Breast Binding

[womanformallyknownaswoman]

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.

@Thorsday have you explored the reasons why you feel the need to flatten your chest down and want to have you breasts removed? You've said you identify as non-binary but I wonder why that should mean you cannot find peace with your body as it is.

May I ask how old you are?

You do not need to answer these questions unless you want to.

I must go to bed now so I just wanted to say that in case you wonder why I don't reply again tonight.

Thursday
Breasts are beautiful
I used to hate mine
But just as animals are beautiful, so are us human beings
Our toes are beautiful
Even my 53 year old ones.
I'm not going to reject them
Please don't reject your body's cells
They belong together
We'll support you whatever you decide

Breasts are life giving and gorgeous

I like big breasts :)

Night all, I cannot watch any more Holly Oaks it is too depressing.

@Thorsday lots of the women on here have a real mixture of stories and some have had dysphoria about their bodies. I hope that there might be a chance to explore the issues around breasts and why so many young women are unhappy with them. (I am assuming you are young, I may be wrong), like Terfulike I am fifty something, My body is overweight but I am making my peace with my body and it feels good.

I don't ever want to give life/have children or breastfeed and they're uncomfortable, make (my own, nobody else's) me nauseated to look at and I definitely don't want them when I have enough joint problems as it is. I've explored the reasons plenty and I'm happy with getting them removed - I really can't wait until I can afford it.

@Thorsday whatever you want to do, it is your choice. You don't need to justify yourself. But if you want to talk we are here. I am sorry to hear about the problems.

This article primarily focuses on the issue of funding medical care for people who are transgender in the USA.

It also describes the serious medical complications for a young person who had been binding for three years and then started to take testosterone.

(extract)
"The testosterone, when combined with the binding and other mental health therapy, started to turn things around for Moog. Then, they started to have panic attacks. Full-on-call-911-while-you-pass-out-at-the-kitchen-table panic attacks. Moog's hormone therapist hypothesized the long-term binding had trained Moog's chest muscles to not fully expand. The testosterone treatment exacerbated this because its intended effect (increased muscle mass) created an unanticipated side effect (making it harder to breathe).

Their doctors agreed a breast-reduction surgery would be the best and quickest solution to get Moog breathing normally again."

digg.com/2017/transgender-crowdfunding?amp=true

I do hope that there is good medical guidance for young people taking these steps.

The tone and content of a recent Pink News 'How to' article though pragmatic, concerned me:
www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/04/30/chest-binding-transgender-transitioning/

The casual reference to cracked ribs as a side effect of binding. Do they know how painful and potentially serious broken ribs can be? Binding is really not something to be encouraged (imo). Perhaps pink news could also run some articles aimed at helping women who want to identify as men to come to terms with their natural female body?

Thx Rowantrees for info

TBH I can't bring myself to read it today - all these young women hating their bodies - it's so distressing - have to be in right frame of mind to tackle it- I seem to feel for them sometimes

But I will follow up when tone is right and appreciate reading what others think

Time not tone!!