Science museum axes ‘inappropriate’ display promoting breast-binders to kids

The Science Museum in London has removed a display promoting breast-binders and cross-sex hormones, following complaints it was promoting “not science, but propaganda”.

The museum created the ‘Boy or Girl?’ exhibit in 2000 and its latest display claimed that gender identity is “difficult to define” and “may not match your biological sex”.

The display quoted a gender-confused person called “Alex” who described living as if they were the opposite sex as a “hero’s journey”.

‘Age-appropriate’

Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne criticised the display for promoting “social and medical transition in a way that is not neutral”.

In a letter to the museum’s chairman Sir Ian Blatchford, she said that educational material must be “age-appropriate and evidence-based”.

A spokesperson for the museum stated that the entire display is under renovation “as part of ongoing work to update exhibits across the museum to ensure they reflect current scientific research”.

In 2016, the museum removed a sign stating “your X and Y chromosomes define your biological sex” following complaints.

Sims

The popular simulation game Sims 4, which has a 12+ age rating, has also come under fire following an update that allows players to add ‘top surgery’ scars and breast binders to characters.

They’re teaching young healthy girls that it’s ok to chop off their breasts.

The video game’s publisher Electronic Arts (EA) announced the updates, stating that “players can find a Body Scars category with an option for Teen and older male Sims (masculine or feminine frame) to add a Top Surgery Scar to their Sims”. It added that in “the Tops category, you will find a Binder top asset for your Teen and older Sims”.

The ‘Libs of TikTok’ platform blasted the changes, tweeting: “The Sims is advertised for ages 12+. They’re teaching young healthy girls that it’s ok to chop off their breasts.”

The changes followed a 2022 update that allowed characters to have they/them pronouns.