AIBU to think schools shouldn't promote breast binding to 11 year old girls?

[OhHolyJesus]

Article in the Times today about a top grammar school.

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/913e7f94-b038-11eb-b844-593e41a4a1a5?shareToken=96489378584664b8e46495232a22b86a

From the comments you can see the parents weren't aware.

I'm a teacher and I believe we should be teaching children about healthy opposite- and same-sex relationships, and that's it. Approach it from a health and well-being perspective. Anything else is just your personality.

I corrected a child who mentioned 'born in the wrong body' the other day, and will keep doing so. We have physically disabled children in the class and I can't countenance any child parroting this harmful narrative in front of children whose bodies are different.

One of the pages on that instagram post states'

'Binding, for those who don't know, is very common within the trans community, specifically for trans men or non binacry people, as it can help reduce gender dysmorphia. However, if done incorrectly or unsafely, binding has the potential to be harmful.'

'Promoting awareness surroudning binding is vital - schools have a responsibility to keep trans youth safe.'

This post is really missing the point isn't it. That newsletter does NOT talk about the negative effects, it just links to sites that also minimise the negative effects.

I think from seeing that instagram post in its entirety, we can assume that there is a bit of a gap in safeguarding here. Or that the headteacher has not really proof read the newsletter.

In the meantime, there is nothing but fingers in the ears shouting 'you are all phobic' in response. Maybe the headteacher will see some sense in the very glaring issues of those links today. Maybe not.

Shameful. My friend viewed the school with her DD and reported that the most prominent display she saw was around LGBQT++ events and activities.

What are we doing to our children?

This is really a concern.

Girls are ordering binders and getting them delivered to their friend's houses so that their parents don't know they have them.

The girls are discussing this between each other and reassuring each other that there is nothing harmful about it. I have seen the evidence of this myself in my teen's discussion about it.

We have had PE teachers state that girls with binders are needing to be accommodated while they play sport for wearing binders. That this is a 'known' issue.

Yet, the approach that this school has taken continues to enables this behaviour. Instead of saying, actually there are some significant health effects and you really need to seek medical advice before making this decision, and listing some of the side effects, they simply add links without context and call that 'advice'.

They should be hanging their heads in shame right now and not posting defiant instagram posts about transphobia. This is about the health care of young females. Binders are also worn by girls and women to reduce their breast size, particularly in this era of pornification. This was actually a chance to discuss this wider issue too.

97% report health issues. NINETY SEVEN PERCENT. What kind of school promotes a practice that actively harms the girls in its care??!

If my daughter was at this school, I'd be pulling her out pronto. The fact that this was sanctioned by the head is horrifying.

That Instagram advertises in multiple places it's "DMs are open".

Since it's run by Y12s that's also a safeguarding issue on many levels - both in younger girls from the school contacting Y12s and the Y12s themselves being contacted by ... well, literally anyone with access to an Instagram account.

*its

Wow, proof that this horrific newsletter was approved of by the Head and the "teacher in charge of the LGBT+ society". Dodgy af

Well it's clear that the Head approves the content then with that Insta post.

I'm sure he or she will be able to explain their reasoning to the DoE and OFSTED as to why 11 year olds should be informed about how to bind their breast 'safely' and about 'chem sex'.

I sure the DoE will be keen to hear the explanation.

I cannot stand the disingenuous and dishonest language around all this stuff. It's just so grossly manipulative. They claim they're pushing all this nonsense at kids as they want to "keep trans children safe", then link to websites with the most irresponsible and often horrific content. It's nothing to do with keeping kids safe. It's about normalising cultish self-harming practices, and minimising the harms. Get this shit out of our schools!

Girls are ordering binders and getting them delivered to their friend's houses so that their parents don't know they have them.

I've heard of this happening too.

Also, a slight aside, but 'Friends of Dorothy', wasn't that a reference to gay men? I had no idea it had anything to do with lesbians, bisexual people or the T. Another broadening of a term, this time a lighthearted one, to include groups it never included before, and one that would go over the heads of 11 year olds surely?

Girls are ordering binders and getting them delivered to their friend's houses so that their parents don't know they have them

And who's helping them do this. Who's talking to children about their bodies. Are they dbs checked? Medically qualified ? Are they volunteers?

Friend of Dorothy definitely means gay man. They don't seem to acknowledge that in their page on why they've chosen that name for the newsletter. Actually, given this is an all girls school and FoD was a way of about male homosexuality when it was illegal, it seems pretty tone deaf to boot.

Where is the statement from the head teacher? Or is she sedated somewhere?

Headteacher seems remarkably naive. One glance at her Twitter account reveals all her political views. Time was when we, as pupils, had no idea of our teachers’ political beliefs.

@HelpfulBelle

I'm a teacher and I believe we should be teaching children about healthy opposite- and same-sex relationships, and that's it. Approach it from a health and well-being perspective. Anything else is just your personality.

I corrected a child who mentioned 'born in the wrong body' the other day, and will keep doing so. We have physically disabled children in the class and I can't countenance any child parroting this harmful narrative in front of children whose bodies are different.

Thank you.

@OhHolyJesus

Girls are ordering binders and getting them delivered to their friend's houses so that their parents don't know they have them.

I've heard of this happening too.

Also, a slight aside, but 'Friends of Dorothy', wasn't that a reference to gay men? I had no idea it had anything to do with lesbians, bisexual people or the T. Another broadening of a term, this time a lighthearted one, to include groups it never included before, and one that would go over the heads of 11 year olds surely?

it has happened in my teen's group twice that I know of. They knew to do it from advice on the internet.

I’m glad my Dd failed to get into that school by 1 mark now!

@Clymene

Friend of Dorothy definitely means gay man. They don't seem to acknowledge that in their page on why they've chosen that name for the newsletter. Actually, given this is an all girls school and FoD was a way of about male homosexuality when it was illegal, it seems pretty tone deaf to boot.

Yeah, I thought that was odd too, for an all-girls school.

I mostly think these well-intentioned, political-activist teenagers have naively tried to do something they think is needed and relevant but been poorly served by their school not, y’know, educating them in the how/what/when/where of journalism/activism/awareness-raising.

They’re teens in the midst of this hothouse with opinions fuelled by social media and prevailing culture. But the school should be providing alternative viewpoints and encouraging critical thinking and explaining rules around safeguarding etc.

They knew to do it from advice on the internet.

Same from the girls I know who did it too, with one having access to a parent's bank card to place the order.

I've seen links in you tube bios of the binders they recommend, and it's all about 'safety' but none of these you tubers or influencers ever say "don't bind, it's bad for you, for the following reasons...".

Every day there appears to be new reasons to never let you kid anywhere near the internet.

Im assuming that "advice on the internet" includes the live chat complete with exit button.

I'm.sure we all remember those screen shots of a mother pretending to he a young girl and online chatting about her breasts akd whating a binder.

And wasn't there that other charity at one point where you could ring up and order a free binder. After telling the person on the end of the phone all abjut your chest no doubt.

I mostly think these well-intentioned, political-activist teenagers have naively tried to do something they think is needed and relevant but been poorly served by their school not, y’know, educating them in the how/what/when/where of journalism/activism/awareness-raising.

Yes, indeed. Calling parents' concerns about 'chemsex' links 'transphobia' shows just how naive and far off the mark they are.

The trouble is that there are plenty of adults who should know better in positions of authority, cheering them on.

It is going to happen all in school settings in the bear future.
Teenagers are very confused.

Oh come on, this is batshit crazy, no school should be advocating this nonsense. They should publish The Emperor’s New Clothes in their next newsletter. Collective stupidity is a poor look on an educational establishment.