Male bra (also
compression bra or vest and
Gynecomastia vest) refers to
brassiereA brassiere is an article of clothing that covers, supports, and elevates the breasts. Since the early 19th century, it has replaced the corset as the most widely accepted method for supporting a woman's breasts.Women wear bras for a variety of purposes, for support, to improve the shape of the...
s that are worn by men. Adolescent boys and middle-aged men sometimes develop breasts and the estimates of those with the condition are presented as a range "because the definition of
gynecomastiaGynecomastia, , is the development of abnormally large mammary glands in males resulting in breast enlargement. The term comes from the Greek γυνή gyne meaning "woman" and μαστός mastos meaning "breast"...
varies and the method of surveying varies." Although there are options for treating
gynecomastiaGynecomastia, , is the development of abnormally large mammary glands in males resulting in breast enlargement. The term comes from the Greek γυνή gyne meaning "woman" and μαστός mastos meaning "breast"...
, some elect surgery to reduce their breasts or wear a male bra.
Male bra (also
compression bra or vest and
Gynecomastia vest) refers to
brassiereA brassiere is an article of clothing that covers, supports, and elevates the breasts. Since the early 19th century, it has replaced the corset as the most widely accepted method for supporting a woman's breasts.Women wear bras for a variety of purposes, for support, to improve the shape of the...
s that are worn by men. Adolescent boys and middle-aged men sometimes develop breasts and the estimates of those with the condition are presented as a range "because the definition of
gynecomastiaGynecomastia, , is the development of abnormally large mammary glands in males resulting in breast enlargement. The term comes from the Greek γυνή gyne meaning "woman" and μαστός mastos meaning "breast"...
varies and the method of surveying varies." Although there are options for treating
gynecomastiaGynecomastia, , is the development of abnormally large mammary glands in males resulting in breast enlargement. The term comes from the Greek γυνή gyne meaning "woman" and μαστός mastos meaning "breast"...
, some elect surgery to reduce their breasts or wear a male bra. Male bras typically flatten rather than lift.
Men who choose to wear a brassiere may broadly be divided into two categories, depending on whether or not the brassiere is worn primarily for utilitarian purposes. Some men who have large breasts as a result of
obesityObesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...
, muscular development, or
gynecomastiaGynecomastia, , is the development of abnormally large mammary glands in males resulting in breast enlargement. The term comes from the Greek γυνή gyne meaning "woman" and μαστός mastos meaning "breast"...
may choose to wear a brassiere to provide support for their
breastThe breast is the upper ventral region of an animal’s torso, particularly that of mammals, including human beings. The breasts of a female primate’s body contain the mammary glands, which secrete milk used to feed infants....
s and to flatten their appearance. Other men wear bras for
cross-dressingCross-dressing is the act of wearing clothing commonly associated with the other gender within a particular society. The usage of the term, the types of cross-dressing both in modern times and throughout history, an analysis of the behaviour, and historical examples are discussed in the article...
, for sexual purposes such as
transvestic fetishismTransvestic fetishism is having a sexual or erotic interest in cross-dressing. It differs from cross-dressing for entertainment or other purposes that do not involve sexual arousal and is categorized as a paraphilia in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association...
or feminization, or as a form of submission to their partner. Petticoat discipline may also involve male bra wear.
Although some bras for men have been developed, they often differ only superficially from their female counterparts. There is sometimes no medical necessity for men to wear bras, and the same considerations for and against apply to both genders.
Another name commonly used for this garment is the "bro". This appears to be a play on words that draws on its roots in romance languages, where the suffix "a" refers to a feminine object and "o" to a male object. It's also possible that the nickname "bro" came from the word used to refer to other males in camaraderie (or in reference to one's brother).
An episode of the TV sitcom
SeinfeldSeinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, lasting nine seasons, and is now in syndication. The eponymous series was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, with the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself...
, called "
The Doorman"The Doorman" is the one-hundred and fourth episode of the NBC sitcom Seinfeld. This was the 18th episode for the 6th season. It aired on February 23, 1995.-Plot:...
", had the character
KramerCosmo Kramer, referred to as simply "Kramer", is a fictional character on the American television sitcom Seinfeld , played by Michael Richards...
invent a male bra, which he called a "bro," for
Frank CostanzaFrancesco "Frank" Costanza is a fictional character on the American television sitcom Seinfeld . He was born in Tuscany, Italy, and moved at the age of four with his entire family to the United States. He attended Mount St. Mary's University...
, who had very large breasts. Frank initially decided to market the invention, but disagreed on the name, instead wanting to call it a "Manssiere", a
playFor the rapper see WordplayWord play is a literary technique in which the words that are used become the main subject of the work. Puns, phonetic mix-ups such as spoonerisms, obscure words and meanings, clever rhetorical excursions, oddly formed sentences, and telling character names are common...
on the term "brassiere".
See also
- Breast binding
Breast binding is the material used in, or the act of reducing visible breast size in both women and men through the use of constrictive materials.Common binding materials include:* Cloth strips* Elastic or non-elastic bandage...
- Breast reduction
Breast reduction or reduction mammoplasty is a common surgical procedure which involves the reduction in the size of breasts by excising fat, skin, breast implants and glandular tissue; it may also involve a procedure to counteract drooping of the breasts...
- Brassiere
A brassiere is an article of clothing that covers, supports, and elevates the breasts. Since the early 19th century, it has replaced the corset as the most widely accepted method for supporting a woman's breasts.Women wear bras for a variety of purposes, for support, to improve the shape of the...
- Growth hormone treatment for bodybuilding
- Klinefelter Syndrome
- Pituitary
External links