The Woman's Breast
William Branham preached strongly against women wearing support bras. According to Branham, women who wore support bras were doing so because of getting a "devil spirit", not understanding the purpose of wearing proper support. As a result, some women in Branham's "Message" cult following feel ashamed of their shape, especially those women with larger cup sizes, and some women do not wear the proper support. Others try to conceal their shape, either through loosely fitting blouses or by folding their shoulders inward. They do not want to be at risk of being accused of supporting their breasts "to attract [the] attention of men through sex".
William Branham preached strongly against women wearing support bras. According to Branham, women who wore support bras were doing so because of getting a "devil spirit", not understanding the purpose of wearing proper support. As a result, some women in Branham's "Message" cult following feel ashamed of their shape, especially those women with larger cup sizes, and some women do not wear the proper support. Others try to conceal their shape, either through loosely fitting blouses or by folding their shoulders inward. They do not want to be at risk of being accused of supporting their breasts "to attract [the] attention of men through sex".
And—and we noticed standing there, a couple of brothers and I, the lady nursing her baby. She just removed her breast from her—from her—from her dress and begin to nurse the baby; and it was kind of amazing for a minute; that’s the way my mother nursed me! It’s exactly right. I have more honor for a woman like that than I do some of these women that put a little ol’ strap under them to throw theirself out. Don’t even look like a human being. They got a purpose in doing that; that’s sexy, ungodly. A woman wear ever so many clothes and try to make herself look like something she isn’t…I…Why, women ain’t—ain’t actually that way; it’s some kind of Hollywood stuff. And the devil spirit get on them women to make them try to attract attention of man through sex. A woman’s breast was given her for the baby to nurse. That’s exactly right. The woman’s right in the primitive line, but she’s lined right."
Branham, William. 1964, August 23. Questions And Answers #1 (64-0823M).
According to Branham, women were designed by Satan[1] for the sole purpose[2] to deceive men through sex.[3] In Branham's destructive theology, women whose breasts were noticeable through a blouse looked "ungodly", and were only doing so to lure men through this form of "deception".
But when you come to go on the outside and maybe wear ever so much of a blouse or so forth, and then boost yourself out there with straps and things, that looks ungodly and cause men…Do you realize that’s a spirit of the devil on you? So you don’t want to do that, sister. Don’t you do that; that’s Hollywood’s makeup and a trap of the devil! When you do that, you make men think the wrong thing about you; and when you do that, then you’re guilty of committing adultery with that man, because you presented yourself that way to him. You can’t help the way you’re built, but just go and stay the way God made you. See? Don’t try to make yourself something that you’re not. Just stay human being.
Women who fall prey to this destructive theology are at risk for medical complications, especially those who fold their shoulders inward to conceal their breast size. Improper posture can lead to severe back pain, deteriorating both muscle tissue and breast tissue.[4] Support bras assist in support and make it much easier for women — especially those with larger breasts — to have proper posture.
"It's almost natural to get that rolling forward, whether it's because you're embarrassed about the size and it becomes more of a behavioral reaction or simply because it's easier to carry the weight with the rounding," she explains. Dr. Vaughn strongly recommends wearing a bra, which works to lift the breasts up and in, so that proper posture can occur more comfortably and naturally. (She also suggests that you strengthen your romboid muscles, the muscles between your shoulder blades, which can keep the shoulder blades toned and pulled together more easily.)[5]
Why Women Wear Bras Has Little To Do With Appearance
Because of Branham's destructive theology, some sects of William Branham's "Message" cult following do not permit sports, espeically women in sports. Due to the natural bounce of the woman's breast during activity, women are at greater risk of being noticed, and Branham's anti-support-bra stance specifically described the "adultery" women committed by allowing their breasts to be noticed. In the sects within the cult that do allow sports, however, women are at even greater risk for back pain and other complications for not wearing proper support.
No bra can guarantee that it’s going to make you stand up straighter or help out with tight, achy muscles, but if you get a durable, high class sports bra, you’re likely to feel like you have some added support in your back region. That’s no guarantee, but it’s a possibility. Women who wear these bras often benefit from the simple compression they provide, giving them a sense of relief before and after they workout. If you’re having backaches after working out, try a sports bra during your next workout and see if it helps.
5 Reasons Why You Should Wear a Sports Bra
Some women who have smaller cup sizes impacted by this destructive theology choose either to avoid wearing the "strap that throws them out" or choosing the wrong type of support. These women are also at risk for complications, especially later in life. Contrary to Branham's destructive theology, the undergarment is designed for the purposes of support, not for "luring men" into participating in adultery with them.
Dr. Vaughn notes that smaller-breasted women can't avoid the cosmetic issues that come with going braless, even if they're not likely to experience pain. "I think there's that notion out there that prevails that 'Well, gosh I don’t need to wear one, so I'm going to go without.' But even small breasts need to be supported," she explains. "It's not so much for current times, but for later in life." Meaning: If you choose not to wear a bra when you're younger, you're going to see more sagging as you get older. "By then, it’s too late. You can't take it back and reset," Dr. Vaughn says.
Why Women Wear Bras Has Little To Do With Appearance