“Outside of the queer community, chest binding remains a relatively unknown phenomenon” (Tsjeng). A chest binder is something a person uses to bind, “‘Binding’ refers to flattening breast tissue to create a male-appearing chest using a variety of materials and methods” (Ira). A binder became representative of trans culture because many AFAB (assigned female at birth) people wear them to flatten or lessen the appearance of their chest to create a more masculine appearance. The first known production of breast flattening products was in the 1920’s. “These 1920s brassieres have almost no curve. They are meant to flatten the bust” (Breast Binding 1920s). While chest binding has been around for hundreds of years but “commercial binders, primarily sold online, have been available for about 15 years” (Takenaga).
Binding is shown to relieve some gender dysphoria. “Gender dysphoria involves a conflict between a person's physical or assigned gender and the gender with which he/she/they identify” (Parekh). But can have negative physical side effects. “Chest binding, or compressing the chest tissue, is a common practice among trans-masculine individuals that can promote mental health, but frequently results in negative physical health symptoms” (Binding and Care Seeking Among Trans-masculine Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study).
Works cited
“Breast Binding 1920s.” witness2fashion,
Takenaga, Lara. “'It's Binding or Suicide': Transgender and Non-Binary Readers Share
Their Experiences With Chest Binders.” The New York Times, The New York
Times, 17 June 2019, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/17/reader-center/chest-binding.html.
Parekh, M.D., M.P.H., Ranna. What Is Gender Dysphoria? American Psychiatric Association ,
Feb. 2016,
“Chest Binding and Care Seeking Among Transmasculine Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study.”
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., Publishers,
https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/trgh.2018.0017.