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Original poster

Breast Binding

87 replies

womanformallyknownaswoman · 24/05/2018 05:13

I find the practice of breast binding so abhorrent.

Breast binding is the act of flattening breasts by the use of constrictive materials. The term also refers to the material used in this act. Common binding materials include cloth strips, elastic or non-elastic bandages, purpose-built undergarments (often using Spandex or other synthetic fibre) and shirts layered from tight to loose. The act of breast binding is common for trans men, but is also done by androgynous, genderqueer and gender fluid people, as well as crossdressers and performers.
Breast binding by use of cloth strip or tape may result in bodily damage such as permanent deformation of the breast.

I am repulsed that this is somehow being normalised. I read the extract below from the blog of the fantastic Renee G in NZ. How widespread is it in the UK and elsewhere, and at what age is it being put into practice? Is it in schools yet?

Lesbian women are already suffering from ideas gaining traction that gender non-conformity might make them male. I know several young women who struggle with the popular undermining of female only same-sex attraction in a new age of “male lesbians”. This is not hysteria, but one real and devastating consequence of attempts to radically redefine sex.

RainbowYouth has been distributing breast binders in schools, ostensibly for born “transmen” – but we know teenage girls suffer discomfort with their bodies in this climate of objectification we live in. Consider Northland teenager Zahra Cooper, a young lesbian who was put on a course of testosterone that permanently altered her body and voice before she recognised she is inalterably female.

OP posts:
Terfulike · 24/05/2018 09:12

It's basically torturing and mutilating your daughter. Stop defending it boat.

Terfulike · 24/05/2018 09:10

No boat I can't understand their intent

boatyardblues · 24/05/2018 08:54

I came across breast ironing a few years ago, where mothers in African and other communities apply heated rocks to their daughters’ developing breast tissue. This is done to delay the outward appearance of puberty to give their daughters more time to mature and delay marriage, men’s sexual interest and pregnancy. Whilst the practice is distressing and mutilating, you can understand their intent.

It feels all kinds of wrong that we have similar practices emerging here.

DisturblinglyOrangeScrambleEgg · 24/05/2018 08:14

Bloody hell. I would have done this. I used to sleep in a certain way to try and squash my boobs down.

I mean, they're still an absolute pain, but better them getting in the way than broken ribs and difficulty breathing for fucks sake.

Why is it that everything that happens just makes the patriarchy even more glaringly obvious, whilst so many people stick their hands over their ears, close their eyes and refuse to see it.

LangCleg · 24/05/2018 08:10

There is an outfit in Manchester that sends out free binders to girls in packaging that their parents won't recognise. YouTube allows binder giveaway adverts at the end of youth trans videos without, I believe, any parental controls.

ICJump · 24/05/2018 07:53

How come teenaged can do Breast binding but aren’t allowed to get tattoos???

lightthedarkness · 24/05/2018 07:51

We support children who self harm with anorexia or cutting themselves - we find them help and advice, offer caring support and divert them from the online 'pro ana' advocates. But girls who hate their bodies and breast bind? Off to the trans pressure groups for advice. No support from anyone else as questions, support, counselling have now been deemed 'transphobic'. It's completely fucked up.

StarsAndWater · 24/05/2018 07:38

Girls who are struggling often self-harm. The difference is that, unlike eating disorders or cutting for example which are considered safeguarding issues for which girls need help and support, breast binding is being allowed in schools. They're even helping them do it.
I hated my breasts as a teen. I had big breasts very young (DD by 13) and got a lot of unwanted male attention which I hated and was far too young to know how to handle.
If breast binding had been an option then, I would have definitely done it and fought for my right to do it.
But it wasn't really my breasts that were the problem. It's a society that expects girls to accept being viewed as sex objects the moment they grow breasts.
I am horrified that it's being accepted in schools and so sorry for all those girls who are being failed by adults who should know better.

averylongtimeasspartacus · 24/05/2018 07:20

In the Scouts too, here is their comment from their website:

Breast Binding
Original poster
womanformallyknownaswoman · 24/05/2018 07:15

And it also means, of course, that we don’t have to look at the culture which produces so many adolescent girls who don’t want to become women in the first place, or make any effort to understand why.

Heartbreaking - the wilful blindness to distressed girls and women is something I find wholly unacceptable and immoral. And as many distressed young women presenting for transitioning have autism and /or been injured by male violence (there's a link between autism and family violence to my observations as well) then again it comes back to the men not treating women as the same species as them. Cannon fodder as it were. And then men say "oh I only care about women in my close circle" whilst wilfully ignoring the wholesale femicide taking place around the planet- they are disgusting "human beings" (sic) many of them

OP posts:
Kyanite · 24/05/2018 07:06

"A trick of language absolves us of any duty of care: placing all youngsters in the gender-neutral ‘trans’ category means that these girls are lost to any studies in the psychology of adolescent girls as well as denied the treatment and support which recognises their unique problems and needs. And it also means, of course, that we don’t have to look at the culture which produces so many adolescent girls who don’t want to become women in the first place, or make any effort to understand why." www.transgendertrend.com/breast-binders-in-uk-schools/

Kyanite · 24/05/2018 06:10

I find this is heartbreaking. It is in schools in the UK.

www.theguardian.com/education/2018/may/15/transgender-row-teachers-afraid-challenge-breast-binding

www.transgendertrend.com/breast-binders-in-uk-schools/

Only transwomen are allowed to be Lesbians.