I don’t like this idea
Ours is a boob-fixated culture. With so much sexualization of girls in the media you’d assume they’re all dying for their first bra and thong. At least once a week I get email from girls complaining about their “too small” breasts. They want to know if having sex will make them “rounder” or if some cream pitched online will make their breasts grow. But recently I heard from a mom whose daughter was actively resisting the whole “growing-up” thing.
Mom: My 12 year old daughter has started developing breasts and this wouldn’t be problem if she would just wear a shirt or something at our house. But she thinks it’s ok to walk around half naked. Me and my husband have told her she needs to wear something at home, but she’s not listening.
Annie: In 17 years of answering email from parents I’ve not heard this one yet. Just to clarify: Is your daughter just wearing a shirt (without a bra) or is she “walking around half naked?” Not the same thing. If you made a list of your objections to your daughter’s not wearing a bra or a shirt, what would they be? Communicate your objections to your daughter (calmly and respectfully and privately—without your husband being part of this “just between us girls” conversation). Good luck and please let me know how it goes.
Mom: Around the house she refuses to wear even a shirt. I talked with her about why she needs to wear something around the house. (She won’t wear a bra outside the house, but wears shirts.) She is so stubborn. She thinks it’s unfair that girls have to wear bras and shirts all the time and guys don’t. I really don’t want to make her wear something, but I don’t see another option.
Annie: While I admire the strong young feminist you’re raising, she needs to understand what is and what is not appropriate for a 12 year old girl (even at home). No shirt… not appropriate. Tell me, is there a counselor and/or a health/life skills teacher at your daughter’s school? It sounds like you need someone outside the family to talk with your daughter. A female counselor or teacher who has experience working with tweens around puberty and modesty issues would be helpful.
Mom: I will email the counselor today to see what she thinks needs to be done. One bad thing about having a strong young girl is that she will not listen to anyone or anything. That’s why I’m concerned about this. She does what she does no matter if it’s right or wrong.
Annie: Even strong girls needs to learn there are rules and consequences for breaking rules. That’s true for all of us. It’s part of living in a civil society. If, for example, she decided to take her shirt off at school, she’d be disciplined… so in that case she wouldn’t have total freedom to “do what she does.” Good luck with the counselor and please let me know how it goes.
Mom: The counselor thinks my daughter is resisting growing up. That she’s only doing this because she knows she’s maturing into a woman. I can understand that. She told me to make sure my daughter always has a bra on at least because it’s something she needs everyday when she’s older. I don’t think she’ll like me checking her everyday to see if she has a bra on.
Annie: I’m sure your daughter will not appreciate your checking on whether she’s wearing a bra. This doesn’t sound like a good solution as it’s going to become more of a battlefield between you, not less of one. I’d talk to her pediatrician on this one. You need another way to handle this.
Mom: The pediatrician? Never thought of calling her doctor about this.
Annie: Pediatricians can be really helpful in talking to young patients about puberty and their thoughts and feelings about “growing up.”
Mom: Guess she’s just a very unique child then. Pediatrician it is.
Annie: Good luck!
What challenges have you had with your children around growing up and the changes brought on by puberty?
Facebook
Twitter
This is such an interesting question! As a family doctor, I often talk to teen and tween girls about their bodies and the advantages and restrictions they encounter because of them. I’m not sure your daughter is resisting growing up, most girls I’ve seen do that wear baggier and bigger clothing as they develop.
I have to disagree with the school counselor – there is very little “must” about bras as an adult. Just about shirts.
One option I might suggest is to ask your daughter to list the reasons she respects her body, and how she shows that. Meaning, does she bathe, exercise, enjoy being in pictures, dance, sit or lie down in interesting positions… This may lead to a great discussion about why she feels it is disrespectful to be asked to cover her chest.
I hope you’ll let us know what happens next!
Comment by Dr. G — April 2, 2014 @ 1:37 pm
Great response, Dr. G! Thank you so much for adding your wisdom to the conversation. I really appreciate it.
Comment by Annie — April 2, 2014 @ 1:41 pm
Hey, your daughter is right, it isn’t fair that girls have to wear a shirt and boys don’t! Do you have a son running around your home without a shirt? If so ask him to cover up in respect for you and your daughter, especially if he has hairy pits! Same goes for your husband.
Beaches are another problem, boys can go topless there and while it seems that girls wear both a top and a bottom not much is covered! Hang in there Mom, things will get better! And do let us know how it goes with your pediatrician. I have been one for many decades and never faced this problem, but then I usually had a female partner who could address such issues! I could tell you lots of interesting stories about some of the things boys had to deal with. You may have read about some of them in my parenting books.
Comment by Dr. Par Donahue — April 2, 2014 @ 7:23 pm
Hello Dr. Par. Thank you weighing in her. I really appreciate what you’ve said here about making requests of family members out of “respect” and consideration for other family members. As for the “fairness” thing. Of course, the girl is correct…. it’s not “fair” that boys and girls are held to different standards when it comes to shirts and covering up. IF we’re defining “fairness” as “equal treatment for everyone.” In that regard, alas, life is not fair.
Comment by Annie — April 3, 2014 @ 7:55 pm
I never liked brassieres. Growing up in a religious Muslim family where I was told that I had to dress modestly, brassieres seemed down right immodest & too girly to me. I resisted all pressure from anyone, including my mother & classmates to wear one.I was ridiculed but I didn’t care I’m in college & still cannot fathom the idea of wearing one although my chest area is quite large. I only stick to wearing underwear that looks modest(in my case, camisoles with built-in shelf).
I probably must be the only one in my school who doesn’t wear brassieres.
Maybe it’s all psychological?
Comment by Pinchy — December 30, 2014 @ 7:46 am
Late to the party. This isn’t the “answer” most people want to hear but other points to consider and food for thought.
Oh, topfreedom: a cause with a word.
Growing up, my BFF and her growing up were part of a hippie nudist family. The wore whatever they wanted or didn’t, especially at home where the perimeter fences were extended up another 4 feet / 1.3m.
Interestingly, 33 of 50 US states currently allow anyone to be topless while 17 only allow topless men. Furthermore, should there be a difference between women being topless with or without feeding a baby? I agree that men and women should be able to go topless but, like open carry, it’s probably not a good idea.
The danger of going topless in public is being photographed and ending up circulated as child porn. Clothes on, it’s still possible to end up in deep fake porn.
Btw, bra burning is silly but wearing bras lead to underdeveloped muscles, smaller breasts, and posture issues. Besides sports or appearance, there is no evidence of benefit for wearing a bra.
Comment by R S — March 24, 2022 @ 6:59 pm