This is a public service announcement by Mrs Ify Obinabo, the Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare: “I want to tell all ladies, if you encounter anybody or group (accosting or arresting you for not wearing bras), know that the state government has no hand in it.
“Those around should treat them as rapists, criminals and armed robbers.
“We have serious things to do, not to go after those wearing or not wearing bra. We are absolutely not involved. Anyone caught will be prosecuted accordingly.”
With these words, the Anambra State Government distanced itself from those parading themselves as members of the state’s taskforce on indecent dressing.
Obinabo told journalists on Wednesday in Awka, the state capital that the government did not constitute such a taskforce.
She described the act as an illegality targeted at tarnishing the government’s image.
Obinabo was reacting to a viral video on Facebook where a lady was held hostage at Upper-Iweka area of Onitsha for not putting on a bra.
According to the narration on the video, the victim was accosted by some group of young men claiming to be Anambra State taskforce team on indecent dressing.
It was alleged that the victim paid the sum of N5,000 to the purported taskforce before regaining her freedom.
The commissioner said that the state government did not constitute such taskforce and warned those involved to desist forthwith or risk arrest and prosecution.
Obinabo also urged women to raise the alarm anytime they encountered such anomaly.
● Women, These Five Things Happen When You STOP Wearing A Bra!
What happens when you stop wearing a bra?
Love them, hate them- women share a complicated relationship with bras. While a nice bra can offer good fit and shape, on other days, bras can stab you and leave you in pain. In fact, several studies over the years have observed that wearing a bra might not be necessary physically, anatomically or psychologically and do not support your health in any major way (i.e., keep your breasts young and healthy). Depending on the type of fabric they are made of, they might not be the most comfortable as well.
While choosing to go bra-less is a personal choice, there are certain changes which kick in once you stop wearing one in the long run (apart from all the money you will be saving). Let us educate you a little:
Promotes better skin health
Once you go braless, no more worrying about redness and the straps clawing into your skin, which can be a usual phenomenon if you are in the habit of wearing a bra (especially wired ones) for prolonged hours. Not wearing a bra frees up the skin and tissues around the boobs of pressure. What it also does is help lessen the chances of bacteria and any germs which might be clinging to the skin with the fabric, especially in the summers or humid weather.
Helps you relax
Not having to put on the bra facilitates better relaxation and that is one of the reasons why women who chose to go braless call it liberating. Scientifically, without having a heavily padded fabric, the breasts learn to adapt naturally and are freer to get a natural lift and growth.
Breasts do not sag
Contrary to what we believe, newer studies say that not wearing a bra prevents and not promote sagging of the breasts in the first place. With extra muscle tissue which is not constricted in the bra, breasts tend to look perkier and the process of sagging also tends to slow down. A 2017 study done observed that women who did not wear a bra had “fuller” breasts than the ones who didn’t.
While more research is needed on the same, not wearing a bra may be actually promoting breast growth.
Improved circulation and blood flow
Simply put, without any wires, mesh or heavy fabric stabbing your skin, blood flow through your skin and tissues improves around the chest area. This particularly helps keep your skin firm. Remember, the tighter your bra, the more likely are the chances of your skin experiencing trauma and pressure, which ultimately takes a hit on surface-level circulation.
Might reduce pain
Another secret benefit of going braless can be experiencing lesser pain around the chest, pectoral muscles and the back. While it largely depends on the kind of bra you wear (whether it is well-fitted or comfortable), bras can induce pressure on the ribcage, back muscles or even the neck. Coupled with a bad posture, it might be causing pain. Hence, a braless lifestyle can help solve this issue. However, for women with heavier breasts, bras might be doing the contrary and helping lessen the pain.
Should you be wearing one at night when you go to sleep?
Here’s another additional benefit. If you have the habit of ditching the bra when you snooze, good for you. If not, it might be something you want to try. Not wearing a bra can benefit better sleep quality. Without a bra, your skin feels less restricted and you do not experience much discomfort as you move around.
Remember some innerwear hygiene tips
While we have explained to you the benefits of not wearing a bra, nonetheless, if you do plan to wear one, taking care of a few hygiene tips can benefit your health.
-Wash your bras after every 2-3 wears. It will improve the shelf life, clean away the dirt and grime as well as help correct posture.
-It is ideal to wear a well-fitted bra which provides maximum support to the tissues.
-Keep rotating your brawomens and underwear. Make sure you do not use them for more than 90 uses.
Additional reports by NAN & Times of India