Students stage braless protest after girl punished for 'violating school dress code'

'It is my natural body and I’m not sure why that is uncomfortable to somebody'

Kaitlyn Juvik (Kaitlyn Juvik/Facebook)

Students have staged a braless protest at a school after a girl was reprimanded for dressing without a bra, making another student feel "uncomfortable".

Senior Kaitlyn Juvik sparked a movement against the compulsory wearing of bras after she took offence at being told to cover up by a teacher whil not wearing the undergarment under a shoulderless, non-transparent black blouse while at school.

Students at Helena High School, Montana, staged a demonstration and started a Facebook group called ‘No Bra, No Problem’ in protest at being told what to wear.

Fellow female students later turned up to school without bras to demonstrate against the decision.

“What I was confronted about was wrong ... as long as nothing is showing and you’re covered up, girls should not have to wear a bra,” Ms Juvik told MTN News.

Someone had said they felt “uncomfortable” with how she was dressed, leading to her being reprimanded, but Ms Juvik told reporters that her own body, if appropriately covered, should not give others cause for concern.

“The fact that I was told it makes people uncomfortable offended me because it’s my body,” she told the broadcaster. “It is my natural body and I’m not sure why that is uncomfortable to somebody.”

In response to the action, the school’s principal, Steve Thennis, said: “I’m not going to check student’s undergarments.

"We are going to ask them to dress appropriately and if we feel it is inappropriate, male or female, we are going to ask them to cover up.”

The 'No Bra, No Problem' page has received international support, with a number of messages from across the world.

“I support you from Belgium,” said Facebook user ‎Patrick Monbailliu. “Don't step back.”

"No girl or women should have to wear a bra if they don't want to and no one should be able to tell you what you can and can’t do for your comfort,” Michael Wright said.

“We men are not told to wear underwear if we don't want to, so why should you women?”