Quebec minister says schools should discuss whether bras should be compulsory

MONTREAL — Whether young women should be forced to wear a bra in school is an “extremely interesting” question, the cabinet minister responsible for women’s issues said Tuesday in response to a recent bra-less protest.

School administrations should take up the issue and discuss it, Helene David told reporters.

“Is there a good answer, a bad answer? Personally, I am on the side of freedom of choice, honestly,” said David, reacting to news about a teenager who arrived at a private, all-girls boarding school last week in Montreal without wearing a bra and was told to cover up.

She refused and went home but, since then, her peers have chosen to support her cause by also refusing to wear a bra.