Before 1900s, there is very little evidence of garments that could be considered bras. In ancient
history, there are mentions of a strip of cloth tied under the breasts
to support and to reveal them, or strip of cloth tied around the breasts
to flatten them. The corset became popular starting in the 1500s, and
its one function was to lift and shape breasts upward. The modern bra
with its two separate cups was gradually developed from the corset in
the early 20th century, in an attempt to manufacture
a more comfortable underwear piece. Today, the bra has evolved from
simple underwear into an actual sexual garment that emphasizes the
sexual nature of breasts. This can be readily seen, for example, by the
terminology used to advertise bras: enticing, hot, ravishing, seducing,
etc. It is no wonder feminists symbolically threw their bras into the
trash in the 60s. Even today, going braless is sometimes connected with
feminism.

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