The BREATHE Study: We Need to Know More About Binding
by Sarah Peitzmeier, PhD, Assistant Professor of Health, Behavior, and Biological Sciences at the University of Michigan Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities
The University of Michigan Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities in Ann Arbor, MI, is pleased to partner with The PRIDE Study to learn more about binding practices among transmasculine-spectrum members of our community. [Dr. Juno Obedin-Maliver, Co-Director of the Pride Study, is a co-investigator with BREATHE.]
For those who are eligible, participating in the BREATHE Study involves talking with researchers, completing surveys, and tracking daily practices. In exchange for your time and stories, you’ll be compensated up to $170 over 6 months.
The first step? Go to bit.ly/breathecohort to find out if you’re eligible.
Binding can be an important part of gender expression, mental health, and even safety. But the lack of research means that we don’t know enough about opportunities for binding that minimize negative impacts to physical health.
The new BREATHE (Binding Research to Advance Transmasculine Health) Cohort wants to change that and asks transmasculine-spectrum individuals to join a small group of community members to discuss their binding history and complete surveys about their binding practices.
BREATHE is designed for people who identify as trans/nonbinary and who practice binding (or have used a binder in the past five years). We also hope to provide a space for participants to build community with other trans folks who bind.
The various phases of this study provide a space for trans folks who bind (or used to bind) to share what is important to them about binding and to reflect on their past binding experiences. They will also provide information that will help us understand how to make binding safer, more informed, and more empowered.
If you’re excited to share what wellness means to you as someone who binds and to track your daily binding practices and health impacts over several months along with a group of other trans/nonbinary people who bind, visit bit.ly/breathecohort before October 31, 2019 to learn more.
Thank you for all you do to support healthy lives for trans/nonbinary folks in our communities.
