Why Bind? Public, Private, and Secret Self Chest Binding for Trans and Gender Non-Conforming Individuals

Trans YouTube content creators: Informal economies for the production, distribution, and consumption of trans-supportive DIY undergarments

“…Likewise, Chloe Arden (2017) expressed she preferred to wear one or two pairs of spandex shorts on over gaff to help secure her tuck and lift her butt. While some of the DIY trans-supportive undergarments were not reliably effective, the gender affirmation many trans individuals experience from wearing trans-supportive undergarments (Reilly et al, 2020) may outweigh the negative aspects of DIY trans-supportive undergarments…”

“…However, the rigid passing/nonconforming binary has does not accurately describe people's everyday nuanced experiences. Reilly et al (2020) found that many trans-masculine people varied their gender presentation according to the time or place. For example, some participants reported always binding at work for safety reasons but may not bind when they are at home (Reilly et al, 2020).…”

“…Reilly et al (2020) found that many trans-masculine people varied their gender presentation according to the time or place. For example, some participants reported always binding at work for safety reasons but may not bind when they are at home (Reilly et al, 2020). Trans people have often chosen garments that emphasized or deemphasized certain bodily characteristics in accordance with their desired gender presentation.…”

“…Brandy Nitti agreed that homemade gaffs can be uncomfortable and rough on the skin, but they provided a temporary solution to her before she was "comfortable enough to buy gaffs online" (2019, 4:17). Many content creators choose to wear trans-supportive undergarments even if they are uncomfortable because they can be gender-affirming (Reilly et al, 2020). For example, Gage (2018) explained:…”