Bless the sports bra, but can we lose that uncomfortable padding?

This is a column by Shireen Ahmed, who writes opinion for CBC Sports.  For more information about  CBC's Opinion section , please see the  FAQ .

As a sports columnist I get to dive into some of the deeper issues in the sports world. I have written extensively on discrimination and exclusion and have also championed and celebrated successes in sports.

One issue I wanted to write about is something that frequently comes up in many women's circles — not just professional athletes, but women with breasts who engage in physical or leisure activities and want to live healthy lives: the function of removable pads in sports bras.

"Sports bras?" you must be thinking. Why spend a week in Women's History Month reflecting on sports bras? Why use an important platform to gripe about minutiae?

The reality is that for people who work out and have breasts, a sports bra is essential. We can't simply rely on Cooper's ligaments to keep us intact. According to the Mayo Clinic's website, breasts are a combination of fat, glandular and connective tissue, as well as lobes, lobules, ducts, lymph nodes, blood vessels and ligaments. Without proper support when engaging in vigorous activities, they bounce, fall and can be painful for the active person. As a soccer player, I appreciate the ways in which a sports bra will firmly hold down my breasts so I can focus on what's happening on the pitch and not in my kit. I know I am not alone in this. 

While the history of the first sports bra is complex — it started out as the JogBra but was bought by Playtex in 1990 — the industry has grown astronomically and while valued at $43.75 billion in 2021, it is expected to be close to $95.32 billion by 2028. 

We know there is a market for