Permission to rant about pink kitsch on BCO

1Athena1

Mods, I know you didn't create the ads that accompany our discussion board, but I wonder if it would be helpful to get feedback from those of us who post here and have to see them. Exhibit A:

Look at those prominent in-your-face breasts - and all that hair! And those smiles....I mean, you'd think breast cancer was the best thing that had ever happened to a person. And those fists - oh, yeah, man! A one two on the tumor's balls should knock the cancer out!! Yee-hah! We're all cured.

It insults the intelligence, the sensibilities and the facts. Ergo, it insults women.

This isn't a battle we can fight - this is an illness we must endure and treat. And why don't we know what percentage of the proceeds go to BCO (which is the only thing that prevents me from wanting to stomp on this ad)?

But the charade doesn't end there. Dare to click, sisters, and this comes up:

It is so outlandish it is almost funny. I have not seen that big a collection of stereotyping and kitsch since I studied Freud at high school. I mean, really - this isn't the Olympics.

Thank you for listening to my rant!

lisa-e

What really, really irritates me about ads like that is the premium placed on appearance.  Not everyone diagnosed with breast cancer is that young, that good looking, that buff.  Aarg....

Strike_Two

I have come to the conclusion that the "pink" ads are aimed at all the women who have never had breast cancer.  Hopefully, they remind women to get their mammograms.

Personally, I'm just not into this depiction of the whole women's battle thing as if breast cancer was the only cancer in the world and we women are just so special because - by golly! - we've got breast cancer   Rah rah, the sisterhood, rah rah rah.  Yuck.   I've lost relatives to other types of cancers, and their experiences weren't exactly a walk in the park, either.   

(I think I'm kinda' in a funk tonight.    )

Leah_S

OK, is that a new surgical technique? One - two - three - PULL that tumor out!

Leah

pupmom

Lol, Leah! If only it were as easy as pulling out baby teeth! 

marywh

Im really kinda at loss for words...

Lee7

If you do click through to read the website, the three women pictured are breast cancer survivors. Their stories are in the black panel on the right entitled "Survivor Search Winners". They look quite young but are in their 30-40's.   The company is Under Armour and they say they are donating a minimum of $500,000 through this program.    It's interesting to read.     Kind of shows anybody can get bc.

lisa-e

Lee7, I know the women in the picture are breast cancer 'suvivors.'  And yes anyone can get bc.  But I really object to is the fact that Under Armour searches for women to feature in this promotion based on their appearance.   They would not choose someone to profile who deviates from what they want - young, attractive and without visible signs of breast cancer.  They would not choose women who chose not to have reconstuction and who go flat; they would not choose women with lymphedema, they would not choose older women, they would not choose heavier women.  I have Under Armor compression shirts to control my lymphedema, but I won't purchase anything from them again, not until their advertising material shows average women or stops using breast cancer as a promotional tool.

exbrnxgrl

Just got the TLC catalogue today. Although all the shots are from the shoulders up, all the women are very attractive. Don't know if they actually have bc. Both Under Armor and TLC are selling a product and the reality is that attractive people increase sales.

Heidihill

I don't think it's a fight either. I firmly believe it is about epigenetics. Exercise affects hundreds of genetic on/off switches, some of which are involved in the same pathways as our cancers. It is systemic therapy as far as I am concerned. (I don't need a clinical trial as evidence, because everyone can benefit from some exercise.) It is of course a lot more difficult for someone at Stage IV to embark on it, but not impossible. I was not one of those buff women at all. Then I started going to the gym religiously. This year I celebrated 5 years since my bone mets diagnosis by running 5K for the first time in my life. Just like one of the earlier-stage survivors featured in the ad. This ad does not insult my intelligence. But also don't like that it uses cancer as a promotional tool.