Breast Binding - Motivation

Motivation

There are many reasons people would want to bind:

• As a way to reduce movement after an injury or surgery, to help speed recovery
• To hide breasts or breast development
• For beauty and aesthetics
• To portray a character who doesn't have breasts
• To appear less feminine

With women there are additional reasons for binding. Several famous women have used binding to help pass as male in their male-dominated societies, and even (as in the case of Joan of Arc) to be accepted as a soldier.

Some adolescent girls bind their breasts as they enter puberty. This is done usually for reasons of modesty (they do not want others to see them), embarrassment (they do not want others to know they have started developing), or desire to be as they previously were (they do not want to have breasts yet). This has potential risks, as the developing tissue may conform to the restricted shape, resulting in permanent deformity. Breast binding in adolescent girls may be a symptom of body dysmorphic disorder.

Men may also find cause to bind if afflicted with gynecomastia as a means to control appearance in place of surgery or during the wait before surgery. In a related vein, transgender individuals and intersex people who want present as male would commonly bind. Male-to-female transsexuals who have developed breasts from hormone replacement therapy or breast augmentation surgery may bind to have continued acceptance as male during transition, for example, at work where co-workers may be unaware of the transition. Female-to-male transsexuals may bind either as an alternative to, or before, having top surgery (mastectomy) to help appear male.