Wanted to make a quick binder PSA for those of you starting out with binding/know someone who is binding.
(I guess this CAN be for cosplaying too, but this PSA is made for afab transmasc people who want to bind first.)
Okay, These guidelines are good, but not realistic for many of us who are trying to live and work and go to school. I recently got surgery, but for bound for ten years before the right combo of funds and circumstance happened for me.
So, to address these points:
- Yes, do all the wellness things. They’ll help.
- I used to work an office job. That meant 10-ish hours minimum/day to account for commute and lunch hour. It was more if I intended to do anything afterward with friends, and much more when I was going to school on top of that. Being trans != house arrest. <8 whenever possible, but seriously. Unrealistic. So unrealistic.
- My choices with the gym/pool/trail/whatever were bind and feel/be safe enough to use the right locker room/restroom, or…not go at all. I would wear a looser/older binder with more flex in it and combine it with a loose t-shirt or muscle shirt. For swimming, I’d wear a rash guard or duo-dry type activewear shirt over my workout binder.
- Don’t go to bed in a binder on. It’s uncomfortable and generally private enough to be safe. Dozing off on the bus or grabbing a nap in the student commons…well, when you’re pulling a 16 hour day (8 hours work, two classes, etc.) life happens.
- I tried, early on, several of the non-binder binder things. They don’t work. You may think they work, but they do not in anything other than the very, very short term, and even then I do not recommend any of them ever. Get a real binder as soon as you can. Things like tape, ACE, elastic braces, etc. don’t work and can hurt you. If you need help getting a binder, ask a friend. Don’t have a friend? Ask for help via queer resources online. Someone will help you if you ask around enough.
- Agreed. You’ll never be 100% flat, even in a too-small binder. The too-small ones also make it hard to breathe, exist, move, etc. and will harm you. Find the most comfortable and most flattering style in your right size, and dress for camouflage if you’re still uncomfortable. Layers are awesome. Polo shirts are the worst.
Signed,
The guy who lived in Underworks Double-Fronts for 10 years.
(via cthulhu-with-a-fez)
