Still on young women and the debate over undergarments

By Chidimma F. Odili

UNDERWEAR is simply a piece of clothing worn beneath our outer garments, particularly bras and pants. Traditionally, it has always been seen as a necessity for hygiene, support, and modesty. But let’s be real, girls of this generation are beginning to hate wearing it, and to understand this, I carried out a short vox pop interview with some young ladies, and their opinions were eye-opening. A good number of them complained that underwear is simply uncomfortable. According to Timilehin Folorunsho, a female NYSC corps member, said, “Personally, I don’t wear bra, and the reason is that I do feel chest pain in the middle of my chest each time I wear it.  It makes me feel uncomfortable. But for pants, why would a lady not wear pant? Though I know ladies who don’t wear pants because it makes them feel uncomfortable.” Chioma Abraham, a female barrister, opined that, “Most women don’t like wearing bra, because they feel it stresses them, while others see it as a burden or an additional load, especially for those who are really busty. So not wearing it makes them feel free.” Mrs. Queen Samson, an entrepreneur and a mother, said, “This is a new era, where not wearing bra and panties is becoming a common trend amongst girls of this generation.

“During my own time, it wasn’t like that and I cannot do without wearing underwear, except if I’m at home. My own daughter don’t wear bra because she feels she isn’t  comfortable in it.” Mrs. Ebun Adesiyan, a mother, also said, “We are in a pantless and braless world, a world that is complicated at that. In fact, very soon, girls will start going clothesless all in the name of freedom. Yes, some girls don’t  wear underwear because they feel it helps them to receive breeze or fresh air into their private parts.” OGHEREGHE DEBORAH, a female University student, opined that, “Not wearing underwear doesn’t  mean that you are not trained as a lady. I don’t  judge or talk negatively about people who don’t  wear it, because I also feel what they are feeling. Though not wearing bra as a lady is dependent on the size and kind of breast you have. And even if you won’t  wear bra, you can still go for other alternatives such as, breast tape or bralette. It is a matter of choice, people will do what work for them, I cannot discomfort myself to please the society”.

Also, Tolulope Emmanuel a student, said, “Many ladies give excuses of bras and pants feeling uncomfortable, especially those with sensitive nipples and those that easily feel uncomfortable in tight wears. Though others do it with the aim to create a seductive attraction while some flow with the trend.” Amazing Olugboye, a female university student also said “I don’t like to wear pants and bra because, it is discomforting. Bra gives me chest pain after pulling it off.” Chima Ifeanyi,a female university student, said, “I feel some girls don’t  wear underwear because of how the world is going, you know Nigeria and the rest of Africans feel they are learning from the Western countries, so the youths of this generation feel that if you still wear underwear as a lady, you are archaic, unexposed and yet to belong. Also, many girls lack moral background training and also lack the fear of God.” Ifeoluwa Ajewole, a female university student, said, “I think reasons why some girls don’t wear underwear can sometimes be health issues and inconvenience. Speaking of health issues, I have a friend that had breast surgery, so due to that, she was unable to wear bra for a very long time. While some of us don’t like wearing bra because of how it inconveniences us. You know there is this pain and discomfort that comes with wearing bra for too long. Also, I heard that if a person wears a pant for a very long period of time, like 9 hours, she shouldn’t wear pant the next day for proper ventilation, especially when you just finished your menstrual cycle. And some girls are just following the no pant and bra trends”.

While these reasons may sound convincing to some, the reality of not wearing underwear often plays out differently in society. Let me paint a simple picture. Just imagine a church service on Sunday morning and a young lady walks in, wearing a very short, transparent dress with no underwear. Instead of concentrating on worship, many people around her will be distracted, murmurs will begin, heads will turn, and before long, she has taken attention away from the purpose of the gathering. The same thing happens at Weddings, burials, or official events. What she calls freedom and style becomes embarrassment in the eyes of others. Let’s also look at it from the perspective of modesty and respect. In our African culture, decency in dressing is highly valued. When girls go out without underwear, especially in public gatherings, it sends a wrong message. People may interpret it as carelessness, lack of home training, or even deliberate indecency. Whether we like it or not, society will always judge us by the way we present ourselves.

There is also the issue of hygiene. Yes, some ladies claim underwear causes rashes, but the truth is that good-quality cotton underwear actually protects the body from dust, dirt, and direct contact with rough fabric. Without it, sensitive parts are more exposed to bacteria and infection.

Underwear also helps during menstruation by holding pads securely in place and preventing leakage. Imagine the embarrassment of a stain in public because someone refused to wear underwear. These are things young girls don’t often think about when following social media trends. From the vox pop, I also noticed that peer influence plays a big role. Many young women admitted that they started the “no underwear” habit because their friends encouraged them or because they saw celebrities do it. In today’s world of Instagram and TikTok, many people copy without thinking of the consequences. But what looks good in a filtered photo may not look decent in real life.

Another point to consider is confidence. Some girls believe not wearing underwear makes them bold and stylish, but confidence is not about exposing yourself unnecessarily. True confidence is being comfortable and respectable at the same time. A well-fitted bra or clean pair of panties is not a prison,but a part of self-care. It shows you care about hygiene, your body, and how you present yourself to the world. The incident that happened in Calabar makes this very clear. The young lady who boarded an airplane without wearing a bra. Though she was first ridiculed by the flight attendants, instead of being pitied, she was mocked and laughed at by fellow Nigerians. Videos of her went viral online, not for her beauty or boldness, but for the lack of underwear. All of this embarrassment could have been prevented if she had simply worn a bra. What she thought was confidence ended up as public ridicule.

These are reasons why underwear must not be abandoned. It is not just clothing; it carries meaning. It protects the body, preserves modesty, and upholds dignity. Generations before us did not see it as a burden but as a basic part of dressing. Comfort can be achieved in many ways: choosing the right fabric, wearing the correct size, or going for breathable cotton instead of synthetic materials. Throwing away underwear completely is not the solution. At the end of the day, fashion will always change. What is trending today may be out of style tomorrow. But principles like hygiene, modesty, and dignity never go out of fashion. Our society needs to remind young women that empowerment is not about discarding underwear but about making wise choices. You can still be stylish, modern, and confident while maintaining decency.

•Odili, a 400-level student of Mass Communication at the Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), is on internship at the Nigerian Tribune.

ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE