For a few weeks now, I have heard on the radio and through reading articles about the young lady from Helena High School in Montana who was called into the principal's office because she was not wearing a bra. Senior Kaitlyn Juvik was wearing a black shirt, that was covering up everything, without a bra on. Seems fine, right? Nothing was actually showing. Well, her teacher didn't seem to think so, and felt uncomfortable that Kaitlyn wasn't wearing an undergarment. I saw a photo of what Kaitlyn was wearing, and I agree with her Facebook caption that read, "You can definitely not tell that I am not wearing a bra unless you are looking VERY hard." In my opinion, I think this teacher was in the wrong for several reasons.
Time and time again, women's breasts have been an issue. From the debate of whether women should breastfeed in public, to whether or not women should let their nipples show through a shirt, women are constantly being told what other people think is right or wrong -- and that in itself is just plain wrong. A woman's body is her own. No one else's. And breasts are not meant to be sexualized. They are nourishment for children and a natural part of a woman's body. Breasts are not something that should make people feel uncomfortable or something that should be a source of embarrassment for women. Every day, women are sexualized and victimized for what they are wearing (or not wearing). In high school, I remember we weren't allowed to wear Nike shorts or yoga pants because the slit was too high in the Nike shorts, and the yoga pants were too tight. So after a long, hard weekend of soccer tournaments and practice, I was not allowed to wear athletic shorts or comfy yoga pants because men sexualized our bodies too much. What?! How does that even make sense? We need to teach our boys to not sexualize girls, not tell girls that they need to dress a certain way because boys can't keep it together.
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The main reason why this whole ordeal has upset me is because shaming young girls by asking them to cover up or put on a bra so her nipples don't show is problematic because it can make these girls feel guilty about themselves. No girl should ever feel ashamed of her body, especially in its natural state. Once these girls are shamed, they start to believe that what they wear and how people act because of it is their fault, which leads to victim-blaming in sexual harassment cases. And just as importantly, the mentality these girls are developing that the natural female body is inappropriate and only there for the sexual pleasure of men, can and does cause body image issues.
I have started going out without a bra on this past year, and I will admit, sometimes I feel uncomfortable because I get lots of comments on it. People think it's because I'm trying to get attention, and sometimes I get a lot of sexual comments directed toward me. But I shouldn't ever have to feel uncomfortable when not wearing a bra. It's my body and I can do whatever I want with it. I'm always covered up, and no one should tell me how I need to dress. Bras are the most uncomfortable things in the world to me. The wires come out and scratch you, sometimes there's way too much padding and I feel like it's not natural and you have to worry about it not matching your outfit. I love the feeling of being natural and confident in my own skin, and if that means my nipples occasionally show, so let it be. I know not all girls agree with this, and some even feel uncomfortable not wearing a bra. That's okay too! The point is, every woman feels things differently and feels confident in her own way. I feel more confident without makeup or a bra on because it's me. I am here for a reason. We all are. So let's celebrate our natural, beautiful selves because we were put on this earth to live our lives to the fullest, not to shame each other for being our truest form.
Thank you, Kaitlyn, and all those who have protested in peace, for being you and not letting anyone tell you what to do with your own body. You are beautiful.
