Mermaids: Binders in a heatwave

[ScrimpshawTheSecond]

Mermaids have some tips on how to manage in a heatwave with a binder. Because - guess what! - it's not a great idea to constrict your breathing! And I presume wearing a binder must increase the risk of heatstroke.

Mermaids suggests these tips will help avoid heatstroke/fainting while wearing a binder:

Don't wear black
Stay out of the sunlight
Avoid exercise

Only if you feel symptoms of heatstroke do they recommend you remove the binder:

'watch out for signs of heatstroke or heat exhaustion. If you think you have these symptoms, tell a friend so they can watch out for you. If you can, get to a place where you can remove your binder '

mermaidsuk.org.uk/news/summer-binder-safety-tips1293489163895963650

Why does Mermaids want to facilitate children risking their health? If a child or teenager feels that they have to conceal or alter their body to fit some idea of 'gender identity', it suggests they are in need of help to manage their feelings, emotions or mental health. They need support to ask why they might wish to risk their health to fit some imagined body ideal.

Not tips on how to mitigate the risks of wearing a binder.

Their twitter feed at the moment alnost feels like desperation. A " I can't get to you in schools now so don't forget you r trans" kinda feel to it. This fits in with that tbh.

Almost as if they fear some will just not bother wearing it

Don't exercise?

The one thing that has a positive impact on both physical health and mental health?

What kind of child-centred charity would say this? (Rhetorical question.)

Hm, a sudden interest in safety.

Trouble is, they're half the reason the risk exists in the first place. Pushing the idea that gender dysphoria can be solved by changing your body. Encouraging girls to wear binders that mean they can't actually exercise safely. Creating an unnecessary problem and then offering 'tips' to alleviate the damage caused is foul.

They also have a free binder scheme where they will post out a binder if you can’t afford one/parents won’t let you have one.

My first thought on seeing:
Don't wear black
Stay out of the sunlight
Avoid exercise

was "isolate yourself and connect to people on the Internet".

@rogdmum

They also have a free binder scheme where they will post out a binder if you can’t afford one/parents won’t let you have one.

Was this the one that sends out binders secretly in 'discreet' packaging, so parents won't be alerted? Or was that someone else?

oh great. Secret binders for children, which i guess means they're also never washed. A garment designed to restrict a body getting sweated in and never washed, what could possibly go wrong with that

I don’t know about the packaging but wouldn’t surprise me.

I'm not a doctor or anything but how about "don't wear a binder"?

oh great. Secret binders for children, which i guess means they're also never washed. A garment designed to restrict a body getting sweated in and never washed, what could possibly go wrong with that

Don't worry I'm sure someone has spent ages talking to your dds about their breasts and what size they are and discussed how to solve all these problems im secret and has volunteered to be on hand should further questions arise...

I don't think a lot of people recognize how much some people rely on their binders for their own mental health though. The thought of going out without them off will cause the person a lot of distress, so its actually the better of 2 evils to keep wearing them.

I know an individual who used to referee a sport while wearing theirs because they didnt feel comfortable being out in public without it. Their body, their choice.

I know an individual who used to referee a sport while wearing theirs because they didnt feel comfortable being out in public without it. Their body, their choice

Adults can do what they like to themselves.

Its the children being targetted we are most concerned about.

Who tells a 10 Yr old they need a binder ffs.

Although as an adult if your mental health is dependent on damaging your body beyond repair one might say they do need to acvess help to accept their bodies. Binders a re a symptom not a cure.

The thought of going out without them off will cause the person a lot of distress, so its actually the better of 2 evils to keep wearing them.

What about a 3rd choice - work with people feeling this distress to mitigate it. Just like you would someone with body dysmorphia, or anxiety, OCD, or any other life-affecting issue.

I had a family member with OCD. Not performing their rituals caused them tremendous distress. Didn't make performing the rituals 'the lesser of two evils' - the solution was being taught coping techniques, and medication. And the rituals just took up time, they didn't cause physical injury like binders do.

Why is the medical establishment helping these girls injure themselves, rather than helping them?

What @Roswellconspiracy said.

Also;

Their body their choice

Adults acting in fully informed autonomy yes. Children or people being wilfully targeted with propaganda, no. See also if i garment designed specifically for women is notorious for causing women health problems, femists are going to have something to say about it.

Why is the medical establishment helping these girls injure themselves, rather than helping them?

Yep.

Which is the 'lesser' of evils -

Helping girls wear a binder

or

Helping girls access a mastectomy

or

Helping girls learn to find the causes of their discomfort with their bodies, supporting them with body positivity and dismantling the idea that there is such a thing as the 'wrong' body.

What about a 3rd choice - work with people feeling this distress to mitigate it. Just like you would someone with body dysmorphia, or anxiety, OCD, or any other life-affecting issue.

And this is the problem in a nutshell. Unless you can afford private neutral non-affirming therapy, there is nothing for these girls other than Mermaids who, of course, support the use of binders. The waiting for the Tavi is over two years long (and once there it’s hit or miss who you will get) and in the meantime, there’s no NHS support for gender distress so these girls socially transition and get deeper and deeper into gender issues. Or their parents take them to GenderGP which is more or less puberty blockers/ hormones on request. Complete shambles.

Almost as if they fear some will just not bother wearing it..

Question: do young women and girls only wear these things when other people are about?

Ah, the 'secret' posted out binders were the LGBT Foundation, in this article:

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6450485/Trans-activists-send-free-breast-binders-13-year-olds.html

General info on the health risks associated with binders here:

www.transgendertrend.com/breast-binders-in-uk-schools/

rogdmum, the appalling absence of mental health support is another health scandal that is overdue. People are begging for help; often there just isn't anything. It's all very well to say 'seek help', see a doctor, etc - too often there is no support available, for adults or children.

Question: do young women and girls only wear these thingswhen other people are about?

There are lots of things that people haven't done on lockdown that they would when out with others.

Wear make up
Wear bras
Wear restrictive clothing etc