"Pornifying" breast cancer
About two weeks ago, I was with Patrick as we were driving through downtown Halifax. We went past a rather posh store that often has really interesting window displays. I curiously looked, only to be disgusted with what I saw:
Several undressed mannequins with brightly-coloured cutouts of hands taped to each breast, and the following words, written in large print -- "Have YOU felt your boobs lately?"
Far less noticeable in the display were a few pink ribbons, signifying breast cancer awareness.
Given that someone I love is currently battling breast cancer, I was so angered at the insensitivity of this display. While I think encouraging women to do breast self-exams is important, I was so disgusted with how they did it; it made something as devastating as breast cancer somehow sexy?!
Also, if you're a Facebook user, perhaps you remember about four or five months ago when women curiously had a single word, a colour, as their Facebook status. The colour, it turns out, was each individual woman's bra colour, and the purpose was "breast cancer awareness." The message sent out to women in their inbox said something about confusing the men on Facebook. Now if the point was to be surreptitious and 'confuse' the male Facebook users, doesn't that seem to go against the idea of breast cancer AWARENESS? And how exactly did that experiment teach anything to women about this disease? Did more women book mammograms after that? Did fewer women feel afraid if they had been diagnosed with breast cancer?
If that wasn't bizarre enough, recently women were encouraging each other to post as their Facebook status where they keep their purse, but phrase it as "So-and-so likes it {in wherever she keeps her purse}). This, of course was supposed to increase breast cancer awareness.
"Sally Jane likes it by the front door."
Really? Now we are "more aware" about breast cancer?
I think this strange need to make breast cancer 'sexy' is in part an attempt to lessen the fear or shame associated with it. This is important, as I think some women avoid mammograms for those very reasons.
The bigger reason, though, I think, is because women are so constantly being reduced to mere body parts, that the very phrase "breast cancer" makes people think it's okay to somehow talk about it as though it were sexual. Over-sexualizing cancer isn't helping people become more 'aware', it isn't saving lives, it's merely degrading the women who are suffering from it and making women who don't have it less sympathetic to those who do.
Thoughts?
Several undressed mannequins with brightly-coloured cutouts of hands taped to each breast, and the following words, written in large print -- "Have YOU felt your boobs lately?"
Far less noticeable in the display were a few pink ribbons, signifying breast cancer awareness.
Given that someone I love is currently battling breast cancer, I was so angered at the insensitivity of this display. While I think encouraging women to do breast self-exams is important, I was so disgusted with how they did it; it made something as devastating as breast cancer somehow sexy?!
Also, if you're a Facebook user, perhaps you remember about four or five months ago when women curiously had a single word, a colour, as their Facebook status. The colour, it turns out, was each individual woman's bra colour, and the purpose was "breast cancer awareness." The message sent out to women in their inbox said something about confusing the men on Facebook. Now if the point was to be surreptitious and 'confuse' the male Facebook users, doesn't that seem to go against the idea of breast cancer AWARENESS? And how exactly did that experiment teach anything to women about this disease? Did more women book mammograms after that? Did fewer women feel afraid if they had been diagnosed with breast cancer?
If that wasn't bizarre enough, recently women were encouraging each other to post as their Facebook status where they keep their purse, but phrase it as "So-and-so likes it {in wherever she keeps her purse}). This, of course was supposed to increase breast cancer awareness.
"Sally Jane likes it by the front door."
Really? Now we are "more aware" about breast cancer?
I think this strange need to make breast cancer 'sexy' is in part an attempt to lessen the fear or shame associated with it. This is important, as I think some women avoid mammograms for those very reasons.
The bigger reason, though, I think, is because women are so constantly being reduced to mere body parts, that the very phrase "breast cancer" makes people think it's okay to somehow talk about it as though it were sexual. Over-sexualizing cancer isn't helping people become more 'aware', it isn't saving lives, it's merely degrading the women who are suffering from it and making women who don't have it less sympathetic to those who do.
Thoughts?
And the ads on the back of buses for rectal cancer, with a photo of a bare butt.
ReplyDeleteWhat used to be private is now wide open for public view, nothing is "sacred" anymore, and there is no area of life that cannot be exposed, blogged about, Facebooked for any idiot to see or read.
We risk losing respect for all people and life with this public openness about issues. And it's just plain yucky to boot.
I have to say that I only half agree with you on this one, Jenna. I agree with the fact that too often women are reduced to mere body parts and all things women made to seem sexual. The facebook thing I just find bizarre and not helpful at all.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, there is something to be said about bringing a little humour into something that people fear (cancer). My dad had cancer and he was always the first one to laugh about it, even when he was afraid. I think we have to be careful never to lose our sense of humour, it can help us reach out to those who otherwise may not understand the experience we are living. In Halifax, there is a huge fundraiser for breast cancer called 'Titz for Glitz' which makes A TON of money by inviting people to get all dressed up and come eat a fancy dinner. I totally get what you're saying..but I think there are two ways of looking at this, and some women who have been victorious over their battle with breast cancer may be on the other side of this coin.
Great post idea!
I always have trouble with the Titz for Glitz and Run for the Cure, because the Cancer Society will not tell women the risk they put themselves in by using the birth control pill. And they will not tell women that abortion also raises their chance of breast cancer. For those reasons, I can never support either of those causes, because they are hiding the facts that women really need to know.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Jenna. I hate the use of other words for breast so the Mills Brothers ad would have disturbed me even on that level. I also agree with my mom about the cancer society. We are not told the greatest risk factors and are made to feel like sitting ducks - afraid of our breasts. Also, the last I heard, the research said that regular exams actually led to unnecessary tests and worry whereas most breast cancer lumps are found almost accidentally or by one's partner. The FB stuff drove me nuts and I posted an LSN article that linked to the Pill and abortion factors. Also, thanks for clearing up the handbag thing; I really had no idea what it was about. Despite my ignorance, it still bothered me as women are constantly cajoled into the need to feel sexy. How about beauty and hiddenness as affirming- not sexiness?
ReplyDeleteOne more thing: all of us blogging mamas should simultaneously post the Michael Coren show from (I think) June 13th when he interviewed Dr. Lanfranchi (sp?) etal and post links to the pill and abortion links. Women need to know this - maybe we could do something about this within our own circles.
ReplyDeleteHere, here.
ReplyDeleteWith great money comes great perversity.