Gransnet forums

AIBU

Binders. The world has gone mad.

(598 Posts)
kircubbin2000 Wed 10-Nov-21 18:47:47

Lush and a company called Gender swap are offering young girls chest binders which they can collect without their parents knowing .This can damage chests and ribs but from the comments on Lush page the girls are flocking to buy these.. Sounds dangerous.

trisher Fri 19-Nov-21 15:54:30

The same applies to condoms who provides the instructions and who checks they are being used properly?
The difference? Condoms are actually free!!!

MissAdventure Fri 19-Nov-21 15:52:41

No, I suggest that it is probably better to ensure that binders are only issued to adults, who can make an informed choice whether to follow the instructions or not.
A child is considered not to be able to make adult choices, hence safeguarding policies.

OnwardandUpward Fri 19-Nov-21 15:51:57

Breast ironing ... foot binding...FGM. Is there no end to the suffering of women? Do females not suffer enough just for being born female?

I don't know which clinic has free condoms, but if kids are going to have sex it's better they don't get pregnant. That is avoiding unnecesary interventions like young pregnancies or abortions, both of which can be traumatic I expect. But binders are likely to cause unnecessary interventions if the wearer faints, develops a skin infection or musculo skeletal issues as a result of wearing. I don't see how you can draw a comparison between contraception which prevents a problem and binding which causes one.

Hithere Fri 19-Nov-21 15:49:27

My point is - a store cannot be made responsible if a customer does not follow instructions.

What do you suggest, having binder police being posted in every home to make sure it is used as intended?
Having users go to store to ensure it is put on properly?

MissAdventure Fri 19-Nov-21 15:44:00

I originally asked if lush were ensuring binding was done properly.

I'm not sure what your point is.

Hithere Fri 19-Nov-21 15:41:23

This is not what you wrote originally.

Instructions can be clearly written in the package and the person choose not to follow them

How can a store make sure instructions are followed as written?
They can't - with soaps, bath bombs or binders

MissAdventure Fri 19-Nov-21 15:38:52

Hithere

Miss A

Since when companies make sure their products are properly used according to their standards?

What an unrealistic standard.
The medical fields also trusts the patients follow instructions

The medical field issue huge lists of dos and don'ts with their products.

Even a packet of nuts warns us that the product may contain nuts.

Mollygo Fri 19-Nov-21 15:36:29

MissAdventure I don’t believe they claim that, just that they will supply them to children without their parents’ knowledge. It’s a new sales gimmick and they don’t care whether it causes damage or not. You have to admit, it’s got them a lot of publicity. Shame Nancy Kelly wasn’t asked for her opinion about it by Emma Barnett on Thursday. It would have been interesting to listen to her trying not to answer.

Hithere Fri 19-Nov-21 15:35:40

Miss A

Since when companies make sure their products are properly used according to their standards?

What an unrealistic standard.
The medical fields also trusts the patients follow instructions

MissAdventure Fri 19-Nov-21 15:19:52

Are lush ensuring that binding is done properly then?

trisher Fri 19-Nov-21 15:14:45

But as already pointed out Peasblossom binders are commercially available, so they do not resemble piercing or tattoo procedures which are regulated and which any provider can be prosecuted for undertaking on an underage subject.
Binding if undertaken properly does not permanently change any body and surgery which does do so is illegal.

Peasblossom Fri 19-Nov-21 14:31:26

I don’t think contraception and body altering are the same thing at all.

Breast binding is better equated to tattooing, body piercing, cosmetic surgery that alters the shape of the body or features.

We don’t allow under sixteens to make a choice about that and it is illegal for anyone to carry out that sort of body altering on them, so why is breast binding allowed to be a commercial enterprise?

Would you change the law for body altering trisher and where would you set the age limit, if any?

trisher Fri 19-Nov-21 13:54:33

Chewbacca

To my knowledge no one has been unable to breathe, suffered back pain, popped out a rib or damaged their penis by wearing a too tight condom. --awaits being told that this is a common problem--

No the consequences of using a condom incorrectly are simply 3 potentially disrupted lives. A boy who picked up something but used it without advice, the girl who had sex with him and got pregnant and the baby she is carrying. And yet these things are freely available. The failure rate. of condoms when used correctly is 2% when used incorrectly it's 15%.
Binders can similarly cause problems if incorrectly used. They aren't free. There are Apps available which give comprehensive advice on binding.
Why the disparity?
Because somehow it is seen as culturally acceptable to use condoms but unacceptable to use binders.

Chewbacca Fri 19-Nov-21 11:26:48

In some parts of Africa, pubescent girls are subjected to "breast ironing," supposedly to halt their breasts from developing. Hot stones are rubbed over the breasts resulting in burns and scarring that leads to problems with breast feeding in later life. The UN called for a ban on the practice, saying that it was brutal and abusive and should be stopped.
Breast binding, when done without correct advice and support also leads to problems in later life, especially if the girl does decide to have a full mastectomy when transitioned.

Shame on you Lush.

Rosie51 Fri 19-Nov-21 11:23:40

Chewbacca I'm sure someone will be along soon with a known contact who suffered said injuries from a condom grin

trisher Given that it's possible to buy condoms from dispensing machines in public toilets, do you think binders should be freely available in the same way since you seem to equate them?

Chewbacca Fri 19-Nov-21 11:18:02

To my knowledge no one has been unable to breathe, suffered back pain, popped out a rib or damaged their penis by wearing a too tight condom. awaits being told that this is a common problem

Rosie51 Fri 19-Nov-21 11:06:19

As condoms are not an age restricted item, anyone of any age can buy them from a range of high street shops. Binders are a different thing entirely. But to answer your question a clinic making condoms freely available to teenagers is facilitating safe(r) sex. Happy?

trisher Fri 19-Nov-21 10:57:31

The question by the way was is it encouraging teenage sex?

trisher Fri 19-Nov-21 10:56:45

Anyone can walk in and pick them up. No questions and they are free. Most parents won't know.

Calistemon Fri 19-Nov-21 10:16:44

A clinic?

You mean a medical centre, not a cosmetics shop?

Lush is not even a High Street chemist with qualified pharmacists on site to advise. At least they would take a professional stance and advice.

This is beyond the remit of a shop which sells stinky bath bombs.

trisher Fri 19-Nov-21 10:11:50

So is the clinic which has free condoms in a basket on the reception desk where teens can pick them up promoting teenage sex?

OnwardandUpward Fri 19-Nov-21 07:44:02

Spot on, Calistemon.

Calistemon Thu 18-Nov-21 23:49:47

trisher As far as I can see the only reason that any company like Lush could successfully market its products is because transgirls feel unable to discuss their situation and reading these posts I fully understand why

Even worse, then; this company is cynically exploiting a gap it sees in the market providing a product which bears no relationship to its other products in order to make a profit!

Rather like barbers' shops years ago keeping the Durex under the counter. - "Something for the weekend, sir?" Which of course was fine as they were adults.

And the icecream man I mentioned earlier of course. "A little packet of something with your ice lolly, love? Don't tell Mum or Dad."

Rosie51 Thu 18-Nov-21 23:42:48

trisher Firstly you have no evidence of proof that the girl is purchasing a binder because she intends to transition.

Also trisher As far as I can see the only reason that any company like Lush could successfully market its products is because transgirls feel unable to discuss their situation and reading these posts I fully understand why

Seems it's you thinking they're all transgirls. I take it you mean girls who wish to transition, not transgirls who would have male biology and no need for a breast binder.

Mollygo Thu 18-Nov-21 23:19:06

Good point Callistemon.