The Truth Behind the Bra Burning Myth

In American history books that are found in high schools across the United States, every history book covers the 1960’s which was a very tumultuous time in the history of America. During this time in history, feminism was on the rise across the country and to stop the rise in feminism and the women’s liberation movement, the mainstream media started the bra burning myth.

Why Bra Burning?

One of the most common symbols of protests during the 1960’s was of young men burning their draft cards. The same media that covered protests against the draft also started the bra burning myth in 1968 when the Women’s Liberation Movement (women’s lib) told the media that they would be throwing their girdles, nylons and bra’s into freedom trash cans as a form of “symbolic” bra burning in protest to the Mrs. America contest.

No bra burning actually occurred during these protests but many eager reporters who wanted to capitalize on the chaos, reported that there was bra burning there and the bra burning myth was born.

How History Was Changed

Even though history books commonly refer back to this point in history with negativity, it can’t be denied that history was forever changed and the rights of women began to receive more recognition. Because of the protests and media coverage, women began to slowly but surely receive equal rights in the workplace and in all other areas of life.

Gone were the notions that a woman’s place was in the home, cooking cleaning and raising children. Gone were the rules that girls had to be raised to be wives and mothers. Woman of all ages were finally able to start working in the same jobs as men, receiving equal pay and were able to encourage their daughters that they would be able to accomplish their dreams and really grow up to become anything that they wanted to in their lives.

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