So You Want to Learn About Gender Affirmative Gear?
So You Want to Learn About Gender Affirmative Gear?
By Victory Rodriguez
Gender Affirmative Gear (GAG) are products and clothing meant to affirm or validate the user's gender identity and gender expression.
It falls under the umbrella category of "Gender Affirmation", which are actions taken to ensure the survival and livelihood of one's gender identity, specifically the identities of trans and gender non-conforming people.
Gender Affirmative Gear (GAG) is a means of harm reduction. It is a way to validate, affirm, and uplift the voices and needs of trans and GNC individuals. When it comes down to it, gender affirmative gear can be virtually anything that provides affirmation in one's gender identity and gender expression, regardless if you identify as trans or GNC. Even cis-straight folks implement gender affirmative gear, with things like make-up and certain clothing often affirming gender expression.
Examples of Gender Affirmative Gear
- Clothing such as binders, gaff/tucking underwear, packing underwear, and breast forms.
- Toys and products such as
- Packers
- Genital pumps
- Life-like dildos
- STPs (Stand to Pee Devices)
- Injectable Kits (for hormone therapy)
- Basically anything that makes you feel affirmed in your gender!
Packers and Dildos
Phallus shaped objects often used by transmasculine or masc GNC people to reduce gender dysphoria and for penetrative sex. STP (Stand to Pee) devices act similarly to packers only they provide an option to pee while in use. Usually come in realistic flesh tones and can be firm or soft.
Check out the Shilo Pack n' Play Dildo
Gaff and Packing Underwear
Gaff (or tucking) underwear is used to reduce the visibility of one's penis. Popularized by drag queens and femmes in the trans community.
Packing underwear is used to hold packers or STPs in place throughout wear.
Stay tuned as we update our shop with gaff undies and packing options!
Breastforms, Binders, and Plates
Breastforms and breast plates are breast shaped objects meant to be attached to the wearer's chest to give the appearance of breasts. Aside from the transfemme community, they are very popular with drag queens and with masectomy and breast cancer survivors.
Binders work to reduce the appearance of breasts by compressing the user's chest.
Check out our chest binders here
Dysphoria-free sex toys
Dysphoria-free sex toys are meant to provide a unique pleasure experience for individuals suffering from gender dysphoria. during sex or masturbation. Everyone deserves to feel pleasure while feeling validated in their body, and sex toys can provide this for trans or GNC folks. All the toys pictured below can be found on our site!
Check out our transmasc pump here
Why Gender Affirmative Gear is Necessary
Gender Affirmative gear is linked to better mental health for trans and gender non-conforming people.
It provides the support and validation needed for trans and GNC people to live authentically and safely in their bodies.
Gender Affirmative Gear also provides individuals a way to experiment with their gender expression in a safe manner.
It is important to address the responsibility we as sex toy companies have. It is the sole responsibility of companies within the sex and sex toy industry to provide options of affirmative gear for folks dealing with gender dysphoria. Pleasure is experienced on a spectrum, and certain obstacles are presented when we are met with a cis-heteronormative perspective of pleasure.
Make sure to check out our latest additions to our Gender Affirmation Gear line where we carry most of the products you see here today. Thanks to our wonderful partnerships with our sister companies, we are adding new items to our store everyday, so don't fret if you see something you want out of stock!
Make sure to visit our website and check out our new Gender Affirmation Gear line. Most of the products mentioned in this blog can be found there!
About the Author:
Victory (they/them) is a Latin non-binary femme who is a social media fanatic, artist, and community healer. With several years of experience as a mentor and advocate for the queer community, Victory boasts a passion for sexual wellness, trauma informed healing, social justice, and intersectional advocacy for the LGBTQIA+ community. In their spare time, Victory enjoys spending time outside in nature, playing video games, creating art, and playing with hula hoops and fire. You can find and support their work @flowingfrequency on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.