Ladies: Do you own a push-up bra?

My own personal philosophy is that (they are not only stupid in that they are patriarchal tools of women's oppression, a consumeristic attempt to mold us all into male fantasies, but that, also) they are pointless. Stay with me here. So you buy a push-up bra. Now, why would you do that? To attract men, right? Okay, so, nevermind the fact that you're only going to attract shallow men, but, really, what's the point of attracting a man? Presumably because you want to have sex with him. And, surely, when that time comes, he is going to see, or at least feel, your REAL ta-tas. And he will, understandably, be shocked and disappointed when your real assets are not nearly as large as advertised.

So I don't bother.

My regular bras are not padded. However, I have one push-up bra that I wear for special occasions. I wear it because I like the way it looks, not because anyone else has asked me to. :) In fact, I like lingerie and wear it for myself. If anyone else likes it, that's all the better, but that's not why I wear it. :D

Edited to say: Actually, my push-up bra is not padded. It just takes what I have naturally and lifts it. Definitely not false advertising! :P

I'm well-endowed and they give me a better profile. I really don't notice them being more confining compared to other bras I've worn. :shrug:

And while I recognize you have a point about whether or not there's any virtue in trying to attract a man, I know that men are visual. So, I make the most of a bad deal occasionally. Once they speak with me I'm hoping they'll forget I'm small-breasted. You can't fight mother nature, but you cn fuck with her now and then.

I am a woman, but, personally, I think huge breasts are a turn-OFF, which puts me out of the mainstream, I know, but my ex agreed with me. He liked a nice behind. haha Anyway, huge ones just seem to OOZE to me, and they remind me of lactating, and they get all droopy really early in life (if they're real). Most of the people I know with those huge ones think they're the greatest thing since sliced bread, and they're a BIG part of their self-conception. I think they look gross. :shrug:

who prefer smaller breasts. Sigh.

I say

Fuck 'em!

:hi:

But who're ya gonna call when you've got a flat tire? :shrug:

Outside of Western culture, large breasts aren't always something men go looking for in a woman...

Additionally, Asian women aren't noted for having large breasts (most of the time)... but, the last I checked a few years back, the Asian female/Caucasian male was the most common inter-racial marriage in this country.

I have carefully studied and compared for probably 38 of my 51 years and know for a fact that small is where it's at!

The french aesthetic is that the perfect breast fits nicely into a champaign glass. No brandy snifters or beer mugs for me!

actually about the fact that you find large breasts 'gross'?

And find the overlarge ones - especially the siliconed/sugery-boosted ones - to be not very attractive.

I really don't get why men think those ridiculously large breasts are attractive, especially the augmented ones. Consider the women who tend to do the Sports Illustrated swimsuit pictures: mostly all enhanced, and enhanced poorly and ugly-ly (is that a word? Ha! It is now!).

If the breasts are naturally large, then, well, so be it - you get what you get in the DNA game of life - but even though I don't pine for the large ones, if they're natural, they don't necessarily turn me off.

And of course, this is a very non-nuanced post, since we have the whole issue of "waht is large" because there are issues of the women's height and weight and build and basic body shape, pregnancy status, whether they are wearing clothes that fit properly or not, the shoes she has on, her posture, and a whole host of other things. So, as you read this, please read it through the lens of knowing that I have made sweeping generalizations and have not nuanced anywhere near the amount I should have.

But the one sweeping generalization that does hold true: I prefer the smaller breasts.

But we do a lot to falsely advertise our appearance besides push-up bras — wear make-up, put product in our hair, paint our fingernails, etc — all of that is giving ourselves physical characteristics that aren't true to life.

At least most men like breasts...

Clown faces? Not so much.

I finally have given up on them for 95% of the time. On those very rare occasions when it is a matter of manners to wear one, I only wear sports bras, because I have found underwire bras to be the creation of Satan himself, and I don't need or want additional padding either.

Since I am now 50, I feel I've done my duty in wearing bras most of my life, and it's not only stupid now but painful to wear them. I say Good Riddance!!

I wear nothing but cotton sports bras anymore and usually only when dressing for work. Don't even have any other kind of bra in the house. It's like pulling on a comfy t-shirt but still, at the end of the day, I can't wait to get the dang thing off! :hi:

So does my husband. I don't look the same without my make-up on, and most women I know buy clothes that camouflage their perceived imperfections; this type of bra simply accentuates an area I'm rather fond of, anyway. To me, clothing is sometimes functional, and sometimes costumery. Would I wear a push-up bra to my kids' school conferences? Probably not. But when I put one on yesterday, it certainly distrated my husband from his tv viewing, without my having to say anything! Sometimes it's just plain fun to feel overtly sexual. I'm home with kids all day, every day, and if it aids me in switching out of mommy mode, then I feel it's a good thing for me. ;)

:thumbsup:

:applause:

Considering my screen name and sig line, you can guess what side of this issue I'm on.

I went through a period recently where I was very ill, and now I feel GREAT--and a little cocktail party fun is just what the doctor ordered--almost literally!

I am very small up top and I've never made any secret of that and certainly have no interest in men who have a problem with that. I'm reasonably happy with my figure the way it is.

I don't wear them for that, I wear them because it's hard for me to find a dress that fits properly over my real boobs and still has room enough for my hips and ass.

I think the clothes manufacturers think that if they make all the clothes for Cindy Crawford, then we'll all start looking like her. ?! I can NEVER find any pants that fit... I have curves and a small waist, and I'm only 5'. IMPOSSIBLE. haha

MOST women are built like that in reality - smallish breasts, largish hips. What gives?

I have shortish but muscular legs too. Good god finding clothes to fit me sucks (it doesn't help that I'm 5'2") I really ought to start sewing my own things or something but I really haven't got the time.

It sucks, because petite stuff is always too short, but regular length is almost always too long. So I buy regular length. I don't care if jeans are long and I just get dress pants tailored.

and adjusted up or down accordingly. That's why if you're not a size 8, it is likely difficult to find clothes that fit everything.

I'm short (5'1") but with longish legs, so petite pants are too short. I have very narrow hips but largish breasts.

BTW, the Gap now makes jeans for different hips.

it's unlikely that the majority of women are going to fit a single mold

complains about finding clothes. Tall, short, overweight, thin, big or small chest, big or small hips, they all have problems with certain brands or articles of clothing.

She has no hips or butt to speak of and very very large breasts. She usually wears men's jeans but has very little luck finding shirts to fit or anything dressy or feminine.

(Although I suspect we are really on the same "side" of the issue.)


"MOST women are built like that in reality - smallish breasts, largish hips. What gives?"



"Smallish" and "largish" respectively, only in comparison to what the media and entertainment industries (beauty pagents, super models, etc.) would have us believe is an attainable standard of "beauty." In all other respects, neither "smallish" nor "largish," but... NORMAL.

if these things get loose, God help us all.

You could always leave it on. :shrug:

I daresay most women wear them most of the time to attract men. I assume because said women are heterosexual and want to go out with said man. At some point, they will want to fool around. I assume that most women want the to be with the man without a bra on, at some point. I guess they'd work great for one night stands during which you refuse to take your bra off... ?

I have never had any desire to have a one-night stand. I can't imagine taking my clothes off in front of a guy who didn't care about more than breast size.

And I wear make-up and high heels and all sorts of other things that classify as false advertising as well.

In fact, I think they're pretty silly.

I don't get your point about 'not taking it off'? Are you saying you should wear a push-up bra and never take it off for your SO if you don't want him to realize your boobs were artifically aided?

IMHO, this is totally different from wearing makeup, too. Most women don't really look that different with or without makeup. They just think they do. And that makes all the difference. And when a man sees you with or without makeup, it's still the same face. Your nose isn't getting bigger or smaller. The push-up bra thing just seems desperate and silly to me.

over a minor thing.

Women mostly wear what they feel good in. At least, I do. That's really the essence of being sexy, being comfortable and at ease with who you are, regardless of the shape. And I've never had any complaints from the "stronger sex" when I took my bra off. In fact, they quite enjoy "liberating" them. }(

And I'm done. This isn't worth an argument.

Depends on how much they wear.

For many women (most, the way they wear it around here), they look WAY different.

of course women look different with makeup but different does not necessarily equate to better (think tammy faye baker here). IMHO natural is the most awesome, sexiest look...

I'm gay. I just like them and no one has ever been disappointed. I'm a full 36C. I just think they "show off" better.

And get them to buy me beer. I have no intention of going home with any of them.


:evilgrin:

:loveya:

Yaaaaaay!


:7 :7 :7


:loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

I just don't have the need for one.....

But I figured if ....I used one to attract a man, and then we were going to have sex....

By the time he got to that point, he would no longer care!

But that's not going to happen, anyhow......


Interesting question!

:hi:

of bras I wear so that my clothing will flatter my form. To me, a flattering form is as streamlined as possible. I've never worn a bra with the (conscious) thought of how it would look to a man. It's about wanting clothing to fit me in a way that makes me presentable and comfortable. It's also about comfort generally. I'm more comfortable with one on, and before anyone posts it, that has nothing to do with culturally-ingrained stigmas about the "natural" shape of a woman's body or fears of looking "unattractive" as defined under misogynist beauty standards for women. My breasts are least distracting to me when they are lightly supported with a regular underwire bra. The less I have to think about them, the better.

:yourock:

And quite frankly I'm sick of everything supposedly being about men.I like pretty things, and my breasts are pretty things so I enjoy them. Whether anyone else does or not.

I don't think most of the women (or really ANY of the women :) ) on DU would wear a push-up bra just to "get a man"... I was thinking more of the 19-year-old coeds I saw going into Victoria's Secret the other day. It sometimes seems like they DO do everything for men. Or at least for mentally-stunted, beer-swilling frat daddies who give real men a bad name.

of others. In the case of an insecure teenager, her goal isn't really securing a mature sexual relationship with the men she meets. It's probably gratifying enough for most of the guys she knows to call her hot. She isn't likely to sleep with all of them.

I may be out of it but I don't know what exactly you mean. Aren't all bras designed to give you support (or to provide some "pushing-up")?

Do you mean padded bras?

I guess I've never had a reason to wear them given the fact I'm one of those women with naturally large breasts who "look gross" to you. :eyes:

I don't let my breasts define me. I don't have relationships with shallow, stupid men who are only concerned with my breasts. I dress in a way that makes me feel comfortable and pretty based on what season of the year it is. I don't understand why some women have so many issues with other women's bodies. I have never had the gaul to make comments to another woman about something so personal, yet have heard all sorts of bizarre remarks and accusations ("Do you have implants?" etc.) given to me for years(one just yesterday in fact). No, but like it's anyone's damned business anyway.

what's with women being like this about other women's bodies?

This is the second time in two days I've read some woman saying how gross large breasts are.

*sigh*

I just did.

;-)

Bras suck!

I like having small boobs, anyways. I have a friend with really big breasts that give her all kinds of problems. She is seriously inquiring into a reduction.

An actual conversation with my gynecologist ("G") that took place a couple years ago when I went in for the annual oh-so-fun squeeze n' swab:

G: "Your breasts are very dense."

Me: "Is that bad?"

G: "Well, they won't hit your knees when you're 50."

Rock on, doc! :headbang: :rofl:

RL

Nonpadded underwire bras work fine for me. Target sells good ones.

But a pushup bra would be fun with the right outfit.

they make even mine look really :bounce: :bounce:

I wouldn't be able to see...........

I'm changing into my oversized grey sweats and never changing out.
Fuck the man, I don't need to look good for 'the man'.
:eyes:

The idea that a woman is only doing x y or z for a 'man' is just as sexist as (and re-enforces) the idea that women can't think for themselves, are stupid, etc.

I like them for myself.

;)

I've bought or worn things that I knew my partner found attractive for only that reason, and I think that's fine too. I've also worn things like push up bras for myself.

Clearly we're just trying to attract men ;)

Must be why you wear the push up bras, so you can attract sexist male-imitation lesbians. :eyes:

But it's nice to read how awful large breasts are.

Shit.

But they probably date back to the Kennedy administration.

quit wearing a bra 30+ yrs ago and my only regrest is that there are a few shirts I can't wear due to "nippleage". Oh well, plenty more to wear otherwise. I used to regret my breast size, but overall have been very very very happy at not having to wear a bra.

We heterosexual males must ALL be shallow, then.

That isn't to say that he or you, or others, don't have their shallow moments.

OTOH, Mr. BAL isn't exactly a breast man, but that's not up for discussion...

(And a lot of gay men do, too.) This shallow vs. not-shallow thing has nothing to do with it.

I am underweight but wear 36C so I need support. I have a couple padded bras but don't really like them because I don't want to look bigger than I am but sometimes the alterative is showing my nipples. My sister who is similiarly sized wears padded bras always for this reason.

That women only wear push-up bras in order to attract men.

Whatever happened to the concept that women wear things because they make the woman feel more attractive (or comfortable) than another option? Perhaps the woman wants to be more attractive TO HERSELF.

It's not always about sex. Give your fellow women more credit than that.


And quite honestly, I think most guys realize that the package in the bra is gonna be different than the package sans bra. if they've ever paid attention to a woman's breasts (and surely they have), they will have noticed that the breasts seem to be different shapes and heights and forms from day to day (at least on a woman who wears a bra according to the clothing, and thus is wearing different bras on different days).

:thumbsup:

And a kudo to all the intelligent men in this thread who can make a distinction between fantasy and enjoying reality!

Fuck that. Another tool of the patriarchy. I'd fuck a damned bra in general, too, if I wasn't intensely self-concious. Hell, it's not like it does a whole lot for me.... :evilgrin:

:rofl:

:hide:

Push ups help my clothes fit better, especially since I'm pretty un-gifted in that department. I take the padding out of one side and look much better.

I admit freely to being a girlie girl, too. My lingerie drawer looks like Frederick's of Hollywood(where the vast majority of it came from).

I enjoy it for ME--it just so happens Mr. BAL has no complaints.

If it makes ya feel good, do it. If it makes you not feel good, don't.

No worries either way.

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

Perish the thought! . . .


I should try it once and see for myself!

So when I wear one, it's neither to attract a man or false advertising. Since having (and nursing) three kids, my breasts went from a small A-cup before kids to a fairly saggy C-cup after kids. Unfortunately society thinks saggy breasts are a bad thing, so I try to compensate for them when I go out in public.

I wish I had the confidence and freedom to stop wearing push-up bras...or shaving, for that matter.

Give me a flat-chested REAL woman over an overly-vain, silicon-injected fake-oid any day.

I had a male friend once say that breasts on a woman were like a bonus: if she's got nice ones, that's great, but if she doesn't, who cares? I subscribe to this philosophy.

Not that what I think of boobz means anything, anyway...

:hi:

just a tempest in a C cup.









Hey, somebody had to say it.

:hide:

:rofl:



Right on cue with the perfect zinger. As always.


:7


:loveya:

Sad, but true