Charity condoning breast binder for 10 year old

[MrsSnippyPants]

"Recently we were sent screenshots from a concerned mum who had wanted advice about her 10 year old daughter who had been googling breast binders. The mother asked valid questions. Within 2 minutes Mermaids said that binders were safe if used properly. They didn't suggest exploring any other reason why a 10-year-old may be uncomfortable with her developing body. Mermaids stated that if they followed the correct procedure breast binders were safe.

They didn't mention the long list of known side effects (compressed/broken ribs, punctured/collapsed lungs, back pain, damaged breast tissue & blood vessels, blood clots, inflamed ribs). Questions of the psychological impact on her daughter were not addressed."

Facebook: www.facebook.com/safeschoolsallianceuk/?

Twitter: twitter.com/SafeSchools_UK/status/1231951900695764993?s=20

Just leaving this here;

There has been concern from the Home Office that safeguarding professionals might be reluctant to engage and challenge families and communities, because of cultural sensitivities. This may have happened in some cases, but rather than throw around unhelpful comments, it would be more beneficial for the government to launch an awareness campaign aimed at safeguarding professionals. They could also look at whether specific legislation is required, for whilst there is no specific law on breast ironing, it is child abuse. If practiced in the UK, the perpetrators are subject to other UK laws – assault (likely to be grievous bodily harm) assault and child cruelty. A campaign and some investment by the government, would go a long way to empowering professionals to be confident around identification, the law and the safeguarding measures they need to take.

safeguardinghub.co.uk/breast-ironing-a-guide/

It's weird how breast ironing is bad and breast binding is good. Same as how single sex toilets are essential for women in developing countries but absolutely dandy for women in the first world.

More than a whiff of racism about it

Please could everyone complain to the charities commission about this. More examples of monumental safeguarding fails in the thread linked to.

We need to make a concerted effort to get the charities commission to take note. If all we do is express horror on social media and MN nothing will change.

Don't we have to complain to Mermaids first? the Charities Commission states that they will only look at a complaint if it has first been made to the charity ...

https://twitter.com/tjdetrans , a detransitioned woman commented:

Yes, my back still is bad...posture was greatly affected + changed how I breathed (even now). Additionally it caused tissue swelling, increased size. I only binded loosely on a small chest at 16. Goodness knows on a 10yr old or longer extra. Just no... NOT SAFE. NEVER SAFE.

I wish the Charity Commission took its role more responsibly and actually investigated charities that have been complained about — real investigations with serious consequences. It’s too easy to get, and keep, charity status in the UK.

I think if you are complaining about a serious safeguarding then you don't. But it's not totally clear I agree.

How did kids company eventually get taken down?

This is another alarming thread.

twitter.com/fharris2011/status/1230920270195691520?s=20

Are "progressive" journalists waiting for Mermaids to be shut down before they dare write about it?

www.theguardian.com/social-care-network/2015/aug/03/kids-company-charity-camila-batmanghelidjh

How did Kids Company get so far away from those it was meant to help?
Peter Beresford

From the article:

"While Batmanghelidjh’s pseudoscientific approach can be seen to be reactionary and in line with the individualistic politics of the present government, what is interesting is how she has commanded progressive support. Here lies another of the many contradictions that surround her. The story that led to her stepping down as chief executive was run by the right wing Spectator. In subsequent press reports, there was much more criticism from right of centre media than left of centre papers, which have reflected much stronger support for her. This could be seen in their editorial, columnists and letters pages."

--

"Charity is where wealth and power, poverty and powerless meet. We should remember that this can be for better and worse. On reflection, Kids Company seems like a very Dickensian story. It has been presented as a Victorian parable of the heroic rescuer saving sorely debased children. It is a story that takes us from the glossy pages of magazines like Glamour and House & Garden, which have run celebratory accounts of Batmanghelidjh, through to the children and young people Kids Company work with, presented as the subjects of deprivation and neglect."

Do we have proof its genuine?

I despise this "charity" as much as the next person but the 2 conversations are in 2 very different formats.

The grammar seems off.

It says mermaid. Not mermaids.

It's weird how breast ironing is bad and breast binding is good
More than a whiff of racism about it

This

@SarahTancredi this is what it says if you start a chat with them - you can try it yourself.

Ok thanks.

It's just the spelling/grammar seemed different in both the chats
I realise its possible that 2 different people could have been manning the.post but it did make me a little suspicious sorry.

That's not of course denying how.abhorrent I find this so called support group not to mention such a safeguarding red flag that they will talk to or about such personal details of their bodies.

Not to mention the fact they cant possibly know if this particular has underlying issues that make.it even more dangerous. So irresponsible

Sarah The first part of the thread (about the 14 year old) is mine and is from last Friday. The chat about the 10 year old looks absolutely genuine in terms of font. “Mermaid” not “Mermaids” is used by the person on the other end of the chat

Format not font!

Yes it was the 10 yr old one I was unsure of as the difference in the way it was written.

Sorry I'm not being accusatory at all as you all know full well what my feelings are on all this

But there was just such a difference ...

Sarah, the 10 year old chat was sent to me by a personal friend of mine. I know it's genuine. She hadn't believed me that mermaids were dangerous and contacted them hoping they would help. She is trying to look at her daughters issues from many angles. However the chat with mermaids has actually given her a wake up call. I don't want to say anything else but it's 100 genuine.

Not to mention the fact they cant possibly know if this particular has underlying issues that make.it even more dangerous. So irresponsible

Yes definitely this SarahT, it is very concerning that Mermaids have gone straight for stating that breast binders can be safe for a ten year old girl without any suggestion that the parent should explore the underlying reasons for the child's discomfort with her body.

Thank you falls

I honestly was not truly to offend anyone by questioning. But I also know we do have to be a little bit careful.

Think in a way this makes it worse. For a company paid thousands of pounds by god knows who and what and thats supposed to be "professional" agency, they dont even proof read what they write .

I make typos all the time but I've never claimed to be a professional

No offence taken Sarah's. Always best to question. I think she was so shocked at the immediate response. I think she was expecting some chat about the reasons why her dd felt that way and some reassurance that many girls feel uncomfortable with their breasts. By to go straight into affirming binder use for a 10 year old when the operator didn't know anything about her made her feel sick. What if her daughter had been the one to open the chat box?

Agreed falls

Puberty is not all flowers and balloons for anyone. That's the point. It's awful. And it's perfectly normal to feel grossed out or embarrassed and confused etc

But then she has form doesn't she. Form for taking perfectly normal.feelings and slotting them onto a dx of GD. Sure everyone would live to "cure" their autistic children with transitioning... imagine how much money could be saved if 1:1s and ed psychs werent required

Personally i think its all.a bit too "misery loves company "

Breast binders = Tight fitting corset-like garments to hinder the growth of breast tissue by compression.
They originally were - and still are - used by women actors playing male or young teenage characters and they're perfectly safe when used for that purpose. They were never meant to be worn for twelve hours a day for months at a time.

I wore a boned corset last week (don't ask - but it looked damn fine) and ended up unlacing the straps (it was under clothes) after about 3 hours in a restaurant because I couldn't sit, breathe or eat properly. It also put me in a foul mood because it was so uncomfortable and I got into a slight row on the way home (with a selfish idiot).

My wedding dress was like that Lord - I lasted until the meal before undoing it. I actually could not eat because of it!!