Almost any woman knows: there’s nothing more satisfying than getting rid of your bra when you come home after work. Taking off the undergarment that has been stabbing you with its underwire and squeezing your ribs the entire day feels like freedom. Understandably, 35% of women say they go braless when working from home.
However, this woman couldn’t enjoy such freedom at home anymore since her husband’s friend started staying at their place. The guy thought that she should sacrifice her comfort to look “decent” in another man’s presence. She deemed his request unreasonable but still asked for unbiased opinions online.
A husband asked his wife to wear a bra at home while his friend was staying with them
Image credits: Freepik (not the actual photo)
She, on the other hand, thought that she shouldn’t sacrifice comfort in her own house for a guest
Image credits: EyeEm/Freepik (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Candid-Chocolate-316
“The bra situation isn’t the only problem, unfortunately,” the wife opened up more in the comments
Most women find bras uncomfortable, but wear them because of social pressure
The pandemic changed a lot of ways that we used to live our lives. While working from home made us wear pajamas and sweats every day, for many women, that also meant they no longer needed to wear certain undergarments.
For a lot of women, bras are a component of a “going out” outfit. Whenever they go into public, they’re more likely to wear a bra. In fact, according to a 2023 YouGov poll, only 20% of American women wear a bra when relaxing at home. Many more women reserve wearing a bra for going to a restaurant (79%), a formal event (78%), or simply to a store (72%).
Image credits: Malta Gordos/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
The majority of women, especially younger ones, firmly believe that they shouldn’t be shamed for going braless in public. And the average American agrees: 50% say it’s rather acceptable than unacceptable (38%).
The respondents in the YouGov poll also agreed that wearing a bra is more uncomfortable than not wearing one. Yet, most women do it because they’re afraid of what people might think or say. That’s especially true for younger women, as 45% say they feel social pressure to wear a bra.
Going braless in public or at work might be unacceptable
Nobody can tell people what to wear or not to wear at home. There are, however, some laws about what body parts people can’t show in public. In Indiana, for example, “the showing of the female breast” is considered public indecency. On the other hand, in New York, Utah, and Oklahoma, women can go topless in public, and not wearing a bra would also qualify.
Workplace attire etiquette, again, depends on the state. In New York City, for example, there is still no law in the dress code prohibiting women from not wearing a bra at work. As Susan Scafidi, the founder of the Fashion Law Institute, explained to The New York Times, an employer can “require an individual identifying as female to wear a bra or hide her [areolas], but only if the same rule applies to a male employee.”
Companies, of course, can implement their own dress codes. Some may choose to include “Female employees must wear bras” in their dress code. In 2010, there was one bank that issued a dress code that required its female workers to wear “flesh-toned lingerie.”
Women don’t go braless for men; they do it for their own comfort
There are no inherent health risks to wearing a bra. Researchers haven’t found any evidence that would suggest otherwise. Whether or not to wear a bra is simply a choice of preference and comfort, scientists agree. They note that women with larger chests often find it more comfortable to wear sports bras, as it helps with the strain on their backs.
“If you feel comfortable sans bra, feel free to go without,” breast health specialist Dr. Cassann Blake, MD, says. “But if you prefer to have a bra for every season and occasion, there’s nothing wrong with that either.”
Image credits: Womanizer Toys/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
The ultimate argument against women going braless is that it’s distracting, and mostly for men. It’s probably the reason why the husband in this story is asking his wife to wear a bra at home; it’s so that his friend won’t be distracted or ogle her.
But isn’t it ridiculous that a woman has to feel objectified even in the comfort of her own home? When a woman goes braless at home, it’s not about being desirable; home is the one place where she doesn’t have to think about being objectified.
A bra expert and the founder of Bravolution, Laura Tempesta, told Teen Vogue that going braless is historically and sociologically liberating. “Women no longer want to put up with the discomfort of wearing a bra and are challenging the cultural mores which dictate their breasts must be covered up and restricted.”
“Might be time to tell your husband his boyfriend needs to move out,” one person commented
Later, the couple talked more: “I told him I was really unhappy with our living situation”
Image credits: pvproductions/Freepik (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Candid-Chocolate-316
Poll Question
Thanks! Check out the results:
I would passive-aggressively wear a bra on the _outside_ of my clothes when that child of a husband is around.
I'd do this if I could find the cringiest ones I own (I had one that was blue-leopard-spotted when I was still young and foolish) or the laciest, raciest ones. Husband and/or friend are uncomfortable that I'm braless? I'm "indecent" with another man around if I don't wear a bra? Cue malicious compliance - cringe and/or super-séxy bras on over the shirt I have on! Either that or I'd double down, remain braless, and start playing music and dancing along while I clean the house, so the jahoobies flip and flop around. Poor friend is uncomfortable? I'll make SURE he's uncomfortable! XD
Load More Replies...Forget the bra, he asked someone to move into their shared home without asking her first and uses silence to pressure her during arguments.
Thank you. I was wondering if I was the only one who thought him offering their spare bedroom to the friend without asking for her input was the bigger problem.
Load More Replies...If anyone told me to wear a bra (regardless if I was home or not) I'd tell them to get fucked, please and thank you. I have back issues and sometimes wearing a bra is, whilst physically *possible*, incredibly painful and uncomfortable. If you're looking at my chest long enough to realise I'm not wearing a bra, that's a 'you' problem and you can deal with the fact that *gasp* I have nipples! Shock horror! 😱
Devil's advocate. "That" uncle shows up to the family beach gathering in the tightest speedo imaginable. Ahaha I am just being cheeky, I fully agree with you, especially since the situation is reversed for between men and women. It would be less comfortable not more for guys I mean to wear revealing stuff.For women it makes perfect sense.
Load More Replies...I know what she said, but I still believe her husband has moved his boyfriend into their guest room.
Yep that was my first thought. Hubby hacks wife off enough, refusing counseling, to help lift a finger and leaves. Built in full time 'buddy' waits in the wings to take her place.
Load More Replies..."Why should I wear a bra - because he asked me to." Girl, kick that shyte out, along with the parasitic friend. Husband can return once he's learned that a relationship consists of equals. Ladies DO NOT PUT UP WITH THAT SHYTE!
Darn right! I don't wear one in public any more. My mum's all "you should, because people can tell if you're not wearing one/your bewbs will sag" etc. A) People can tell? Cool. I have nipples; they have nipples, twinnies! Fellow women will likely understand because they know how effing uncomfortable they can be. Those that don't, I'm more than happy to debate on the subject. B) They're not below my knees yet, so I'll manage. When they affect my walking maybe I'll say "fine, I told you so". Until then, no bra.
Load More Replies...Buddy has a problem with no bra, buddy can move out. And I say this as someone literally not wearing a bra at work right now.
Male here. Heck yeah take it off. I see the satisfaction on my wife every day. Sometimes it's off on the ride home. I have no idea how she Houdinis that. I learned from her. I'm always warm and uncomfortable. The moment I'm home I'm down to boxer briefs only. So good. I don't know what I was doing with my life befo this! I used to wear like jeans shirt t and sweater even at midnight. Day clothes stayed on until bed. Man was I dumb.
I'm the only human who lives in my house, and most days I don't even wear PANTS when I'm at home XD And yes, those of us who are equipped with jahoobies often learn early on in life how to remove the bra while one's shirt is still on XD I can unhook mine and pull it off through one shirtsleeve without anyone even being able to tell what I'm doing. We generally think it is really cute when guys struggle with the bra hooks when they're trying to take it off of us in a passionate moment. There's no secret to it, just years of practice of putting it on and taking it off of ourselves without being able to actually see the hook-and-eyelets XD
Load More Replies...I would passive-aggressively wear a bra on the _outside_ of my clothes when that child of a husband is around.
I'd do this if I could find the cringiest ones I own (I had one that was blue-leopard-spotted when I was still young and foolish) or the laciest, raciest ones. Husband and/or friend are uncomfortable that I'm braless? I'm "indecent" with another man around if I don't wear a bra? Cue malicious compliance - cringe and/or super-séxy bras on over the shirt I have on! Either that or I'd double down, remain braless, and start playing music and dancing along while I clean the house, so the jahoobies flip and flop around. Poor friend is uncomfortable? I'll make SURE he's uncomfortable! XD
Load More Replies...Forget the bra, he asked someone to move into their shared home without asking her first and uses silence to pressure her during arguments.
Thank you. I was wondering if I was the only one who thought him offering their spare bedroom to the friend without asking for her input was the bigger problem.
Load More Replies...If anyone told me to wear a bra (regardless if I was home or not) I'd tell them to get fucked, please and thank you. I have back issues and sometimes wearing a bra is, whilst physically *possible*, incredibly painful and uncomfortable. If you're looking at my chest long enough to realise I'm not wearing a bra, that's a 'you' problem and you can deal with the fact that *gasp* I have nipples! Shock horror! 😱
Devil's advocate. "That" uncle shows up to the family beach gathering in the tightest speedo imaginable. Ahaha I am just being cheeky, I fully agree with you, especially since the situation is reversed for between men and women. It would be less comfortable not more for guys I mean to wear revealing stuff.For women it makes perfect sense.
Load More Replies...I know what she said, but I still believe her husband has moved his boyfriend into their guest room.
Yep that was my first thought. Hubby hacks wife off enough, refusing counseling, to help lift a finger and leaves. Built in full time 'buddy' waits in the wings to take her place.
Load More Replies..."Why should I wear a bra - because he asked me to." Girl, kick that shyte out, along with the parasitic friend. Husband can return once he's learned that a relationship consists of equals. Ladies DO NOT PUT UP WITH THAT SHYTE!
Darn right! I don't wear one in public any more. My mum's all "you should, because people can tell if you're not wearing one/your bewbs will sag" etc. A) People can tell? Cool. I have nipples; they have nipples, twinnies! Fellow women will likely understand because they know how effing uncomfortable they can be. Those that don't, I'm more than happy to debate on the subject. B) They're not below my knees yet, so I'll manage. When they affect my walking maybe I'll say "fine, I told you so". Until then, no bra.
Load More Replies...Buddy has a problem with no bra, buddy can move out. And I say this as someone literally not wearing a bra at work right now.
Male here. Heck yeah take it off. I see the satisfaction on my wife every day. Sometimes it's off on the ride home. I have no idea how she Houdinis that. I learned from her. I'm always warm and uncomfortable. The moment I'm home I'm down to boxer briefs only. So good. I don't know what I was doing with my life befo this! I used to wear like jeans shirt t and sweater even at midnight. Day clothes stayed on until bed. Man was I dumb.
I'm the only human who lives in my house, and most days I don't even wear PANTS when I'm at home XD And yes, those of us who are equipped with jahoobies often learn early on in life how to remove the bra while one's shirt is still on XD I can unhook mine and pull it off through one shirtsleeve without anyone even being able to tell what I'm doing. We generally think it is really cute when guys struggle with the bra hooks when they're trying to take it off of us in a passionate moment. There's no secret to it, just years of practice of putting it on and taking it off of ourselves without being able to actually see the hook-and-eyelets XD
Load More Replies...





























































33
23