How the Lack of Breast and Bra Education in Schools Stops Girls from Playing Sports and Sets Them Up for a Lifetime of Avoidable Struggles

From skipping PE lessons to avoiding sports altogether in adulthood, there is a massively overlooked factor contributing to the gender gap in athletics. The lack of breast health and sports bra education. 

At first, this might seem like a stretch. How could something as simple as a bra be a major reason why women are underrepresented in sports? But like many systemic issues, this one starts early - right in the school system. 

Why This Matters Now More Than Ever 

In 2024, we saw ground-breaking progress in women’s sports. The Olympics reached a 50:50 male-to-female participation ratio, and stadiums are filling up for women’s football matches. But to truly celebrate these wins, we have to understand the historical gap. Why were women so far behind for so long? More importantly, how do we stop these barriers from holding back future generations? 

The Shocking Impact of Breast-Related Issues on Girls in Sports 

A study found that 46% of school-aged girls avoid sports because of breast-related issues. That is nearly half. And yet, breast health education in schools is virtually non-existent. While puberty and menstruation are still lacking in education, breast movement, pain, and proper support are barely discussed at all. 

The result? Girls feel embarrassed by their developing bodies, suffer from unnecessary pain, and ultimately stop participating in sports entirely. The world already has a simple solution to this. A properly fitted supportive sports bra. But if girls do not even know that this solution exists, how can they make informed choices about their health and comfort? 

The Long-Term Consequences of Girls Avoiding Sports 

When girls miss out on PE, they are not just missing exercise. They lose opportunities to develop critical skills that impact their physical and mental well-being, including: 

One could argue that girls who consistently opt out of PE due to breast pain, discomfort, or embarrassment are statistically less likely to develop the skills that set them up for success later in life. As a women-owned and women-led company, we find this unacceptable. 

Why Schools Need to Step Up 

Given how well-documented these issues are, you would think schools would be taking action. At the very least, they should be providing education on breast health and recommending that parents equip their daughters with proper sports bras. 

But they are not. 

Breast health and bra education are still missing from school curriculums, leaving girls to navigate these issues alone. This is not just a problem. It is a failure of the system to support the next generation of women in sports. 

What Tigers Eye Is Doing About It 

At Tigers Eye, we are committed to changing the future of breast health education. That is why we are funding a PhD research project at the University of Portsmouth’s Research Group in Breast Health under the direct supervision of Professor Dr Joanna Wakefield Scurr, also known as The Bra Professor.