Chest Binding.
Not only is it important to discuss trans male, gender-diverse, and crossdressing media for positive reasons, it's also important to criticise media which endangers members of our community through setting a bad example.
Unsafe Binding.
A gallery of films and shows that feature bandage chest binding. Use the arrows, or click on the thumbnails, to navigate.
You might think bandaging your chest flat is an ideal, consequence-free way to alleviate your dysphoria and otherwise affirm your gender. Nobody could really blame you for having that belief; films and shows continue to reinforce this false, dangerous myth, despite resistance from our communities. The truth is that binding with bandages is unsafe, difficult, painful, and potentially injurious.
We need more objective, robust, scientific studies about the risks associated with chest binding. Anecdotally though, I have heard members of my community report the following issues when trying to bind with bandages (and I have experienced these issues too):
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Persistent pain, especially chest and back pain.
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Cracked ribs.
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Bruised ribs.
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Breathing difficulties and/or shortness of breath.
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Skin irritation.
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Aggravation of existing health issues.
That's why misrepresentations of chest binding are so important to criticise. Plus, not all of us are slender, small-chested people who have someone to help us wind bandages around our ribcage. Bandage binding isn't just painful, it's impractical. In reality, a person binding with bandages is more likely to get this kind of outcome: