While a push-up bra for men may be a sort of equality, is it really a step in the right direction?
Are you bothered by your man boobs? Worried that your torso isn’t tight enough, your bod not bulked enough? Do you secretly wish that you had your own manly version of the push-up bra, that could shape and mold your natural assets into something that other people are supposed to find more attractive?
I have great news for you. A British company called Funkybod is here to offer you all the support that you need to mask your natural body. They’ve created an undershirt that is, in their words, “manufactured from materials which allow the skin to breathe whilst maintaining a snug fit and natural looking enhancement when worn under clothing.”
Okay, sarcasm aside, this breaks my heart. Yet another way for men to feel shame about their bodies because they’re not buff enough. No, it isn’t any better than telling women they should be ashamed that they aren’t thin enough, or, heaven forbid, their boobs aren’t perky enough. But, from a practical perspective, I’ve never owned a push-up bra, or worn much make-up, because the last thing in the world I want is to meet a guy, get frisky, and see that look of horror on his face when he realizes he’s been sold a package that isn’t quite as advertised.
But what do you think? Would you wear it? How does it make you feel? And how would you explain, in the heat of the moment, why you look so different undressed?
Hi Alyssa I think small breast are prettier than large ones, and as you age you will see they age better than heavy breasts. Love your small to medium size breasts. I agree with you when you write: ✺”But I think that as a society we owe it to ourselves to ask why we’re asking people to pretend to be something that they’re not.”✺ But look at society. Look at the size of the cars people buy, the houses, the kitchens. Some can raise above it all,and do not use objects to archive status in society , but many work… Read more »
Hi Gabby I feel like you when you write ✺”Why shouldn’t the things that women have to ‘enhance’* their appearance be available to men? The only problem is the stigma: it’s not fair that we have expectations of how a man should look but that they also have to achieve those things entirely the hard way with zero help from clothes or makeup”✺ I see men come to my hairdresser to change hair color and I can not see why not if it makes him feel good. It confuses me when so many on GMP talk about shaming. Is everything… Read more »
Typo
. We will never stop responding to how others look, and
especially the person we share to share our life with.
Iben, there is a HUGE leap from wearing false body-shapers to letting ones self go and walking around unkempt. Most of us love both the minds and bodies of our lovers, which is pretty much the point. But when we suggest that there is a single standard to which men or women must conform in order to be attractive, THAT is both untrue and harmful to people. If, as you say, you like a fit man (so do I, by the way, a lifelong athlete, someone who isn’t into fitness isn’t a good match for me, and I also make… Read more »
“….the last thing in the world I want is to meet a guy, get frisky, and see that look of horror on his face when he realizes he’s been sold a package that isn’t quite as advertised.”
I think you need to give men a little more credit than this. We are not just wrapped up in illusions and fantasy. Most of us know there’s a difference between the night-before look and the morning-after look. In fact, many of us live for the morning after look. : – )
Fair enough. But I still wouldn’t want to risk the false advertising of a heavily padded push-up bra making it look like I had huge bouncy boobs, with the reality of boobs that are, well, not that at all. Seems like false advertising to me. And when I do wear make-up, I almost never manage to wash my face before going to bed. I secretly think my make-up looks better the morning after. But when I met the man who is now my husband, it was without make-up, I just wanted to start with truth in advertising. Straight from the… Read more »
Still not as awful as Simon Cowell and others getting pec implants. At least a bra is outside the body and doesn’t require surgery.
I’m okay with it if it’s the Michael-Keaton-era Batman suit, though I still don’t know why the Batman suit has nipples on it….
I think it sounds great. More options for men, to me, is good. Why shouldn’t the things that women have to ‘enhance’* their appearance be available to men? The only problem is the stigma: it’s not fair that we have expectations of how a man should look but that they also have to achieve those things entirely the hard way with zero help from clothes or makeup. Like if a woman takes off her bra you can be disappointed but you won’t act like she’s odd for having wanted to ‘enhance’ her appearance. Whereas a man should look Adonisy but… Read more »
Well, yes, you can easily argue that it’s equality, which is why I asked the question in the heading. But it makes me sad, I feel like it’s heading in the wrong direction. More body shame for all is not the direction I think we should go. More body acceptance, reality acceptance and honesty seems better to me, but maybe I’m crazy. We’ve fought so hard to lessen the pressure on women, I don’t wan to do so by giving more of it to men. And yes on Batman, of course, that’s a costume, and he’s fiction. So I’d like… Read more »
The idea certainly is not entirely new. I wish to direct your attention to these historic items: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscle_cuirass http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Codpiece Apart from that, I find the concept extremely silly. There is a marked difference between accentuating an attractive physical feature (which is fine) and outright SIMULATING it. What’s more, I believe a man wearing that thing will drop like a stone in almost every woman’s esteem. And no, there’s no way they will think it’s real muscles. Of course that ultimately means that push-bras are just as silly. If you feel you have to wear a push-up to avoid judgemental comments… Read more »
Believe it or not, Spanx actually sells things for men… and I own quite a few and wear them almost every day. I’m quite fit too and not overweight either. I happen to suffer from a socially crippling disorder called gynecomastia. The biggest tragedy is that the only way to actually correct it is surgery, and it is considered a “cosmetic” procedure and not covered by insurance. Having breasts as a man is truly one of the most shame-inducing problems you can have.
I am sure that’s true! Which is also totally infuriating! Also a different issue, and I should have done a much better job of separating the two. I apologize for that. I went straight to the “not buff enough” body-shaming of the media, which is just like the “not skinny enough” crap that women get. And men too. Hell, it’s all one giant festering ball of body-shaming mess. We have got to stand up to this stuff. But then again, if we stop buying the myths, we’ll stop buying hte products, and that would be bad for business. I am… Read more »
What stupidity is this?
Pretty much just Spanx or Push-Up bra for men…… but it looks weird for guys, doesn’t it?
Hi Alyssa
Let me share a secret with you.
I like make up. I use make up and I have never seem a look of horror in a mans face when he see me without make up. Even if a women are badly scared and look different with make up than without I can not imagine he will be horrified by her scars.