalls.
It’s also not okay to objectify celebrities like Sue Ramirez because of their looks. Their stardom doesn’t excuse anyone from saying such comments.
In the first place, breasts are simply body parts comprised of fat and tissue; they’re not for anyone’s sexual pleasure. Likewise, women shouldn’t be pressured into wearing a bra because, as Everyday Feminism noted, it should be a personal choice and not a social norm. The outlet also touched on how a woman is often judged and bullied based on the size of her breasts, as well as the agist notion that they should avoid sagging when they are young, implying that it’s only acceptable at a certain age.
Again, we’re not saying bras are the enemy here—it’s the notion that it’s a requirement for women to have perfectly-shaped breasts under their shirts, and to avoid being harassed in public. Instead of putting the blame on the victim and a piece of clothing, people should direct their attention on those who can’t keep it in their pants.
Photo courtesy of Sue Ramirez’ Instagram account
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