AIBU to think a soap shop shouldn't be encouraging young girls to self harm?

[Elleexxtra]

Lush Paddington are giving out binders, meaning girls can self harm without any danger of their parents knowing and being able to discuss potential issues with them.

www.instagram.com/lushpaddington/

AIBU to think young girls shouldn't be groomed to hate their bodies?

Self harm?

This is insane. Those poor teenagers encouraged to wear these 21st century corsets and damaging their health

YANBU. Teenagers should be encouraged to take care of the bodies they have, not to try and turn them into something they can't be.

I think they are highly unqualified to be giving out something like this. Marketing at its worst.

@Strawberry33

Self harm?

Tightly wrapping restrictive bindings around a part of your body with no medical supervision to change its shape is self harm. It also impacts lungs and ribs as well as gd knows what other organs.

@Strawberry33

Self harm?

What would you call it?

It's crazy that people think this is ok.

That being said, I can see how we got here. Even when I was a teenager, there was a growing sense that people like teachers should "help" kids who had regressive parents without informing said parents, as this would be bad for the kids. And regressive here doesn't mean abusive or even hating their kids, but parents with different views or values. So there was a somewhat unacknowledged acceptance of the idea that parents with the wrong views didn't have the right to the same kind of parental oversight as the other parents.

Mind you Lush employees don't even have a modicum of the authority or relationship a teacher might have with a given student.

@Strawberry33

Self harm?

Yes. Binders can damage developing breast tissue and cause breathing difficulty. Prolonged use can restrict movement enough to result in reduced physical fitness. Reduced fitness at a young age has lifelong implications.

@LobsterNapkin

It's crazy that people think this is ok.

That being said, I can see how we got here. Even when I was a teenager, there was a growing sense that people like teachers should "help" kids who had regressive parents without informing said parents, as this would be bad for the kids. And regressive here doesn't mean abusive or even hating their kids, but parents with different views or values. So there was a somewhat unacknowledged acceptance of the idea that parents with the wrong views didn't have the right to the same kind of parental oversight as the other parents.

Mind you Lush employees don't even have a modicum of the authority or relationship a teacher might have with a given student.

I've no problem with kids having someone to talk to about stuff they can't talk to their parents about, but I do draw the line at facilitating mutilation of healthy tissue for what is for most (though obviously not all) a fad.

Ugh that’s awful

These aren't for 'girls' though, are they.

I do agree that they're massively unqualified to market these items and they should focus on proper marketing rather than attempting to be woke.

Why don't they hand out "how to" anorexia/bulimia guidance or razerblades to help reduce stress.

Because that's stupid and harmful....Well dur!!

This is dreadful OP. Binders are so damaging, and of course they will appeal to vulnerable girls who hate their boobs and all the other horrors of becoming a woman. What is the justification for doing this?

@Strawberry33

Self harm?

So disingenuous...

It's better they have access to safer binders rather than resorting to DIY methods. These kids will find a way to bind one way or another.

Do you also object to teenagers being given access to condoms?

There's a long thread about this is Feminism.

But no, YANBU

@UndertonesOfCake

It's better they have access to safer binders rather than resorting to DIY methods. These kids will find a way to bind one way or another.

Do you also object to teenagers being given access to condoms?

@Faceicle

This is dreadful OP. Binders are so damaging, and of course they will appeal to vulnerable girls who hate their boobs and all the other horrors of becoming a woman. What is the justification for doing this?

I don't think they feel they need justification.

@UndertonesOfCake

It's better they have access to safer binders rather than resorting to DIY methods. These kids will find a way to bind one way or another.

Do you also object to teenagers being given access to condoms?

There are no safe binders. That's the whole fucking point.

Those people who voted YABU - I'd be really pleased if they could share their reasons for voting.

Because that vote is saying that shops should be encouraging teenage girls to self-harm...

It’s not self harm

This makes me both sad and angry. It's one thing for an adult to choose to bind. Facilitating children to do it is quite another. Plus the deliberate secrecy and exclusion of parental knowledge. It's reprehensible. Binding isn't safe and can cause irreparable damage. Lush should reflect back on this and be ashamed.

Absolutely appalling behaviour buy Lush - irresponsible and dangerous in the long term

This is so, so overstepping the role of a shop. It’s just a fucking shop! They can dress it up all they like, but it’s a shop and it’s absolutely not their place to be doling out advice or binders to teenage girls struggling with their identity.