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Woman With Double Mastectomy Is Told To Wear A Bra In The Pool, She Follows The Rule To The Letter In Her Malicious Compliance
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Woman With Double Mastectomy Is Told To Wear A Bra In The Pool, She Follows The Rule To The Letter In Her Malicious Compliance

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Rules are meant to help make everyone’s lives easier and more comfortable, but sometimes the people enforcing them lose sight of this, as they try to follow the regulations to the letter. It’s at these moments when people forget to follow the spirit of the law that it’s important to show them the ridiculousness of what they’re asking by complying with their demands. Maliciously. To. The. Letter.

Redditor u/graywoman7 shared a powerful story on the r/MaliciousCompliance subreddit about her local swimming pool’s dress code. The redditor explained that she doesn’t wear a sports bra while swimming because she has had a double mastectomy without reconstruction. “My chest is flat. I’m totally comfortable with how I look but prefer for my scars to be covered in public. […] I wear running shorts and a tight-fitting full coverage synthetic fabric dark-colored tank top. It works great.”

However, an employee of the aquatic center approached her about what she wearing, saying that her clothes didn’t fit the dress code. That’s when the redditor had the brilliant idea to follow their rules exactly as written. It caused quite a lot of amusement in the pool and the end result was a big win for the author of the post. You’ll find her full story below, dear Pandas.

A woman who had a double mastectomy was approached by pool staff because of her clothes. However, she had an idea to show them how ridiculous their rules were

Image credits: Hans (not the actual photo)

Here’s the woman’s full story

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Image credits: Mike Bonitz (not the actual photo)

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A double mastectomy, also known as a bilateral mastectomy, means that both breasts are removed. Some women who have a very high chance of getting breast cancer choose to get this surgery done as a way of reducing this risk. However, we wouldn’t presume to know the reasons for redditor u/graywoman7’s double mastectomy.

Previously, the National Breast Cancer Foundation told Bored Panda that early detection is the greatest weapon against breast cancer.

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“When breast cancer is detected early and is in the localized stage, the 5-year relative survival rate is 99%. Early detection includes doing monthly breast self-exams and scheduling regular clinical breast exams and mammograms,” the NBCF said.

“That’s why it’s important for women to be aware of their own bodies, to go to their annual well-women exams, and to get their annual mammograms starting at the age of 40 or following their doctor’s best recommendation. We often hear of women who are embarrassed or just don’t have time for their check-ups. As women, it’s common for us to delay an appointment that seems to only be about us. Self-care is necessary and being proactive about our breast health is what we can do to make sure we are here longer for ourselves and our loved ones.”

The redditor’s story at the pool had a very positive ending. After following the dress code regulations to the letter and putting on a sports bra on her head, she was able to prove her point to “a lady in business clothes” who came over to argue about how it should be worn “normally,” even though the rules didn’t mention this.

The morning after the incident, the redditor found an email, granting her “a special exception to the rule” regarding pool clothes. “I wish they would have just gotten rid of the silly bra rule but I’ll take this and if I ever see another woman struggling with their swimsuit over a flat chest I’ll let them know they can wear something more comfortable,” u/graywoman7 writes.

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The woman’s story went incredibly viral on Reddit. It got over 33k upvotes (and rising!) in less than a day, as well as a whole host of awards. “I have tears in my eyes reading the wonderful supportive comments. Thank you, truly, you’ve made me feel amazing. I will always keep my elastic tiara in my swim bag just in case,” she thanked internet users for all of their support.

Redditors have been massively supportive of the woman after she shared her story. Here’s what some of them had to say

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maxwatson1991 avatar
Max
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've had top surgery, which is bilateral mastectomy + reconstruction to create a 'male' chest shape. I would also have to wear a rash guard or similar in the pool (not only are my scars pretty visible, they can be sensitive to things like sunlight and chlorine, and also 'cover your chest' is pretty ingrained in my head.) If I saw a woman made to do this, I would also strap a cheap bra to my head in solidarity.

m2crows avatar
Mike Crow
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Someone please tell me again why women/girls chests must be covered?

moviefreak122 avatar
Karin Jansen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Asking the real questions! "there was a women with a white top during family swim hours." Heaven forbid kids should see a nipple. Sigh.

Load More Replies...
m2crows avatar
Mike Crow
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Watched a reaction video of the first terminator movie and when they got to the love scene and bare breasts were visible for a few moments, the guy making the video said he couldn’t believe that his dad let him watch the movie when he was eight. It was the women’s breasts he was objecting kids seeing not the huge amount of violence including Arnold ripping out a guy heart in the first five minutes of the movie.

lunanik avatar
Nikki Sevven
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"We realize you no longer have boobs, but the place where your boobs used to be is distracting to others." WTF kind of world are we living in? The inmates are running the asylum.

uwprof avatar
anaona
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Policing women's bodies--what the world loves to do best. Breasts are not sex toys. Honestly, sometimes the puritanical Americans are as bad as the Taliban.

jamie_mayfield avatar
Ivana
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have no idea why it is okay for men to be topless and not for women. Drives me crazy. Not like my vagina is flapping in the wind, just these fat sacks that under certain circumstances can feed children or dying fathers locked in prisons.

jmchoto avatar
Jo Choto
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You know, it's bad enough that someone has had to go through cancer, and have the trauma of surgery, without someone policing the definition of womanhood and forcing people to wear things for the sake of it.

assistanttodj avatar
Assistant to DJ
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Getting really sick of women not supporting women. Too many of these stories everyday. Business-suit lady should have heard the customers explanation and stated "Really? I'll go tell management to shove the rule up their a**. Your backstroke is awesome, carry on."

nirity avatar
Nirity
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't understand this. When I watch old movies I notice really often they include naked women in ridiculous situations and that is on purpose - higher views. Nowadays it's the opposite women have to cover at all cost. Why men refuse to believe we are 50% of the population and we have bodies just like them. All the sexualization is just in their heads.

megmouse79 avatar
Fiona Buoninfante
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This makes me so mad, I'm an RN and this lady could be my patient! Im glad they made an exception for her and i don't fault the first guy who clearly wasn't in a management position , but the lady in " business clothes" was definitely in a management position and the second she heard bilateral mastectomy she should have immediately apologized and if she was smart then go to the person who originally made the complaint and explain they handled the complaint and it turns out the woman had cancer and lost her breasts so the complainant could realise they are an ass

stacyrooke avatar
Stacy Rae
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just pointing something out, not criticising. Women can have a mastectomy for reasons other than cancer and it does not say in this post that she had cancer.

Load More Replies...
ralph_lomax avatar
Ralph Lomax
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Traveling in Europe, you see ladies, girls topless at the beach, including a few that have had mastectomies, no biggie deal.

samaramorgan avatar
Samara Morgan
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Disgusting sexist pigs. Why do we have to cover up, because in the past some stupid men couldn't comprehend women are humans and our bodies aren't sex toys? Why are people so brainless and they don't ask questions if these things even make sense?

deconstructedravenna815 avatar
Callie Dryer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Christ some people can be unnecessarily cruel about the female form.

tulas avatar
Piotr Las
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

I don't see a problem here. I know girls without brests, literaly, no brests, and they wear their bras normally... Maybe you should buy new ones that fit your new body. I can understand it is hard for you, i;m sorry. The lifeguard did what he had to. Rules are rules. You should have just went to the manager, and explain and ask. The lady, and the glue... dunno what to say...

maxwatson1991 avatar
Max
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've had top surgery, which is bilateral mastectomy + reconstruction to create a 'male' chest shape. I would also have to wear a rash guard or similar in the pool (not only are my scars pretty visible, they can be sensitive to things like sunlight and chlorine, and also 'cover your chest' is pretty ingrained in my head.) If I saw a woman made to do this, I would also strap a cheap bra to my head in solidarity.

m2crows avatar
Mike Crow
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Someone please tell me again why women/girls chests must be covered?

moviefreak122 avatar
Karin Jansen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Asking the real questions! "there was a women with a white top during family swim hours." Heaven forbid kids should see a nipple. Sigh.

Load More Replies...
m2crows avatar
Mike Crow
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Watched a reaction video of the first terminator movie and when they got to the love scene and bare breasts were visible for a few moments, the guy making the video said he couldn’t believe that his dad let him watch the movie when he was eight. It was the women’s breasts he was objecting kids seeing not the huge amount of violence including Arnold ripping out a guy heart in the first five minutes of the movie.

lunanik avatar
Nikki Sevven
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"We realize you no longer have boobs, but the place where your boobs used to be is distracting to others." WTF kind of world are we living in? The inmates are running the asylum.

uwprof avatar
anaona
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Policing women's bodies--what the world loves to do best. Breasts are not sex toys. Honestly, sometimes the puritanical Americans are as bad as the Taliban.

jamie_mayfield avatar
Ivana
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have no idea why it is okay for men to be topless and not for women. Drives me crazy. Not like my vagina is flapping in the wind, just these fat sacks that under certain circumstances can feed children or dying fathers locked in prisons.

jmchoto avatar
Jo Choto
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You know, it's bad enough that someone has had to go through cancer, and have the trauma of surgery, without someone policing the definition of womanhood and forcing people to wear things for the sake of it.

assistanttodj avatar
Assistant to DJ
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Getting really sick of women not supporting women. Too many of these stories everyday. Business-suit lady should have heard the customers explanation and stated "Really? I'll go tell management to shove the rule up their a**. Your backstroke is awesome, carry on."

nirity avatar
Nirity
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't understand this. When I watch old movies I notice really often they include naked women in ridiculous situations and that is on purpose - higher views. Nowadays it's the opposite women have to cover at all cost. Why men refuse to believe we are 50% of the population and we have bodies just like them. All the sexualization is just in their heads.

megmouse79 avatar
Fiona Buoninfante
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This makes me so mad, I'm an RN and this lady could be my patient! Im glad they made an exception for her and i don't fault the first guy who clearly wasn't in a management position , but the lady in " business clothes" was definitely in a management position and the second she heard bilateral mastectomy she should have immediately apologized and if she was smart then go to the person who originally made the complaint and explain they handled the complaint and it turns out the woman had cancer and lost her breasts so the complainant could realise they are an ass

stacyrooke avatar
Stacy Rae
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just pointing something out, not criticising. Women can have a mastectomy for reasons other than cancer and it does not say in this post that she had cancer.

Load More Replies...
ralph_lomax avatar
Ralph Lomax
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Traveling in Europe, you see ladies, girls topless at the beach, including a few that have had mastectomies, no biggie deal.

samaramorgan avatar
Samara Morgan
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Disgusting sexist pigs. Why do we have to cover up, because in the past some stupid men couldn't comprehend women are humans and our bodies aren't sex toys? Why are people so brainless and they don't ask questions if these things even make sense?

deconstructedravenna815 avatar
Callie Dryer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Christ some people can be unnecessarily cruel about the female form.

tulas avatar
Piotr Las
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

I don't see a problem here. I know girls without brests, literaly, no brests, and they wear their bras normally... Maybe you should buy new ones that fit your new body. I can understand it is hard for you, i;m sorry. The lifeguard did what he had to. Rules are rules. You should have just went to the manager, and explain and ask. The lady, and the glue... dunno what to say...

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