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Overview
Binder
In 2019, Te Papa collected a small group of objects that reflect key moments in the life of a young, transgender New Zealander as he transitioned, both socially and medically, in the late 2010s. Assigned female at birth, Will Hansen identifies as non-binary and trans masculine, and uses he/him pronouns. The collection includes two half binders.
Binders are used by many trans men, trans masculine and non-binary people to flatten the chest to help alleviate feelings of gender dysphoria. They are designed to enable the wearer to present themselves to the world in the way that they actually see themselves.
While wearing a binder can be psychologically reaffirming, binding also comes with a level of physical pain and a number of health warnings. Will, who wore this binder, recalls both the pros and cons, of wearing a binder:
'When I put my first binder on, I could barely hold back tears, and I just couldn’t stop looking at myself in the mirror. My chest was finally flat! It was incredible. Cliché, but it really did felt like the first time I had begun to really see myself. I still wouldn’t feel truly comfortable for a few more years, but this made a world of difference.
‘Yet, though having a flat chest gave me immense joy, binding also brought with it a lot of physical pain - in my shoulders, neck, back and chest. This pain became so great that it eventually got to the point where I would have to cancel social activities after/before shifts at work and university so that I could go home and give myself a break from binding, which felt very isolating. The pain from binding only reminded me of why I had to wear the binder in the first place, and so was mentally draining too.'
Gc2b Transitional Apparel
Will purchased this binder online from a company called gc2b, which is based in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. He chose this company as it is trans-owned and operated and committed to giving back to the community – gc2b have donated over 6000 binders to people in need.
Gc2b was founded in 2014 by Marli Washington, a trans man, when he realised that the only binding options available on the market were uncomfortable. An industrial design graduate, he 'used his experience in product design and his back ground in textiles to provide accessible, comfortable, and safe binding options designed by trans people, for trans people.’