I've been highly suspicious of that cute little pink ribbon on everything from Swiffer Sweepers to my can of motor oil and have wondered exactly what the standards they had to meet before being able to stick that sucker on there.

Thanks also for bringing up the sexing up of breast cancer. Gotta love that. I was asked to join a FB group called Save the TaTas! Oookay. Cause that's just what I want to hear when I'm faced with a life or death illness. Juvenilize my body parts. Go right ahead.

Always a... Willful Woman @ www.besidethestonewall.com Visitors always welcome! Bring your stories to share!

Fantastic article.  What I find so disheartening about the wave of "ribbon" marketing is that we eat it up, believing that we are activists standing up for a cause when we sling down a dollar at the department store counter.  How quickly we feel we should be rewarded for our activism, that without delay we get the right to pin ourselves with pride and walk around smirking that we did something good.  

We need to get to get back to the roots of activism.  It take more labor and sweat than we are led to believe.  

http://www.thecluelesscrafter.com/

I was reading through your article and thinking how brilliant and righteous and funny you are (along with your "at risk fun sacks") and was floored by your recommendation of my book.

Thanks so much. Your approval means so much to me.

And this post - brilliant. You cover it all.

Laurie

www.notjustaboutcancer.blogspot.com

I'm with you on most of that. In fact, I wrote a little about it on my own site a few weeks ago. However, I do like the kitschy phrases associated with the cause. "Feel Your Boobies" and  "Save the Tatas" are more memborable than "do your monthly self breast exam" don't you think? If a tacky saying will remind even one more woman to check for early signs of breast cancer, I think it's worth it.

WAHM, Montessori Mom, Scout Mom, Dance Mom, Allergy Mom and avid coupon clipper, desperately seeking my own identity; Founder of Inexpensively.

I think it is amazing what people will do for money. I am an African American young woman and I think of the possibilities of getting breast cancer often. Before I went to college I use to walk in the Susan Kome walk for Brest cancer with my mother every year. Since I have been in college I have participated in our schools annual overnight walk, Relay for Life for people with all types of cancer. It is astonishing to learn that our money is not going to the place promised. I think that the government should take part in making sure the money goes where it is suppose to go. I genuinely feel like we would have found a cure for cancer if all the money that people donate truly went to the right spot. You should really write more on this topic because there are people such as me that are ignorant to the fact that these things are going on.

My mother passed away from breast cancer in 1982, when she was 36.  By the age of 28 I had my first biopsy (found benign) and I actively avoid the bogus pink ribbon campaign.

My faith collapsed about six years ago when Avon took $1100.00 I had worked hard to fundraise and then wouldn't let me be a part of their breast cancer walk for which I had raised the funds.  At the time, their minimum requirement was $1400.00 and I guess lettting me do the 26 mile, one day walk with my best friend would have been much more inconvenient than taking the money. 

That is when I realized it was all about the money, and not the disease, or the women and families that have had to struggle with it.

And as a founder of a not-for-profit, I am always happy to hear the question, "What percentage of my donation will go to the cause?"  Philanthropy is a beautiful thing, but not without a direct necessity for research.  Know what you are giving and to whom.

Why cancel out your gift and generosity with ignorance?

This is an excellent post.  Thank you for doing such extensive research. 

daniella

Daniella - http://www.daniellaland.blogspot.com - Free corndog if you fall off of anything.

Thank you for writing this. My mother was diagnosed and successfully treated for breast cancer when I was 16. I am now 23 and I'm so grateful to have her in my life each and every day. Initially, we did the walks and everything but I always felt like she didn't really want to do it. She also hates that survivors get bright pink shirts for the Komen walks. I think she would have been happier with a regular t-shirt and a pin or something that said survivor. Eventually, we both stepped away from the breast cancer month hype. That's what it is. Hype. 

Instead, she has agreed to appear on tv shows and talk about her experience with BRCA, breast cancers and family history. She is a true activist because she gets out there and talks to people. We no longer buy the pink ribbon stuff. I will take a pink ribbon pin from my gym (they are free) just to symbolize that it has and does affect my family each and everyday. Just about every woman in my mothers family has had breast cancer. One lost the fight. I want to remember that but not support the hype. So I talk to my friends and encourage them to check themselves. I give money directly to research organizations. I will never buy another pink item during breast cancer month. There is so much more that you can do than buy things to support a cause.

Thank you for writing this article. 

It isn't PC, but in chemo rooms around the country, non-breast cancer patients are getting angrier and angrier that only breast cancer gets the attention.  More people die of colon cancer or multiple myeloma than do breast cancer.  I often wonder what it says about our society that it takes the sexualization of cancer to get money.

MLO / Melissa

Books, Movies, Games, Ovarian Cancer, and Life in General at http://www.mloknitting.com/

Great post, Suzanne! And equally compelling discussion stream.

(Daniella, I had a similar revelation with Avon. It was disappointing to say the least. Senseless to say the most.) 

This discussion was even more relevant to me this year, as I recently got involved with Gateway for Cancer Research. I was drawn to for the chance to make a real difference, but I must say, the marketer in me felt a little discouraged when Awareness month came along. It was like I missed the boat by not getting my cause looped in on this widely recognized, highly social event. And inserting Gateway into these enthusiastic streams/discussion made me feel like a killjoy. Or worse yet, smarmy. So I refrained.

But, after reading your article, I'm feeling energized again. Gateway may not be celebrated by the masses, but 99 cents of every dollar goes directly to clinical research-- patient-centric clinical trials that make real difference. Not just women, not just boobies, but individuals with all types of cancer.

So I applaud you for encouraging people to be thoughtful in their participation, and reminding people that there are ways to "make a difference" and "find a cure," but it's not always as easy as donning some pink. Cancer treatment isn't quick and dirty and neither should our interest in finding a cure.

Keep the timely discussions coming, Suzanne!

Thank you for writing this... I had been wondering why no one had said out loud (or blogged) what I've ben wanting to say for so long.  Cancer is horrible.  Breast cancer is horrible.  There are lots of diseases out there that are horrible.  I've been wondering for some time why the puplic can be fooled into thinking breast cancer is getting all sorts of love and money when it's mostly commerce.  I love pink and am inclined to buy the pink Starbucks travel mug, motor oil, and spatulas when available knowing that I'm doing no real good for the cause.  If I want to contribute to the boobie prize, I connect with someone with cancer through Chemoangels.com. 

Thanks again.  You rock the knockers!

Excellent post, Suzanne!  I hadn't been aware of this until a couple years ago when reading a blog post you wrote.  After reading your post I decided that if I needed an item and if the money  for it went to research if I bought it in pink, then I would go head and buy it.  Even if only 2 cents was going towards research, I was planning on the buying the product anyway so why not give that measley two cents.  Now though I'm angry by the fact that some many corporations are using breast cancer to their advantage.  It actually bothers me when I see the pink displays in the stores.  I haven't bought anything for breast cancer awarenss month in a long time.  I would muchy rather donate money directly towards research.  Like someone else wrote though, I would wear a pink ribbon if they were handing them out at our gym or if in fact of course the money was legitimately going to research because someone like you was selling them.    Thanks for the link!

Alex Elliot, Formula Fed and Flexible Parenting