Friday, September 29, 2006
Think Before You Pink
I want to say first that I do not personally object to the use of pink to represent breast cancer awareness. I don't mind pink ribbons. I've got a pink ribbon Beanie Baby sitting on top of my computer monitor, and am eating special edition pink M&Ms which Brian bought yesterday. It makes me feel good when I realize the ribbon on the car in front of me isn't one of those red white and blue "Support our troops" ribbons (no offense, troops...y'all need to come home), but a pink one in support of ME.
However, not all breast cancer survivors are thrilled with the pink, or with the pink ribbons, and it might be a good idea to ponder why.
Think Before You Pink is one organization which raises some serious questions about the history of the pink ribbon campaign, where the funds go, what actually gets supported, and whether or not it's all just a marketing gimmick designed to make people shell out big money while feeling warm fuzzies.
I've been reading messages on the Young Survivor's Coalition bulletin boards posted by women who've had their love for pink (if, indeed, they ever had it to begin with) utterly destroyed by its association with breast cancer. One woman even wrote to comment that seeing little girls dressed in pink is now very weird and creepy. Another wrote to say that her husband had black shirts made with "cancer sucks" printed on them in teal for her family.
Try to be sensitive, and don't assume that the pink bracelet or pink ribbon ribbon pins will be welcomed by those dealing with breast cancer. The pink campaign isn't really meant for us, you see. Survivors, especially those actively battling the disease, are already perfectly aware of breast cancer.
Aren't we all already aware that cancer is bad? Can we hope for action, instead of just awareness? Can we hope for prevention or a cure, instead of old hormonal medications (I'm talking about YOU, Tamoxifen) that cause other cancers, or highly toxic treatments that destroy healthy cells in addition to cancer cells? More on that later. Right now I've got pink chocolate candies to eat.
However, not all breast cancer survivors are thrilled with the pink, or with the pink ribbons, and it might be a good idea to ponder why.
Think Before You Pink is one organization which raises some serious questions about the history of the pink ribbon campaign, where the funds go, what actually gets supported, and whether or not it's all just a marketing gimmick designed to make people shell out big money while feeling warm fuzzies.
I've been reading messages on the Young Survivor's Coalition bulletin boards posted by women who've had their love for pink (if, indeed, they ever had it to begin with) utterly destroyed by its association with breast cancer. One woman even wrote to comment that seeing little girls dressed in pink is now very weird and creepy. Another wrote to say that her husband had black shirts made with "cancer sucks" printed on them in teal for her family.
Try to be sensitive, and don't assume that the pink bracelet or pink ribbon ribbon pins will be welcomed by those dealing with breast cancer. The pink campaign isn't really meant for us, you see. Survivors, especially those actively battling the disease, are already perfectly aware of breast cancer.
Aren't we all already aware that cancer is bad? Can we hope for action, instead of just awareness? Can we hope for prevention or a cure, instead of old hormonal medications (I'm talking about YOU, Tamoxifen) that cause other cancers, or highly toxic treatments that destroy healthy cells in addition to cancer cells? More on that later. Right now I've got pink chocolate candies to eat.
Labels: awareness, cure, pink ribbon, prevention, tamoxifen, Think Before You Pink, YSC
