Bra manufacturers have GONE TOO FAR. . .

[Wesley]

Was doing a little bit of bra browsing today, and what do I find listed on Sears? (Granted, they are about gone)

Hanes Hanes Ultimate Boyfriend Cottony ComfortFlex Fit Wirefree Bra - HU47


BOYFRIEND BRA? WTH??

Ok, Boyfriend jeans, and ever shirts. . understandable. . .But a boyfriend BRA?

NO WAY! NO HOW. . .

[Stephanie M]

The whole "boyfriend" concept for women's clothes is more evidence of the double standard. Women can freely dress either in clothes for men or styles that mimic men's, but god forbid us guys put on anything girly.

[Emily]

Boyfriend bra??? What does that even mean???

I guess the're trying to imply that it's supposed to be comfortable, LOL!

[Stephanie M]

I would imagine it's styled in a masculine way perhaps like a t-shirt or something, but you're right the concept is a bit confusing.

[Anthony Simon]

http://www.hanes.com/shop/hanes/women/b ... e-bra-hu47

If you look at the reviews:

a) Someone questions why it was called that.

b) Women seem to like this bra. One says:

Different than any bra I have ever owned...can barely tell it is on, great fit, no ride-up, and very supportive. Not my normal type of bra style, but will be my only bra in the future!

Which, from a certain angle, might be construed as being like the ultimate boyfriend for a woman (especially the supportive bit) - hence (?) the ultimate boyfriend bra.

[Eileen (SO)]

My first thought was a boyfriend bra fastens in the front with Velcro so even a klutz with six thumbs can get the darn thing off! A 'boyfriend friendly' bra in that case.

The name is just silly and makes no sense.

The whole "boyfriend" concept for women's clothes is more evidence of the double standard. Women can freely dress either in clothes for men or styles that mimic men's, but god forbid us guys put on anything girly.

Not quite a double standard, Stephanie. No matter what I wear, I do not feel masculine, expect to be assumed a man, called 'Sir', or use the Men's room. It's doubtful that any man that does harbor feminine feelings would wear a bra, wig, and make up.

Eileen

[Requal Jo]

Boyfriend bras!!! Did you also know that they have boy leg cut panties too?

Yes, Stephanie is partly correct in saying that women can wear clothing from either sex and no one "bats" an eyelid. While probably not as quick or negative as in the past, comments are still made (sometimes nice) when a male is observed to be wearing feminine clothing.

[Anthony Simon]

A friend is like a good bra: hard to find, comfortable, supportive, always lifts you up, makes you look better, never lets you down or leaves you hanging, and always close to your heart.

https://www.scrapbook.com/quotes/doc/11644.html

[Stephanie M]

Not quite a double standard, Stephanie. No matter what I wear, I do not feel masculine, expect to be assumed a man, called 'Sir', or use the Men's room. It's doubtful that any man that does harbor feminine feelings would wear a bra, wig, and make up.

Eileen

The double standard is, if I'm in "man mode" and I bend over and someone were to see my pink panties it could cause a "riot".
If a woman bends over and it was obvious she was wearing men's underwear no one would notice and if they did they wouldn't care.

If you see a woman in the men's clothes section no one bats an eye, but if a man is in the lady's section he's subject to ridicule.

Also if a woman wants to dress as a man she doesn't have to look the part and disguise her feminine features, if a man wants to wear a dress he has to do whatever he can to disguise his masculine features. And typically if a woman does want to appear to be a guy and be treated as one the ramifications are much less than the other way around.

Yes I know there are exceptions but in general that is what I have observed in my life. It's kind of like if a woman is bisexual and open about it she will not get as much flack from society as a man who is openly bisexual.

And yes I know that is changing even conservatives are becoming more open and much more libertarian on people being gay, bi, or whatever, but there still is friction in this area.

As a crossdresser I feel we get left out a lot of the time. For example try to find a support group just for the crossdresser and in my area there is nothing. There is plenty for trans people, gays, lesbians and so forth. Some may say what's the difference between us and trans? Well there is significant differences and many similarities so in my view if I went to a trans group it would feel like I was going to AA to try to quit smoking, while the addictions may be the same the conditions are totally different. And as a disclaimer I have nothing against trans people I just feel that our "problems" are different enough to require different venues for support.

Sorry for rambling on.

One more thought, I do realize that there are also a million double standards that affect women negatively and I abhor those just as much. I especially hate the standards that society have set for women being attractive, my poor wife has a hard time realizing that she is very beautiful to me even though by society's standards she isn't, now I tell her I wear dresses so obviously they don't mean much to me.

I was a little worried that you may have thought I wasn't concerned with the double standards you may face.

[Eileen (SO)]

There are many rules for one gender that don't apply equally to the other. I should never burp in public, for instance.
Whatever style I wear, the clothing is cut for this gal's ample body. I'm never cross dressing as some CD's imply. Just so we understand each other, Stephanie. The rest of your examples, I quite agree with. Except to point out that this conservative is more accepting than some of our half-wit liberal friends.

Especially in movies, when a woman spends the night at her boyfriend's place and wears his shirt to smell his scent is sexually suggestive to the audience. The 'boyfriend shirt' fashion may make some sense.
Unless a boyfriend is a cross dresser, a boyfriend bra still makes no sense. There are many men in our obese society that could use a bra though.

Eileen

[Stephanie M]

Actually from my experience burping women are thought to be cool.

[Wesley]

Stephanie M

"As a crossdresser I feel we get left out a lot of the time. For example try to find a support group just for the crossdresser and in my area there is nothing. There is plenty for trans people, gays, lesbians and so forth. Some may say what's the difference between us and trans? Well there is significant differences and many similarities so in my view if I went to a trans group it would feel like I was going to AA to try to quit smoking, while the addictions may be the same the conditions are totally different. And as a disclaimer I have nothing against trans people I just feel that our "problems" are different enough to require different venues for support. "

Thank you. . . Exactly the point I have tried to make in a couple of posts. Crossdressing and TRANSEXUALISM are different. Our needs are different becasue our ultimate GOALS are different.


Interesting note. . . Wife has never asked to borrow or wear one of my bras, However daughter did ask to borrow a pair of sox!

[Stephanie M]

I've seen your posts on that Wesley and share your frustration.

[Debbie Jean]

I agree with the idea that there are double standards for women as well as men, divorced completely from any issues of clothing preference. Observe that society labels a woman as "cheap" or "slut" if she's pre-occupied in some way with sex, whereas a man in those same circumstances is labeled as "well, after all, boys will be boys" or simply as "red-blooded" or worse as a "victim" in the sense that he was "exploited" by a woman taking advantage of his "only weakness". I think this particular double standard is driven by a deep down hidden prejudice that we think has long disappeared, however is still stubbornly with us, lurking "just below the surface".

That prejudice states that men are superior to women. That is evidenced by labeling women as "the weaker sex", among other demeaning labels. I personally think that prejudice is a bunch of b.s. I believe that men and women are "different but equal".

Just my 2c worth,
Deb

[Heather W]

Going back to the original post on this thread I think that bra is cute! I know for the CD wearing a bra is a badge of honor, trust me been there! However now that bra is part of my everyday wardrobe I look at it differently. Yes they serve a purpose and I would never think of going out anywhere without one on but underwires, push-ups, lace trim, can get to one especially after 10 or 12 hours or longer. I believe every woman has one or two of those just "comfy" bras in her drawer and welcomes the opportunity to wear it.