Let me preface this by saying I am a man, and smoked a little too much, so I’m sitting here thinking… what is or was the original purpose of a bra? Weight support? Vanity? Covering the nips so people’s eyes met your eyes and you can have a normal conversation? Like what’s it all about?

  • That_Devil_Girl@lemmy.ml
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    5 months ago

    I have 38C and I wear a bra for a variety of reasons. It does help with support, they weigh a lot and having them bounce freely hurts. It’s like having two large water balloons taped to your chest. Every slight bump or jolt pulls on the skin.

    It also helps with sweating. Underwood sweat is a real thing and just as uncomfortable as armpit sweat or thigh rub sweat. A bra helps to absorb sweat and moisture under there.

    A bra also acts a a sort of “armor.” My breast’s are rather sensitive, and rubbing against my shirt or other stuff can be painful. Having a bra layer protects them from chaffing and rubbing.

    There’s also a bit of vanity to it, depending on type and style of bra. Some are utilitarian and functional only, some are stylish, and some are designed to show off in low cut blouses.

    Personally, most of my bras are entirely function and utility as I work as a welder. I’m covered head to toe in safety gear, so wearing a pretty or revealing bra just isn’t practical.

    • EABOD25@lemm.eeOP
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      5 months ago

      I completely do not understand and completely respect all statements beside the nipple rubbing thing.

      We have no comparison to who’s nipples are more sensitive, but raw nipples are the worst. Especially when sweat and exertion are the worst.

      IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, nipples are just sensitive matter who you are. Weight distribution and jiggle control is something I can’t relate to though

      • GamingChairModel@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        Weight distribution and jiggle control is something I can’t relate to though

        It’s not hard. Put on a really heavy backpack and leave the straps super loose, and go try to move around, maybe a few athletic moves that involve changing speed or direction. Compare to a tight backpack with a waistband and shoulder straps properly strapped to your body, and try to move around again. The straps help control the extra motion so that you’re in better control.

        Or run around in shoes 5 sizes too big. Or go for a run with your arms loose and intentionally left limp, swinging around like pendulums.

        The whole world has a million examples of why providing bracing and support makes for more efficient and comfortable movement.

      • That_Devil_Girl@lemmy.ml
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        5 months ago

        Weight distribution and jiggle control is something I can’t relate to though

        Well, you can try a little experiment in the privacy of your home. Take two water balloons about the size of softballs and tape them to your chest. Spend the whole day wearing them around the house.

        It’ll quickly become something you can relate to 😀

        • EABOD25@lemm.eeOP
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          5 months ago

          I used to do that with a 40 pound weight vest for strength training. I didn’t do it very long because it was awful

      • fogstormberry@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        5 months ago

        We have no comparison to who’s nipples are more sensitive

        trans person here. girl nipples are way way way more sensitive. its not even a contest

          • EldritchFeminity@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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            5 months ago

            I don’t have any sources or anything, but I’ve seen this anecdotally mentioned a lot by trans women. I do know that estrogen thins out your skin and I wonder if it’s related to that. Though, with all the stuff estrogen does, sensitivity might just be related to estrogen itself and not the byproduct of some other change.

      • ChillPenguin@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        Asks for women’s opinion in the purpose of bras. Ignores major parts of the women’s answers. Bruh

      • Live Your Lives@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        I’m a fellow man, but I assume the primary difference between our nipples and theirs is not sensitivity so much as it is that theirs will swing around and rub against things a lot more.