What is chest binding and is it dangerous?
Some children do not feel that they can talk to their parents about their bodies or gender identity. They usually learn about binding from online sources and YouTube videos. One New Jersey teacher said that some trans or gender fluid students sometimes bind in the school bathroom because their parents dont know. This also means that sometimes theyre not using legit medical binders since they cant purchase them without parents knowing. Dr Sarah Peitzmeier, assistant professor at the University of Michigan School of Nursing, concurs. Research has found that teens whose parents do not support their binding or gender identity often have to resort to less-safe binding methods such as wrapping with Ace bandages or duct tape, because those are the only methods they can obtain without help from a parent.  Jessica Jones of Spectrum Outfitters, a trans-owned chest binder company based in the UK, said: The whole reason the company was started was because our founder, Jack Jones, could not find affordable and safe chest binding products in the UK. The company is pleased that Corrin recommended them, but also noted that in the last year weve seen a huge increase in orders from a wide range of people, not only celebrities and not all who identify as LGBTQ+ or who may or may not experience body/gender dysmorphia. Trans and nonbinary people bind for reasons including gender affirmation, the reduction of dysphoria and to feel safe in public. Research and anecdotal accounts report that binding reduces anxiety and depression. For many transmasculine people, its binding or suicide, 17-year-old Raphael Sanche told The New York Times. Most medical professionals state that the psychological benefits of binding outweigh the risks, which may include chest or back pain, overheating, rashes, and shortness of breath. Dr Peitzmeier says that pain and discomfort is common. More severe symptoms from binding are rare, typically take many years to develop and are not inherent to the practise, but instead are significantly exacerbated by lack of information, lack of social support and lack of access to gender-affirming health care experienced by many transgender and nonbinary people.  The nearly universal advice for binding is to use a proper binder, rather than do-it-yourself methods that can cause injuries, to get the correct size (not too small), and not to wear multiple binders. Binders should not be worn too long or often (most say no more than eight hours per day). Dr Peitzmeier suggests that those who bind articulate your goals or motivations for binding and bind just enough to achieve those goals.