Pinktober Revolution
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I have seen several online articles by people/women who oppose all the pink washing. They are still the minority, but I think the message is beginning to sink in.
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just changed my charity on smile amazon to breastcancer.org.
It is kind of hard to find, but they are based in Ardmore, PA and listed as I wrote it above. Doesn't cost me anything, but over the course of a year of my shopping on Amazon, it will total a respectable donation.
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I think more people are getting the message, too. Today, my sister in law posted something on FB against Komen. That tells me she's gained some insight into this search for a cure and how do we get there. Most people jump on the Komen wagon first because it's the biggest and is everywhere. Others just go along with Komen because they figure that since everyone else seems to support them, it's a good organization. There's no critical thinking by the general public n the issues that surround bc. One by one, tho, we can educate and inform so others make a smarter choices.
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Katy and Chicago Reader.
Yeah, lets spread The Amazon smile info. all over, this is a year around donation, every time you order, not just in October.
dsgirl
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Thanks for the tip about Amazon Smile. It actually said Breast Cancer Research Foundation, not BCO. Am I missing something? Or was that what you meant?
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no breast cancer research foundation is 4 stars per charity navigator, but it has deep ties to the cosmetics industry.
Use the search tool for
Breastcancer.org
If in the details it says Ardmore, PA that's it
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I keep getting suggested posts in my FB feed about bc. Not a surprise since FB seems to know everything....but I DO keep ANYTHING about bc off of FB.
Anyway, recently, there have been several suggestions that I 'like' something from Healthline.org about 'The Best Breast Cancer'...tied to Pinktober...when I go there it is actually 'the Best Breast Cancer BLOGS': a whole different thing. but I am afraid to click on it. Does anyone have any info about this? Is it just my own craziness (and current vision issues) that I am reading it as the "best breast cancer'? or is really trying to hook folks in that way?
Octogirl
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Ah, thanks, Katy. They were giving me only five choices for charities, including BCRF. I see I'll have to dig deeper.
Edited: If you want BCO, you have to enter its full name in the search box. At least at this moment, there's no way to scroll through available charities. Anyway, done!
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Octogirl, FB does track you unless you go somewhere in your FB settings to opt out of them doing that to you.
I learned that what you are referring to is called a "clickbait". Here is the definition: Clickbait headlines typically aim to exploit the "curiosity gap", providing just enough information to make the reader curious but not enough to satisfy their curiosity without clicking through to the linked content.
So, yes, I think they are trying to hook, or bait, people intoclicking the link.
I absolutely hate clickbates whether they're on FB or any other website and most often I refuse to take the bait and click on the links.
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thanks for that explaination, Divine,,,, I see those too and they are really annoying.
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Octo, I log out of FB every single time I am done with it. I think it tracks you even if you close the window that you have open, but I believe--and I could be wrong--that if you are logged out it doesn't track you.
I'm not seeing more breast cancer stuff than usual for October in my feed. I've kept the topic of my own BC completely off Facebook, so that leads me to believe they're not tracking me if I'm logged out.
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dsgirl love your post about Amazon. For each thread you will see a hyperlink that takes you to the forum that the topic is in. Each topic has a total for postings and viewings I'll link to the forum that Pinktober is on. The viewings are of folks that look, but don't post. The lurkers. The message goes further than just this page that folks are posting on
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Here is another great article on pink ribbons and awareness:
The Awareness Trap
Posted on October 17, 2015 by Katie Ford Hall ·
Pink ribbon culture is like any other cultural system. It has both intended and unintended consequences. If both are identified, then people can determine how to maximize the benefits and minimize the costs. (Gayle Sulik, Pink Ribbon Blues: How Breast Cancer Culture Undermines Women's Health, 2011, p 19)
Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) did not spring from the head of Zeus. It, and its pink ribbon brand mark, were created and rolled out, like every other marketing campaign.
In and of itself, that information is neither positive or negative. Certainly, there was a time in the not-too-distant past when breast cancer was not spoken of in polite company. A shroud of mystery was in place, even covering the women themselves. But thanks to the hard work of myriad advocacy groups, the disease once too shameful to be named has been dragged into the light.
If the goal of "awareness" in October was to bring breast cancer into the public space, I say Mission Accomplished.
So why are there still giant pink ribbon Mylar balloons and breast cancer booze being sold at my Kroger?
Twitter declared October 13th #NoBraDay to spread Breast Cancer Awareness. Big effing deal, you say, and in a way, you'd be right. Still, I decided to spread my own version of awareness there, by letting people know that their pornish pictures and 140 character pronouncements on being sans appropriate undergarments have nothing to do with breast cancer.
I reverted to my charming of years gone by. After all, 140 characters requires a certain bluntness. Not surprisingly, I got some push back, Twitter style. A few people sort of engaged, saying that the ends justify the means and one particularly delightful young lady told me that I should be grateful because she was doing it for me.
And she called me the c-word.
The question I asked everyone was this: You say this is for breast cancer awareness. Awareness of what exactly?
Look, I know it's a double-edged sword. That this disease inhabits the cultural pinnacle of femininity is one reason it has gotten so much attention over the years. But it seems like we're having a hard time moving past a juvenile level of awareness. Consider, for example, that people being treated for breast cancer often undergo permanently disfiguring surgeries.
Would you post pictures of perfectly toned and tanned legs frolicking in sunny meadows in order to bring awareness to people who've lost limbs to roadside bombs in Iraq?
And then tell them they're jerks if they're not grateful for all you've done?
Let's consider some often-ignored breast cancer facts.
No. No it's not. Source: Project Eve
- This focus on healthy breasts in the name of awareness often ends up being linked to pithy slogans like "save the ta tas." Breasts are considered to be our cultures ultimate symbol of femininity – both sexual and maternal. So, yeah, thanks for reminding us of how far outside the norms we now reside. But my hurt feelings aren't the only problem.
- People are, of course, attracted to the fun and naughtiness of these sorts of campaigns, so trying to interject some reality is often met with vitriol for its buzzkill tendencies. Or ignored altogether. This is what Gayle Sulik, quoting poet Lucille Clifton, calls "The Terrible Stories" in her book referenced above. How can we be aware of breast cancer if we can't even listen to the truth about it? These breast-level campaigns belie the facts of this disease. Namely,
- breast cancer that stays in our breasts won't kill us. That's why so many of us have part or all of them removed; in order to try to stop cancer from spreading beyond them. However,
- it doesn't always work. A certain percentage of breast cancers (20%-30%), no matter at what stage they are originally diagnosed, will someday return as Stage IV, or metastatic breast cancer. We don't know which ones metastasize or why. And,
- there's no cure for Stage IV breast cancer. Twenty-two percent of people diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer live for five years. Virtually all breast cancer deaths are caused by metastatic breast cancer. Sadly,
- it is estimated that over 40,000 women in the United States will die of breast cancer in 2015. 440 men. More than half a million people worldwide.
This couldn't be more disconnected from what we call Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
So again, I ask: Awareness of what exactly?
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goosebumps
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Thanks for the heads up on the Amazon Smile. I didn't even think about that. I order quite a bit online.
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MrsM, thank you for posting that article. Gayle Sulik posted a very valid comment on the original blog post:
"If the "ends justify the means" then we must consider ALL of the ends. When you add them up (conflicts of interest, sexualization, trivialization, infantilization, marginalization, pinkwashing, diversions of funds, misinformation, misuse of scientific information, profiteering, exploitation of good intentions, consistent death rates for 3 decades, increasing incidence rates, fear mongering counterbalanced by a feel-good-culture-of-consumption, collateral damage of treatment – to name a few), the cost/benefit ratio appears to shift pretty far to the COST side."
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1-800-Flowers is selling all these breast cancer bouquets and baskets but there is no mention that they donate any money. They claim to be, and I quote, "committed to winning the battle against breast cancer."
Support Breast Cancer Awareness Month
This is the description of one basket that has fruit and candy:
At 1800Baskets.com, we're committed to winning the battle against breast cancer.
Send this incredible fruit and sweets gift to show thanks or support for someone very special. Indulge them with a succulent Comice and Red Bosc pears, ripe Pink Lady® apples, yogurt-covered almonds and much, much more. They'll be delighted with this thoughtful, healthy gift—and you.
- Succulent Comice and Red Bosc Pears
- Ripe Pink Lady® Apples
- Crisp Fuji Apple
- Adorable Frosted Spring Sugar Cookies
- Yogurt-covered Almonds
- Chocolate Covered Strawberries
- Ghirardelli® Chocolate Raspberry Squares
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that really annoys me about the baskets. It may be time to sharpen my pencil again...
Divine- I shared that wonderful article in its entirety on my FB page. Thank you for sharing it.
ETA: I'm tempted to call them to place an order and ask about what connection they have to fund raining for bc. Then of course give them a tongue lashing and a cancelled order if it's true there is none. But this is yet another reason why puketober has to stop. It opens the doors for charlatans because people are much like sheep.....or is it lemmings?
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They also sell a "Hope and Health" fortune cookie for only $39.99. Ridiculous.
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Julie, I went to check out 800 flowers. I wasn't there, but a few seconds and the survey box popped up. Said "I wouldn't make a purchase without knowing where the donated funds were going." The pop up was convenient timing
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OK I need to retract that. I found a page where they do donate 15% to the American Cancer Society. I almost sent an email. I had to Google to find a page that they donate.
http://t.www.1800flowers.com/breast-cancer-awareness
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just saw this on a British web site.... Absolutely brilliant!!!!
http://news.bfnn.co.uk/last-person-finally-made-aware-of-breast-cancer/
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Sula, hahahahahaha, that truly is brilliant. Absolutely love it. Will definitely be sharing that on FB.
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http://news.bfnn.co.uk/last-person-finally-made-aware-of-breast-cancer/ made it a hot link.
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Divine,
Thanks for that great article!!!!
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Thanks Glennie!
That is so very funny, and clever, and simple.
Made.My.Night!
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you must thank Sula for finding it,,, I just made it a hot link. It is brilliant!!
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loved it......
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I am blown away by the number of pink products out there that are full of artificial colors/ingredients, added sugar, alcohol, etc. That fortune cookie is ridiculous! I can't imagine anyone thinking that thing - or many of these products - make a good gift.
I flew Delta last week and resisted the urge to express my annoyance to the flight attendants offering pink lemonade and pink martinis "for the cure" (as if I really needed high fructose corn syrup and vodka mixing with my tamoxifen on a long flight). I did, however, provide comments when I received my survey from Delta that as someone with BC, I'd appreciate more healthful products being used for their fundraising. I refrained from getting into how I feel about the $ going to BCRF...one battle at a time.
The thing that makes me sad is that so many people buy all of the pink crap out there because they are sincerely well-intentioned and think their money is really helping to "find a cure", without asking the necessary questions about where their money is going. I really appreciate the many excellent comments, letters, and links on this thread, which help me find the right words when I try to express my concerns about Pinktober.
I was out to lunch recently with a good friend who has been by my side throughout my BC experience. I made a comment about how all the pink stuff at the restaurant bothered me and I was so tired of it all. She said, "Me too!", so I asked her what it was that bothered her - I really wanted her perspective as someone who does not have BC, but dislikes Pinktober. She said, "Well. it seems to me that all these companies and organizations are just USING you, and making as much money as they can for themselves". Cynical, but that pretty much sums it up for me.
At least we are in the homestretch with less than 2 weeks to go. I think I'll spend the rest of the month focusing on the things I love about October - crisp air, fall colors, apples, pumpkins...
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Well said, Kiki!
And yes!!! SULA! Thank you. I have stolen so much from you this month I should be on trial!
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