Hey there, lemme share some knowledge on binding as someone who's been doing it for two years and counting! I hope you'll consider what I say, it comes from a place of wanting to share knowledge and quash misinformation.
The act of binding one's chest covers many methods - some unsafe and harmful, some less dangerous. Ace bandages, duct tape or other types of tape wrapped around the chest, most chest binders bought from amazon, and a handful of other methods fall into the 'unsafe' camp, meanwhile authentic and properly tested and approved fabric binders such as gc2b, underworks, spectrum outfitters and shapeshifters fall into the 'safer' camp. Now, that isn't to say that they are automatically safe - it all depends on being done with caution and care! However, where verified binders and DIY methods diverge in safety is that ace bandages and duct tape involve a crushing level of compression around the chest that can't move when the chest expands, which can lead to much physical harm and those methods are wholeheartedly condemned by most people in the transmasculine community. Meanwhile, fabric binders (such as my gc2b binders) are made of a firm cotton front panel and stretchy spandex-nylon back panel + straps, which allows it to move as the chest expands and is gently compressing but not tight. I often can't even really tell that my binder is on when I'm wearing it, it's really comfortable!
Binding as safely as possible (correct size binder, not wearing it for too long during the day, not sleeping in it, not doing excessive exercise in it, not wearing two at once, taking breaks) for the short-term can have little to no physical affects, though it does vary person to person and body to body. I've stuck by these rules for the two years I've used binders, and I am entirely healthy and happy! No rib damage or bruising, no lung problems (outside of having slightly less lung capacity, but they're still fully functional!), no skin damage or irritation, no spine problems - I'm as fit as a fiddle 🌠
As long as the questioning individual takes care of their body while binding, it can really help with self discovery. Not all people who bind are transgender or nonbinary either - cosplayers bind for male cosplay, and I even know of a couple butch lesbians and gender non-conforming folks who find comfort in binding, but don't necessarily identify as transgender! A binder can help someone function day to day with chest dysphoria if they are trans, or simply just fit with how they want to appear. Experimentation is normal, it doesn't necessarily mean someone hates their chest - perhaps they just want to gain a new insight into how they'd like to look!
It's easy to look at binding and its potential risks and feel concerned or worried, but it can significantly improve quality of life for people like me. Binding my chest makes me feel more masculine, more complete, more comfortable in day to day life, and better aligns with my mental image of myself. I don't hate my body, I don't even hate my chest in fact - it's just a part of me that I wish was different and looked different, and that's what binding achieves for me. I'm not so attached to my binder that I cannot physically cope with going without it, but it's just like any other piece of clothing to me that makes me feel complete day to day.
I really encourage looking at information relating to chest binding, as well as talking with individuals who bind to listen to their perspectives, so you can have a well-rounded view before coming to conclusions! There's no harm in adding a little extra input so you can understand both sides.
I hope this helped, and I hope you don't automatically dismiss it, though I can't make you listen to me. I don't want to fight you, I just want to be heard on my level and reach some degree of understanding. 💙
blakekathryn
yousharknotpass
andulkaphoto
s-u-f-j-a-n-s-t-e-v-e-n-s
turnnoffyourmind
tangentwithtanner
