Social and Psychological Aspects

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

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Abstract

In the United States, about one percent of the population identifies in the trans and gender non-binary community (TNB), meaning their gender identity does not align with the cultural expectations of their sex assigned at birth. One common way trans men or trans masculine individuals negotiate their gender identity through dress is via chest binding, which involves compressing the chest tissue to achieve a flattened, masculine aesthetic. We examined the spaces where people bind their chest to unearth why TNB individuals do or do not bind in relation to their situation and what influences these decisions. We identified numerous themes and sub themes for decisions influencing chest binding practices in the public, private, and secret sphere. Movement between private and public spheres is sometimes facilitated by the secret practice of binding, thus for some TNB individuals, chest binding via the secret-self is used to negotiate the public-self.

Keywords: secret, private, public, undergarment, clothing, dress, fashion, genderqueer, LGBTQ, health, binder, non-binary, gender

How to Cite:

Reddy Best, K. L., Reilly, A., Streck, K., Green, D. N. & Morris, K., (2020) “Why Bind? Public, Private, and Secret Self Chest Binding for Trans and Gender Non-Conforming Individuals”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 77(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.11848