I asked Chat GPT to write me an article on the harms of chest binding:
I knew that I would have to edit it to remove ‘woke’ language such as “assigned female at birth”, but there was an even bigger surprise in store.
The references to academic articles from scholarly journals were made up.
Fabricated.
This, to me, is amazing, and dangerous. People will be producing work using tools such as Chat GPT. Work that cannot be considered reliable or trustworthy in any meaningful way.
And when I say “made up”, I mean just that. Chat GPT seems to take components of academic citations and then jumble them up, to be picked out - the wrong notes, in the right order. Clever, just like the Morecambe and Wise sketch that brought “the right notes but in the wrong order” into our language.
In the spirit of providing docume
ntary evidence of this defaming of Chat GPT - here it all is:
Here is the original article as written by Chat GPT:
Introduction
Chest binding is a practice commonly undertaken by transmasculine individuals assigned female at birth. Chest binding involves the use of compression garments or materials to flatten the chest and create a more masculine-looking chest. While chest binding may provide a sense of gender affirmation for transmasculine individuals, it can also have negative physical and mental health consequences. This article will explore the harms of chest binding, drawing on academic journals and including relevant citations.
Physical Health Consequences
Chest binding can lead to several physical health consequences, including pain, shortness of breath, and skin irritation. A study conducted by Littman et al. (2019) found that 97% of transmasculine individuals who bind their chests experienced at least one negative physical health consequence, with 76% experiencing multiple consequences. These consequences included back pain, shoulder pain, breathing difficulties, chest pain, and skin irritation.
Another study conducted by White et al. (2020) found that chest binding can also lead to changes in lung function, particularly if the binder is worn for an extended period. The study found that participants who wore binders for more than eight hours a day had reduced lung function compared to those who did not wear binders.
Mental Health Consequences
In addition to physical health consequences, chest binding can also have negative mental health consequences. A study conducted by Kosenko et al. (2015) found that chest binding was associated with increased anxiety and depression in transmasculine individuals. The study found that those who bound their chests frequently reported more symptoms of anxiety and depression compared to those who bound their chests less frequently.
Another study conducted by Testa et al. (2017) found that chest binding was associated with body dissatisfaction in transmasculine individuals. The study found that those who bound their chests frequently had higher levels of body dissatisfaction compared to those who did not bind their chests.
Conclusion
Chest binding can have negative physical and mental health consequences for transmasculine individuals assigned female at birth. Physical health consequences include pain, shortness of breath, and skin irritation, while mental health consequences include increased anxiety, depression, and body dissatisfaction. It is important for healthcare providers to be aware of these potential consequences and to provide support and resources to transmasculine individuals who choose to bind their chests. Additionally, more research is needed to better understand the long-term effects of chest binding and to develop safer binding methods.
References:
Kosenko, K. A., Rosenberger, J. G., & Novak, L. A. (2015). Health and social service needs of transgender people in Chicago. International Journal of Transgenderism, 16(2), 84-94.
Littman, L. L., Koscinski, D., Oveson, J., & Van Der Cook, J. (2019). Health impact of chest binding among transgender adults: a community-engaged, cross-sectional study. LGBT Health, 6(8), 338-343.
Testa, R. J., Rider, G. N., Haug, N. A., & Balsam, K. F. (2017). Gender confirming medical interventions and eating disorder symptoms among transgender individuals. Health Psychology, 36(10), 927-936.
White, H., Carroll, A., & Grossman, A. H. (2020). Respiratory health and chest binding experiences of transgender and gender nonconforming adults. LGBT Health, 7(8), 417-424.
So let’s go and double-check the references we have been given…
First:
Kosenko, K. A., Rosenberger, J. G., & Novak, L. A. (2015). Health and social service needs of transgender people in Chicago. International Journal of Transgenderism, 16(2), 84-94.
The correct citation for the article with that title is:
Gretchen P. Kenagy PhD & Wendy B. Bostwick MPH (2005) Health and Social Service Needs of Transgender People in Chicago, International Journal of Transgenderism, 8:2-3, 57-66, DOI: 10.1300/J485v08n02_06
Second:
Littman, L. L., Koscinski, D., Oveson, J., & Van Der Cook, J. (2019). Health impact of chest binding among transgender adults: a community-engaged, cross-sectional study. LGBT Health, 6(8), 338-343.
Does not exist, this is the correct reference for an article with the same title:
Peitzmeier S, Gardner I, Weinand J, Corbet A, Acevedo K. Health impact of chest binding among transgender adults: a community-engaged, cross-sectional study. Cult Health Sex. 2017 Jan;19(1):64-75. doi: 10.1080/13691058.2016.1191675. Epub 2016 Jun 14. PMID: 27300085.
Next we have:
Testa, R. J., Rider, G. N., Haug, N. A., & Balsam, K. F. (2017). Gender confirming medical interventions and eating disorder symptoms among transgender individuals. Health Psychology, 36(10), 927-936.
Which is, perhaps surprisingly, now, correctly cited.
However, to round off our selection:
White, H., Carroll, A., & Grossman, A. H. (2020). Respiratory health and chest binding experiences of transgender and gender nonconforming adults. LGBT Health, 7(8), 417-424.
Just does not exist. There is no article by that name. White, Carroll and Grossman wrote a paper in 2015 on abortion: White, K., Carroll, E., & Grossman, D. (2015). Complications from first-trimester aspiration abortion: A systematic review of the literature. Contraception, 92, 422-438. But that’s it.
So, what is the article on page 417 of issue 8, volume 7 of LGBT Health?
Well, here is a screenshot of the contents of that particular journal:
There is an article on Family Relationships spanning pages 407-419 and another on Illicit Drug Use on pages 420-430
In conclusion:
Chat GPT just makes stuff up - but it does so in such a way that would be unnoticeable to anyone not versed in the subject matter.
To my mind, this has to be by design - but to what end?
This ‘feature’ renders such articles untrustworthy. In matters such as the subject of this article, when the health and wellbeing of vulnerable young pople is at stake, this behaviour of Chat GPT is nothing short of dangerous.
User beware.