BREAKING: Nigerian Women Are Ditching Their Bras. And This Is Why
In markets, offices, and even churches; some Nigerian women are embracing a braless lifestyle. For many, the decision not to wear a bra, an undergarment won by women to support and cover their breasts, isn’t just about convenience or comfort, but also about making a statement.
The trend has sparked intense debate, with some people criticizing women for not dressing “decently.” However, many women argue that wearing a bra is a personal choice and not a measure of their decency or morality.
Last month, Nollywood actress Ngozi Ezeonu reprimanded some young women at an audition for not wearing bras. The incident sparked a heated discussion on social media, with some people supporting Ezeonu’s stance and others defending the women’s right to choose.
Another incident that sparked more conversation was the warning by town criers in some communities in Anambra State that women and girls walking the streets without pants and bras risked arrest. Although the Anambra State government later disclosed that there was no such warning, it had already stirred up controversy over what is considered right or wrong in the way women dress.
To understand the motivations behind this trend, THE WHISTLER spoke to several women who shared their reasons for ditching their bras.
For Ify Nze, a hairdresser, the weather has been a contributing factor. The salon owner, who disclosed that she usually wears a bra during the rainy season, argued that the heat waves have made life unbearable for her. She noted that wearing a bra only compounds the problem.
“Because of the location of my shop, I am always on my feet working. I have customers who are here to get good hair done. If I am not comfortable, I will end up not giving them what they want. The weather is so crazy, that I can’t help but I can help not to compound the issue by ditching the bra,” she explained.
Happiness Ibire, a fashion designer on the other hand, stated that her decision was based on health reasons. “Whenever I wear a bra, I have chest pain,” she explained. “I have tried it several times, and it’s just not working. I’d rather prioritize my comfort and health.”
While there is no evidence to suggest that wearing a correctly fitting bra has any negative effects on health, experts explained that a bra that is tight on the body could cause a host of skin issues, including folliculitis, dermatitis, heat rash, and hives.
A United States board-certified dermatologist and founder of Lake Forest Dermatology, Dr. Heather Downes, during an interview with Healthline, a health and Wellness website, disclosed that when a bra tight clothing rubs the skin, it can cause excess sweating as well as irritation and inflammation of hair follicles.
“Not only that,” she said, “Bacteria and/or fungus on the surface of the skin can more easily penetrate into these hair follicles, causing infection.”
Downes noted that heat rash occurs when sweat ducts are blocked, and hives can develop through physical pressure on the skin.
Due to these discomforts, some women have chosen to do without bras. For instance, Lola Aje, told THE WHISTLER that wearing a bra is an invitation to discomfort, and she would rather not wear one.
“Whenever I wear a bra, I am always not comfortable. I have tried so many times and it is not working. I was told that maybe I wear bras that are too tight for me. I switched it to loose bras and I was still not comfortable. I have left it at that. I don’t care what any person think of that. It is for my comfort.
She added that when it gets to a point that she really needs a bra under a dress, she ups for singlet or a
“I am lucky that I have not-too-big ‘pumpkins’. So when I see that I really need to wear something under my clothes, I wear a singlet. That is how I roll,” she said.
Anita Ede, a student at the University of Abuja, cited financial constraints as her reason. “How can I spend money on a bra when I haven’t eaten?” she asked. “Some bras cost up to N5,000, which is equivalent to five mudu of garri.”
THE WHISTLER’s survey of bra prices revealed that the lowest price starts at N3,000, while used bras can cost up to N2,000. This may justify the argument that some women cannot afford to buy bras.
However, for many women, the decision not to wear a bra is not about health or financial reasons, but about freedom and autonomy.
“This breast needs to breathe,” said Bianca Ameh. “I like being free. I’m already wearing clothes, so why do I need extra fabric to validate that I am a decent girl?”
The software engineer who has a fuller bust, noted that ditching her bra was a deliberate choice rooted in feminism. She believed that if men could move freely without restrictive undergarments, she should be able to do the same.
“It is all about body positivity and accepting me for who I am,” she declared.
She however noted that she usually goes for free sized clothes rather than those that cling to her body but added that even at that, she usually gets disapproving looks from some people.
Those looks she say do not bother her at all. “As far as I dey my lane, I no find anybody trouble”.
The debate about wearing bras or not is unlikely to end soon. While some women accuse men who insist on women wearing bras of being misogynistic, others argue that it’s a matter of personal choice.
As Manniet Emmanuel, a customer care representative, put it, “They should just allow us to be. If the breasts are disturbing you, just remove your eyes. This is how it’s going to be, and there’s no changing it.”
