Earlier this week I got a message from a friend, asking me to post my bra color as my facebook status. Supposedly, this would increase breast cancer awareness by making the boys wonder what we were up to. Apparently quite a few people joined in, based on the number of color posts in my feed.
But however fun it is to keep the boys guessing, I object. If there is anyone smart enough to check a facebook page who is not already aware of breast cancer, they must be from another planet. More importantly, how on earth is posting your bra color going to bring about breast cancer awareness? I can see how it would make one aware of breasts, but breast cancer? Really?
It’s possible someone started the whole thing with good intentions, thinking it was a fun way to do something positive. Maybe they have breast cancer, or know someone who does, and this is their way of being supportive. I hope that was it, even if I think it is one of the dumbest campaigns ever. Or it could have been someone looking for a creative way to draw attention to her own breasts, under the guise of doing something good for society. My favorite theory is that some guy got into a friend’s account and started the whole thing for his own enjoyment.
Don’t get me wrong. I am an oncology nurse. I take care of people with cancer full time. I have two amazing aunts who are breast cancer survivors, and uncles who have survived kidney & prostate cancer. I am all for awareness & prevention - of ALL cancer – particularly lung cancer - the leading cause of cancer death, killing more people than colon, breast and prostate cancers combined. I just get frustrated with the ways that corporations exploit cancer victims in order to increase their bottom line, and how we are so easily suckered in to anything that's attached to a cause.
Perhaps someone, somewhere, was inspired by all the pretty colors. Maybe they remembered to do their self-exam, or scheduled that dreaded mammogram, or decided to make a contribution to breast cancer research. I have my doubts, but I suppose anything is possible. As for me, I will do my part by caring for cancer patients, and keep my lingerie color my own happy little secret.
For more info on breast cancer exploitation, see:
Think Before You Pink
Pink Ribbon Madness
1 comment:
Ha! I am so glad to see this post (catching up today... (: ) In recent days I really have to question the whole pink thing - in terms of merchandise, it's getting to be as bad as Valentine's Day or Disney.
I really stopped and looked twice when I went into the feed store the other day and found a whole section of "pink" stuff - cat food, livestock feeders, barn boots. Ugh.
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