“Pink Ribbon Blues” at SCSU!

Last week I presented “Pink Ribbon Blues” to medical sociology students at Southern Connecticut State University. Not only had they read the book in its entirety, they were full of insightful comments and questions following my 60-minute slide presentation. Our discussion revolved around key themes:

  • How did the pink ribbon become so profitable?
  • Why isn’t the bulk of the money going toward research and helping those in treatment?
  • Why don’t people know about this?
  • How can we change things?

After contemplating these questions, I directed them to the Pink Ribbon Blues “Tools for Action” page for more resources and ideas. The energy of this group of students was inspiring.

Onwards and upwards!

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6 comments to “Pink Ribbon Blues” at SCSU!

  • Congrats on your talk! College students are generally a good audience, as they are often open to new ideas.

  • I will have to keep up with your schedule! I would have donned a hoodie and snuck in for the discussion….. The pebble has been tossed and the ripples are being felt and now, hopefully some meaningful action will follow.

  • Mary

    God bless. Thanks to you the word is getting out and change can’t be too far behind. As part of a research project, I’ve joined a BC group being studied for it effectiveness in giving women the tools to better address BC and its aftermath. I had to fill out 2 questionnaires, on my feelings, and another will follow after completion. I will be in it for 3 months and am allowed to spill out my feelings with no recrimination. We shall see if it is the same old same old. I’ve, already blatantly talked about, you, your “Pink Ribbon Blues” and the “pink washing” of BC and how that negatively affects my already negative feelings about the breast cancer experience.

  • It’s wonderful to see people thinking about the complexities of the pink ribbon industry and culture. That is the first step toward changing the conversation and the paradigm. Thank you all for sending those ripples in your own communities!

  • I really treasure your work, Great post.

  • How fabulous you had this opportunity to educate these young minds. It’s up to them in another few years to change the world. Pink need not control our breast cancer future. X

"women urged to get screened because it might save their lives. But that’s only 1 possible outcome, and it’s the least likely one" @cragcrest cutt.ly/jei8WJr

“Pink Ribbon Blues”

Paperback includes a new Introduction on fundraising controversies and a color insert with images of, and reactions to, the pinking of breast cancer (2012).


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* GAYLE IN THE MEDIA *

"Seeing clearly through the pink haze" Toronto Sun

*Sad face*: Being happy does not help you live longer" New Scientist

How should we address breast cancer when norms continually change? The Guardian

Your Fun 'No Bra Day' Photos Are Overshadowing Terminal Breast Cancer Patients Broadly

Backlash against “pinkwashing” of breast cancer awareness campaigns BMJ

Breast Cancer to Rise 50 Percent by 2030? Hey, Not So Fast! Health News Review

Breast Cancer: The Flaws in the Cause iafrica.com

How to Make the Biggest Impact With Your Breast Cancer Donations Money

The Very Pink, Very Controversial Business of Breast Cancer Awareness Racked

NFL, Pink Ribbons Not Enough to Win over Women CNN

3 Questions We Need to Answer for Breast Cancer Awareness Month Chronicle of Philanthropy

The problem with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Women's Health Magazine

Pink Ribbon Envy: Living with an Uncool Cancer The Nib

A Year After Bombings, Some Say 'Boston Strong' Has Gone Overboard NPR, All Things Considered

Canadian Mammogram Study KCRW, NPR Affiliate

Time to Debunk the Mammography Myth CNN

Breast Cancer: Awareness, Activism & Pinkwashing NPR Charlotte

Buying Pink Al Jazeera's The Stream Watch »

The Pink Backlash Orlando Sentinel

Why Jolie's Test Costs So Much CNN

Preventative Mastectomies: Disease and Deception BlogTalkRadio

Angelina Jolie and the 'Breast Cancer Gene' KCRW

Our Feel-Good War on Breast Cancer The New York Times Magazine.

The Story Behind the Pink Ribbon Campaign Sisters Talk Radio

WISH Interview Women's International Summit for Health

Making Cancer About The Patient, Not The Body Part CBS Pittsburgh

Sexy breast cancer campaigns anger many patients USA Today

The perils of pink The Daily

Komen pink campaign creates breast-cancer blues for some Dallas Morning News

A yellow flag for the NFL's pink New York Daily

Gayle Sulik named #7 in SharecareNow’s Top 10 Online Influencers in Breast Cancer

Breast cancer cancer causes so easily derailed Philly Inquirer

Komen Charity Under Microscope for Funding, Science Reuters

The Fight Against Cancer - And Abortion? Salon.com

Susan G. Komen For the Cure defunds Planned Parenthood. In Deep with Angie Coiro

Amid Breast Cancer Month, Is there Pink Fatigue? NPR's All Things Considered

How is Breast Cancer Culture Undermining Women's Health? America’s Radio News Network

Pink Ribbon Culture and Breast Cancer The Kojo Nnamdi Show

The Big Business of Breast Cancer
Marie Claire

Does Breast Cancer Awareness Month Crowd Out Other Diseases? Slate

Pink Inc. Has Many Starting to See Red The Sacramento Bee

Get Your Pink Off Ottawa Citizen

Komen Pink Ribbons Raise Green and Questions USA Today

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