Following press coverage of Sarah Horton’s honest, opinionated diaries during her treatment for breast cancer in 2008, Sarah then began writing a book about her experiences. Being Sarah is a true story that brings into sharp focus society’s perception of breast cancer, the politics of the disease, and the need for prevention. Opinionated, outspoken, and life-affirming, her book is also a . . . → Read More: 17. Excerpt from “Being Sarah”
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…the root causes of breast cancer remain unchanged? …the information disseminated is inaccurate, incomplete, or decontextualized? …the messages trivialize, misrepresent, or marginalize the disease or the diagnosed? …the campaign uses sexualized language and imagery to sell itself? ..the campaign intentionally or inadvertently supports products or services that contribute to the total cancer burden (i.e., pinkwashing)? . . . → Read More: What Good Is Awareness If… “Cancer charities which work with less glamorous cancers, bowel, lung, pancreatic for example, let alone charities working with distinctly unfashionable diseases…mental health charities and Alzheimers… envy the ease with which consumers spend on pink products, though some cancer charities may welcome the ‘trickle down’ effect.” –comment to The New York Times article . . . → Read More: Unfashionable Diseases and Less Glamorous Cancers On the first day of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (2010) GoComics published the comic strip Non Sequiter by Wiley Miller. It explains the “Birth of the Perpetual Fundraising Industry.” When approached by a dragonslayer, the dragon offers a rational explanation as to why sparing its life would be a win-win proposition. The dragon says: . . . → Read More: Birth of the Perpetual Fundraising Industry An Excerpt from Pink Ribbon Blues– In the early 1990s, it seemed as though society was ready to confront breast cancer. Breast cancer activism was starting to gain momentum in extending public outreach, increasing research funding, and gaining a seat at the public policy table. In August 1993, the New York Times Magazine published . . . → Read More: Remembrance Talking about gender, says Sociologist Judith Lorber, is for most people the equivalent of fish talking about water. It is so common, routine, pervasive, and normal– that “questioning its taken-for-granted assumptions…is like wondering whether the sun will come up.” It seems natural and predictable. The same is true for pink. Pink ribbons are so commonplace that we’ve just . . . → Read More: Swimming In A Sea of Pink During National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM), and throughout the year, pink ribbons and products abound in supermarkets, shopping malls, magazines, newspapers, television shows, billboards, and work places with inspirational stories from pink ribbon culture to accompany them. The media-friendly interplay of pink femininity and cancer culture provides a light, entertaining, and at times . . . → Read More: Pink Kitsch, Brought To You By NBCAM |
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Copyright © Gayle Sulik 2013 Pink Ribbon Blues - All Rights Reserved - Images on this site are used for the express purposes of commentary and criticism under the fair use doctrine. |
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