I have been meaning to post this for months but never got around to it, until now that is.
I'm sure most of us have seen breast cancer merchandise such as ribbons whether it be at the local shopping centre or on commercials, The main outcome of this is for us to buy the items in order to raise money towards research and even a cure. In Australia, there are even some cricket events that fans and players alike wear pink to support cancer charities such as the McGrath foundation.
Wait a minute, where am I going with this???
While awareness and trying to raise money are moving forward in a positive direction, there are a number of critics that believe that the breast cancer campaign is taking a step in the wrong direction. They believe that the pink ribbon campaign has become more about marketing than trying to achieve awareness and support for those women who are living with breast cancer. To an extent, these women have a point as the media seems to focus on smiling faces and those who have managed to beat the disease. A feelgood story is always a good read but unfortunately this not the reality. The women in this documentary above which is called Pink Ribbons Inc see this as "pinkwashing".
I think that the women from Pink Ribbons Inc are not against people donating to cancer charities. In fact, this documentary encourages it. However what they are trying to say is that less than 5 percent of the money raised actually goes towards where it should be going. Instead the money raised has been going towards administrative and affiliate costs. Of course some of the funds need to go towards administration but I am sure that costs do not exceed benefits. In the United States, some of the affiliates with the Susan G. Komen foundation are not healthy either as one of the sponsors is KFC. Most of us know that KFC is unhealthy and full of trans fats so how can an organisation that is trying to promote health and well being accept a sponsor that just does the opposite of that. This goes back to the fact that some charities seem to focus more on marketing than actually trying to prevent the disease.
Example of an event (Courtesy of Susan G.Komen and Africletic)
Another topic that is not directly associated with this video but has been mentioned is celebrity role models. The celebrities that are associated with breast cancer seem to have a feelgood story to tell which is great as it can give inspiration to many to try and fight the disease as best as possible but again not all celebrities or as a matter of fact everyone are as fortunate. In fact, as many as 30 per cent will experience a reoccurance and sadly it is usually Stage IV. Maybe this is because Stage IV is not the happy side of cancer so therefore it is easier to push these people aside as it is getting in the way of the romanticisation if you say. However, I believe it is important that these people get the recognition they deserve. It is a bit better in Australia as celebrities are acknowledged that they are living with Stage IV but sometimes we tend to pity them rather than acknowledge that they are trying to live the best quality of life as they can.
Ok we have definitely have come a long way since the 1990s with breast cancer awareness and all that jazz but unfortunately there has not been a lot of emphasis on the cure. As one of the ladies from this documentary says " We're living, we are human beings, we are not little pink ribbons'. That is very true and hopefully those with Stage IV also get recognition that they are living with the disease and exist. I wonder if charities that support other cancers do this practice as well.
So what did you think of the documentary. Do you agree with what they are saying?
I could write a novel about this but let's leave it at this for now.
Until next time,
Laura xx
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