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dreamer_easyOnline debates about "awareness" and "save the boobies"-style campaigns online have pointed to some thought-provoking stuff about breast cancer and how best to fight it. (This is US stuff, but it's also relevant to Australia.)
Randall Munroe of XKCD: "Saying that we should work to cure this disease because it threatens breasts is really upsetting. For starters, it suggests that women are worth saving because they're attached to breasts, rather than the other way around." A look through the comments shows that while some breast cancer patients and survivors are fine with light-hearted "save second base" style campaigns, others feel marginalised and humiliated, especially those who have had to lose a breast, or both, to save themselves.
Unraveling the Ribbon: Breast Cancer Awareness Month isn't just about pink - "The ubiquitous pink ribbon often overshadows the actual achievements of breast cancer organizations... many breast cancer activists are politically savvy women who have helped change the way medical research is funded, agitated for tighter environmental restrictions, and made significant improvements to the US healthcare delivery system."
Breast Cancer Awareness Month: 5 Ways To Move Beyond 'Pinkwashing' To Really Fight For A Cure - lots of tips. In summary: donate to organisations, and advocate for changes, which directly support women and fight cancer.
ETA: A little Australian content: Breast cancer survival improving, but 37 women still diagnosed each day
ETA ETA: I think we have to be careful about jumping to conclusions about "save the ta-tas" stuff. Who is this man? Is he merely a lech, or is he wearing that tee to support his wife, sister, daughter, mother, friend? If so, what does she think of the tee? Did a breast cancer survivor design it? Is he doing more than just wearing a pink t-shirt? I have no idea, so as uncomfortable as I might be with the slogan, I simply cannot judge him on the basis of a contextless photo.
Randall Munroe of XKCD: "Saying that we should work to cure this disease because it threatens breasts is really upsetting. For starters, it suggests that women are worth saving because they're attached to breasts, rather than the other way around." A look through the comments shows that while some breast cancer patients and survivors are fine with light-hearted "save second base" style campaigns, others feel marginalised and humiliated, especially those who have had to lose a breast, or both, to save themselves.
Unraveling the Ribbon: Breast Cancer Awareness Month isn't just about pink - "The ubiquitous pink ribbon often overshadows the actual achievements of breast cancer organizations... many breast cancer activists are politically savvy women who have helped change the way medical research is funded, agitated for tighter environmental restrictions, and made significant improvements to the US healthcare delivery system."
Breast Cancer Awareness Month: 5 Ways To Move Beyond 'Pinkwashing' To Really Fight For A Cure - lots of tips. In summary: donate to organisations, and advocate for changes, which directly support women and fight cancer.
ETA: A little Australian content: Breast cancer survival improving, but 37 women still diagnosed each day
ETA ETA: I think we have to be careful about jumping to conclusions about "save the ta-tas" stuff. Who is this man? Is he merely a lech, or is he wearing that tee to support his wife, sister, daughter, mother, friend? If so, what does she think of the tee? Did a breast cancer survivor design it? Is he doing more than just wearing a pink t-shirt? I have no idea, so as uncomfortable as I might be with the slogan, I simply cannot judge him on the basis of a contextless photo.
