transitioning advice?

1

I’m genderfluid/possibly trans but I lean more towards being male so I’m looking for some kind of binder that I won’t have to have any parental knowledge of OR give my address out over the internet for. I know that compression bandages can cause rib damage so I know I’m absolutely not using any of those. I’m not old enough to be ordering things online without my mother somehow knowing, and I don’t want either of my parents to know until I’m old enough to support myself if things get bad (which probably won’t happen but I want to be certain that I’ll be okay). And I don’t want to use any ‘transgender clothing swaps’ or anything because i’m pretty sure that would require me to mail/be mailed things which, again, would require my mother’s knowledge in some way.

I’m also interested in names so you can toss male name suggestions in there but that’s more of a minor issue since I have more dysphoria with my body than with my name.

Thanks!

Category: Tags: asked December 5, 2014

4 Answers

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If you absolutely can't get a binder and don't want to use bandages, I would suggest a sports bra. Some of them really hold you in. I have two that take me from a C cup to manly pecs. Haha. It's also much easier to explain. If you play sports or exercise then it's kind of a given. If not then just tell your parents you're going to start running. Haha
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As has been mentioned, your best bet is probably a sports bra. I recommend the brand "UnderArmor". I've also heard good things about "Title Nine" and "Champion" brands. But there are plenty of other brands out there. If your parents ask, you can say you are thinking of taking up a sport. Or just that regular bras (or whatever you usually wear) feel uncomfortable and you would like to try a sport bra instead. But odds are they won't think anything of it.
It can also help if you layer your clothes-- for example, wearing a vest or a button-up over a t-shirt. Sweatshirts and jackets are also good options for colder weather.
You might be able to turn other items into a binder. Stretchy materials like you find in cycling shorts or tights can be good for this. You can find specific tutorials for this by searching online, but the general method is to cut a hole for your head, and trim any excess material.
If you're good with sewing or diy-type projects, you can also try making your own binder. Again, you can find tutorials for this online. Try searching something like "diy chest binder".
For all of the above ideas- the last one especially- make sure that the binder is made out of a relatively "stretchy" material and not too tight. If you have trouble taking a full breath, or if you feel any pain, take the binder off. And even if you are feeling ok, try not to wear it for more than 6-8 hours a day.
As far as names go, it may sound cheesy... but look through a baby names book or website. Some websites have filters to show how uncommon/common a name is for certain years, so you can see what the most/least popular names were when you were born. If you are comfortable doing this, you can ask your parents what they would have named you if you were a boy, or what other names they were thinking about for you.
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II w0uld g0 wiith an underw0rk2 biinder hun f0r y0ur fir2t whenever y0u get 0ne. A2 f0r name2, take tiime and fiind the name y0ur2elf a2 y0u get 0lder! IIt u2ually turn2 0ut be2t that way. : )
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As far as I know, Underworks binders can only be ordered online. What I did for my first binder was take an old pair of stockings and cut the legs an inch or two below the crotch (they should look like short shorts). Then cut a hole in the crotch. This is where you'd put your head through and then put it on like a shirt. The problem with this is that it rolls up and the "sleeves" cut into my armpits. Also, I had to double up after a few months because it lost elasticity. It might be sooner for you depending on how often you use it. I've also heard that you can use the ACE Bandages that are made for back pain. It should theoretically bind without the health risks since it's made to be worn around your torso. If you have any other questions or just someone to talk to, feel free to message me any time. Good luck :)