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?

@FranceTeam

The sex education programme on Netflix also had a damaging story about binders, encouraging young girls to hate their bodies and making out it was a normal and brave thing to do.

The trans movement is so damaging for our children and their futures.

It was really manipulative and shitty how they presented that story line.

Only female nb characters represented. Binders implied to be safe. A straight male talked down to because he was attracted to the female nb character but would term himself queer (because he wasn’t). The head portrayed as unreasonable because she suggested the nb females go to the female sex Ed/biology lesson, use female toilets.

Names or third spaces or uniform fair enough. But biological sex and the realities of it don’t disappear because someone identities out of it.

Really irresponsible of them.

Thank you @whatwouldscullydo

The poor woman giving her account of that day is as appalling as it is predictable.

I read someone liking Lush to a cult and, tbh, I can't see much evidence to the contrary.

@MorganKitten

It’s not self harm

They are harming themselves - what would you prefer to call it?

Body modification which I have some knowledge of has been referenced by some who practise it, to me, as controlled self harm. Some do it for the aesthetic and as a form of self expression, some people enjoy the pain and feels it relieves mental pressure. But no reputable body piercer or modder would advertise their services in that way because it's a grey area and extreme mods are only accessible to over 18s. In fact, even extreme mods fall into legally dubious territory as a prosecution not long ago proved, as it was perceived to stray into unlicensed cosmetic surgery territory.

Suggesting a developing teenage girl should bind her breasts and providing the means to do so to cure her ills without any psychological training is snake oil selling at its worst.

This is shocking.
I buy stuff from Lush for my young daughter, I've written to their customer service team [email protected] (ironically named) to ask if this is their official policy now. If it is I'll take my business elsewhere. Snow Fairy is nice but not at the cost of supporting this nonsense.

@FourTeaFallOut

Lush sent out women in white t shirts and made them allow men ro kiss them anywhere in order to sell lipstick

Wtf? When was this?

Look up cruelty free kisses.

Add lush going naked.

Keep in mind most lush employees, especially the ones working weekends with drunken shoppers around, are young women.

I fell out with lush a long time ago, I used to work there many years ago and found them to be so contradictory to what they are supposed to stand for. If you had a different opinion you were not accepted. I am so glad that I don't work there anymore! This just makes my skin crawl! I have such strong opinions on the eradication of women's rights through this whole woke phase that's happening to the world.
Just crazy!

@rainbowmash

I used to waist-train with steel boned corsets. I also, separately, used to self harm.

I don't like the look of Lush's latest campaign either. But please, please, don't use language like "self harm" just to sensationalise your point and confect an emotional response. It's in very poor taste.

Body modification, even stuff that might seem extreme to other people, is not the same as self harm, in the sense that the term "self harm" is typically intended.

As someone who also uses to self harm in many ways, breast binders are self harm.

Don’t legitimise self harm by calling it body modification. Body mod done correctly won’t cause long term damage. Breast binders do in 99% of the cases.

Do we even know if binders are safe?

Yes. They're not. They have the potential to cause harm, short and/or long term.

If lush really wanted to help teenage girls with their developing bodies, they'd team up with companies who helped shy ones to get properly fitted supportive bras.

YANBU, OP.

Do any of the women's organisations have a policy on binders? I mean something like campaigning for them to be classified as medical products or not sold to under 16s or something? I want to write to my MP but I'm not really sure what I should be asking for, other than just saying this is horrific. Any suggestions?

@BloodinGutters

Indeed.

Hope they have cleared this with their lawyers because their arses are going to get sued at some point.

I have 3 young adult children, and they have 2 friends who use binders, as they feel that they are in the wrong body. It is their choice to use binders, why is this an issue? The binders greatly help their mental health.

they feel that they are in the wrong body.

No such thing

Even your stonewall overlords don't peddle that shit any more

There is a significant difference in adults choosing to damage their bodies for any number of reasons and children doing so.
Usually there are clear legal differences between the two.

If Mermaids don't use the phrase "born in the wrong body " anymore, why should posters on here?
Educate yourself, as the TRAs like to say

YANBU, I think what I want to say has been said and probably put much better than I would anyway. In a nutshell, I agree it is irresponsible (which is disappointing, as I like Lush products) and I imagine quite a few people using them won't realise the harm they can cause. Will they also be ensuring the risks of using them are known and showing people buying them how to use them properly?

The Soap Story look like a good alternative for those looking for alternatives. Saw them in The Range earlier and they had some nice smelling ones!

No one needs a binder

No child should be using equipment which can cause permanent physical damage to relieve mental distress without any medical or psychological support.

This has just cemented my hate for Lush.

@lubeybooby

What you mean a parent who doesn't want to see their childs developing body harmed? A parent who might know their childs needs better than a high street outlet peddling toiletries plus a garment that is dangerous? A parent who might want to have those conversations with their own child to effect a safe resolution without the outside implication and interference from a retailer who thinks they know better on the pursuit of profit that said parent hasn't got their childs best interests at heart? Hmm.