Am I allowed to find it deliciously ironic that she spearheads this after years of being one of the most recognizable models for Victoria's Secret?

That just doesn't make any sense, does it? I mean, if I'm missing the point, someone please enlighten me.

But first off, if you're burning bras, wouldn't it make more sense to be wearing a shirt with NO BRA under it, rather than JUST a bra? And second, why? What does burning bras have to do with breast cancer awareness?

how about the irony that theyre all wearing *only* bras while burning them.
wtf?

That just doesn't make any sense, does it? I mean, if I'm missing the point, someone please enlighten me.

Some studies have shown that women who wear bras for extended periods of time (ESPECIALLY when sleeping at night) have higher incidence of breast cancer. It supposedly has something to do with constricting bras impeding the lymphatic circulation. That may be what Tyra is trying to get at.

Thanks, badnfluence, that clears things up a bit.

Still, I think the gesture would be much more meaningful if they weren't all standing there in their bras burning some other bras...

My bra cost me $40. I'm not burning it for any symbolic reason unless I get a reimbursement from Victoria's Secret.
And why were they all standing around in their bras burning bras? ... that just doesn't make sense...

It has absolutely nothing to do with raising breast cancer awareness and everything to do with getting publicity for Tyra Banks. She's an egomaniac who desperately wants to be the next Oprah. I've said before I'm no fan of hers and this doesn't help at all. It's just stupid and misrepresenting feminists with the bra burning. Really, burning your bras is the biggest symbol of femininity and yet, like others have pointed out, they're still WEARING them!

Aside from being bizarre and totally wasteful (seriously- why not donate them?), this perpetuates the whole "bra-burning" myth. Strange.

I guess I might burn a bra that was too worn-out to wear anymore... but wouldn't it smell funny? And... be completely useless!

Although why Tyra did this mystifies me -- especially why they're all WEARING bras while burning them -- I'm kind of tired of the more than three-decades-old backlash against the bra-burning that DID occur at the protest against the Miss America pageant in the 60s. Feminists today love to remind us all that this a myth, but protesters that day DID burn their bras (as one of my gender studies professors, who was one of them, recently reminded me), and they did it for a good reason! They were protesting a culture that dictated standards of beauty for women and told us that we HAD to do things like wear bras to be acceptable women. Suzy, the fact that your bra cost $40 is one of the reasons they were angry -- how ridiculous that our culture tells us to spend ridiculous amounts of money on "feminine items" like that. Obviously I understand why women wear bras, and I'm not saying that we shouldn't -- that's not the point. It just upsets me how it's so in vogue today for women NOT to be angry like the feminists in the 60s. Why do we feel the need to consistently break ALL ties with the radical feminists who came before us??

Uhm, I have to agree with Tyra missing the point on hard-hitting issues. I watched an episode that "tackled racist ideals of beauty" that was completely mystifying because it pretty much just consisted of people of all genders, sizes, and races saying black women have big butts. And although I've heard of the studies linking breast cancer with extended bra usage, I think this stunt seems more to me like the typical Tyra weirdness than actually based on anything.

Things that might make more sense:

1. As Logan said...donate bras.
2. Auction the bras of famous women to support breast cancer awareness/research.
3. Mail your bra to your Congressperson as a protest to stop bowing to the Cattlemen's Association and pass a bill banning the use of growth hormones.
4. Burn uncomfortable bras while pointing out that more healthy bras are available. (Although they are the ugliest bras on earth...but comfortable.)

Is it wrong that I don't see anything wrong with them burning some bras? (And yes I see the irony that they're wearing them while burning them.) I am a sheepishly huge fan of ANTM (even though it can conflict with my personal beliefs) and of Tyra.

But I am curious, did the audience bring extra bras with them? Or did they have a bra surplus in the back?

And on a side note, I would gladly burn most of my bras. I barely wear them anymore and it's so much more comfortable for me (I'm a C-cup btw). If I do buy any, I get the nice comfy ones if they're on sale. The only reason I wear a bra anymore is if I am going to be in an environment where men are going to be staring at my chest and I am wearing a tight shirt. Bleh.

Baffling. So were there sponsors for this: like, people donated 5 bucks for each bra burned to toward some breast cancer awareness group? That would make more sense.

BTW, the article has been edited and reworded, with a jab at feministing in parenthesis after it.

ugh. I saw ANTM a few days back when Tyra was chastising one of the models for wanting to look "smart." The whole panel of judges was pretty unanimous in that "smart" was not a desirable look for ANTM. The sexist tv I have seen in the last week (and I don't even watch much) makes my head spin. VH1s "Rock of Love" makes me want to vomit. Then, on Lifetime, you have Carson Kressley exploiting women's bodily insecurities under the premise of making them feel better about themselves.

"Some studies have shown that women who wear bras for extended periods of time (ESPECIALLY when sleeping at night) have higher incidence of breast cancer."

I would be absolutely shocked speechless if Tyra was aware of any of these studies and based the bra burning stunt on them.

Doesn't burning all that synthetic material and foam and stuff release carcinogens?

Normally I kinda like Tyra Banks, but I think there are much better things to do for BC awareness. And I agree, those little fuckers are way too expensive to burn.

i agree with ultramagnus. it's a stupid, illogical publicity stunt.

i frequently refer to tyra banks as "fauxprah."

Tee hee hee. I can't wait to see what the lovely Joel McHale has to say about this on The Soup tonight!

He made me realize a long time ago that nothing Tyra does makes any kind of sense so it's best just to snicker at her "ME!" antics.

And riley, I love "fauxprah!" :)

We all know bras are too damn expensive to run around burning them. Let's be real.

Oh so true. I mean I only have three bras as it is.

Also, I am shaking my head right now and rolling my eyes…Why Tyra Why??? She just can never hit the mark no matter how hard she tries. I feel like she never does enough research. And I agree that it looks weird to be wearing a bra when they were burning bras. I mean why didn’t they just wear their shirts with no bras (I am looking into this to much I need to stop trying to figure out the way Tyra thinks).

devine--it's probably best to stop trying to figure her out. i think if you ever achieved true understanding of that state, you might not be able to turn back!

sorry, not trying to be nasty, but tyra banks is a fucking moron, pure and simple. i don't even think she comprehends what she does most of the time, beyond getting her attention.

"Then, on Lifetime, you have Carson Kressley exploiting women's bodily insecurities under the premise of making them feel better about themselves."

You must not have body issues. As someone who's been fat all her life, I find that show to be like free therapy.

I agree with liza about carson Kressley's show. I enjoy it.

yesthisismymajor- I know my bra was ridiculously expensive. It was a splurge. However, try to find another bra that makes my tits look like they way they do now ;)
It is ridiculous that I have to spend that much on a bra though.... sucks but this one was worth it considering i wear it every day.

Liza, I totally agree with you about the Carson Kressley show, I thought if anything that show was the opposite of exploitation and a nice relief from all of those give-me-plastic-surgery-and-make-me-pretty shows.

I love how you don't see any overweight women standing in the front, and Tyra looks much slimmer (gee how convenient she slims down before a segment in which she is wearing only a bra). So much for not caring about what people thought of her "big black ass."

I'm so sick of Tyra Banks. I know so many young women who think she's "real" and awesome.

She was a model for years and still has a reality show about modeling! How dare she preach ideas about body image?

She's a flaming hypocrite and I can't stand her.

On the subject of bras being expensive: I've gotten a couple pretty good bras from Target, and I'm a 34C. There not perfect but for $10 a pop, they're pretty damn good.

Oh, and Tyra is an ass for burning bras when she has been one of the main spokesmodels for Victoria Secret! Does she not understand the hypocrisy there?! Jeez.

Oh, well NOW I get it!

The bra burning is a bit- minimizing of the real kick-ass bra burners- but not nearly as weird as I thought it was.

They should have sent the bras to me instead of burning them. All my bras are getting hole-y and stretched out, and I am starting to panic. I'm a size 32DD and I can't find that anywhere for less than a small fortune. I always get the riding-up-the-back thing, the spillage, the chaffing-my-armpit thing, some cause back pain, some cause shoulder pain, and my neck always hurts. Not wearing a bra means I get a rash under my boobs and my upper chest hurts. I hate my boobs sometimes.

"Some studies have shown that women who wear bras for extended periods of time (ESPECIALLY when sleeping at night) have higher incidence of breast cancer."

I've always heard these studies cited, but never seen one or heard details about the control group etc. It doesn't make any sense that bras would cause cancer anymore than jeans or panties or shirts to me. Couldn't it just be that women who wear bras all the time have bigger/denser breasts, thus a harder time detecting cancer and a chance of more cancerous tissue (for denser tissue)? My room mate thinks I'm weird for wearing my bra once I put my pajamas on, but I don't feel comfortable without one unless I'm reclining, for example.

Hellotampon, I'm a 34KK, so I know how you feel. If I might suggest...try some of the custom fit bras. They are more expensive, but they really do resolve all of the problems that you mentioned and they last a whole lot longer (although they are horribly ugly). I used to hate carrying these suckers around too, but now not so much.

Katxyz, read Dressed to Kill. The study is very persuasive.

hellotampton, I'm also a 32 DD, and Fredericks of Hollywood actually has pretty, supportive, fairly inexpensive bras in that size. The prices are comparable to Victorias Secret, but the styles are a little bit prettier.
You can get 2 for $24 each in some styles right now...even in colors like red and purple, or fabrics like lace and mesh, which many bra companies seem to assume full breasted women don't wear.

Kristen:
Is that a book or a study? Where could I find it? I know it's a Kiss album...but that's it.

...FINALLY, some titty up in this place. This is why I hang out! And now, sans bra, so are they.

f'realz, I regularly rock BCA gear, so I'm down for the cause.

Tyra Banks is still heaven to look at. Just, y'know, with the mute button. Or via Jezebel, your one stop shopping for her crazy ass.
I still don't see what the relevance to BCA this has, but like I said, hey, look. Boobs.

OK, let me get this straight.Tyra is protesting poorly fitting, uncomfortable bras, and promoting the Elizabeth Squires book that's supposed to be like a boob owners manuel? That makes more sense. I've got some uncomfortable bras that I'd like to burn. Unfortunately, they cost too much to trash. I will probably continue to wear them until they wear out, and then not buy that style/brand again.

I confess that I have never seen Tyra's show, or ANTM. Most of my exposure to Tyra comes by way of the Soup with Joel McHale. I realize clips can be taken out of context, but everything I've seen shows her to be incredibly narcissistic. Is she really so self-centered as she appears?

OK, let me get this straight.Tyra is protesting poorly fitting, uncomfortable bras, and promoting the Elizabeth Squires book that's supposed to be like a boob owners manuel? That makes more sense. I've got some uncomfortable bras that I'd like to burn. Unfortunately, they cost too much to trash. I will probably continue to wear them until they wear out, and then not buy that style/brand again.

I confess that I have never seen Tyra's show, or ANTM. Most of my exposure to Tyra comes by way of the Soup with Joel McHale. I realize clips can be taken out of context, but everything I've seen shows her to be incredibly narcissistic. Is she really so self-centered as she appears?

Oops, sorry for the double post!