My Epiphany-to my fellow pink hating sisters

Robyn66 · December 2008

I have decided to single handedly change the BC symbol and I am sharing with you all what my idea is first.

I am totally serious, I am going to launch a web site and try and honestly get this going and I am looking forward to what you guys think.

First of all, as you know I hate pink ribbons. I think they are wimpy looking and demean what we are going through. Please understand I mean no disrespect to those of you who like them. I think everyone should do what works for them. But to me, pink ribbons seem victim-ish.

So here is my idea.

I think women who are dealing with BC are clearly Amazons, and in mythology Amazons would cut off a breast to shoot arrows and throw javelins, so there is that connection as well.

I think women who are dealing with BC are fighting a war daily just to wake up and get out of bed. We fight to face tests and results, where we decide to get treatment, what kind of treatment to get, how to deal with the side effects of the treatment and still function as women and mothers and employees and lovers and friends. We are fighting along side our doctors for our lives. We are not saved by them.

This is not to say a, Amazon Warrior cannot have a really bad day and feel weak and helpless and cry. But we have our sister Warriors to support us as I have seen here in some of my darkest days.

I think the symbol for women fighting BC should be a bow and arrow because it stands for strength and being a warrior, and it can stand for love (like cupid's bow)

I am still working on exactly how I am going to put this together but I AM going to do it. Those I have told at Dana Farber already have thought it sounded really cool. And Britt with her Callisto doll really made me think that others could agree that this might be a positive thing.

What do you think ladies??

Love to all!!!

Robyn

ADK · December 2008

I love it, Robyn. It is so much more accurate than a pink ribbon. I didn't know that about Amazon women, but it makes sense. Good luck with it, I hope you go far.

Sirena_Gorda · December 2008

Robyn, this is a great idea. I am with you all the way. Let us know what we can do to help get your idea off the ground.

LibraGirl · December 2008

I love the amazon connection and the strength and fight a bow and arrow would symbolize. The pink ribbon has never resonated with me (especially the "pink" colour) and I think many people associate it more with fundraising than the women (and a few men!) who are fighting the disease. Keep us posted and let us know what we can do.

fairy49 · December 2008

Robyn! I totally agree with you! I mentioned on another thread a while back that instead of normal tatooed areolas I was going for tribal symbols instead LOL!!! makes WAY more sense to me! I am a warrior, we ALL are, every flipping day!! Let me know what you need to make this work!

Lorraine ox

vision4utoo · December 2008

I am so with you on this - I cannot stand Pink, as an artist, it is my least favorite color, has its uses on canvas, paper but not this disease.

apple · December 2008

i used to like the pink.. but got totally sick of it. i wore a pink hat with a pink scarf under. i had very few pink clothes and still don't. now i do brown hats. more earthy.

KinAZ · January 2009

Wow....I am totally on board. I have never like the color pink, and really hate it now!!!!! The color pink gives a juvenile impression, in my humble opinion. I also do not intend to offend anyone, just have a different perspective. I like the bow and arrow symbol.....hmmm, I can think of a few other symbols too!!!! lol I better stop now.....

Happy New Year to all, Karen

auroravtj · January 2009

YEA!! I really like that image! It make you feel stronger, more capable to fight. A bow and arrow in my mind represents a quiet detemination and a focus to aim and conquer what your aiming for. The different reasons it was used for are really uniqe..... Janet

GramE · January 2009

I am not much of an artist - can't draw a straight line with a ruler, BUT how about the arrow thru the letter B and the C as the target -bow and arrow theme, BC for Breast Cancer. I have a group of ladies I met at chemo and we call ourselves the Cancer Terrorists. Good Luck with your project an keep us posted.

Alyad · January 2009

I totally agree- inthe last month since I've been Dx those stupid pink ribbons seem to be everywhere! a bow and arrow sounds way cooler...

brendafromflorida · January 2009

OMG! I love it. What can we do to help?

dlb823 · January 2009

Fabulous idea -- for all the reasons you outlined! Maybe with a logo that communicates a sense of fighting, people would not only sense more passion about our individual battles, but be more motivated to find answers and a cure! Good for you! Deanna

DianaT · January 2009

As my four year old would say "LOVE IT!!" I will help in any way I can!! I think it would be fantastic! The pick color reminds me of pepto bismol. If we could get shirts made like that, I would wear it!!

Marple · January 2009

I'm not into the pink either. I think pink appeals to a lot of people though and perhaps a lot of people who haven't had breast cancer.

Great idea Robyn, you go girl.

Analemma · January 2009

Yes, yes! I, too, hate pink, and I've gotten so many gifts with the logo, pink color, etc. WTF, does everybody think I forgot what I've got??? I even got a bag with pink logo pasta and chicken soup.

Watson wrote a great post about a year ago about pink. Maybe I can find it.

GramE · January 2009

October was breast cancer - pink ribbon month -- and there was a thread going with pictures of some of the dumb a** product displays. I knocked over a pink tic tac display in the grocery store - by accident... and one friend hip checked a potatoe chip display. I also printed up return address sticky labels: Breast cancer is a disease, NOT a marketing opportunity - and stuck them on various displays and shelves - even on a store front window offering BC bracelets for sale.

I like the color pink by itself and it is a good color for me. When my husband was alive he did not want anything pink around, so after he died, I redid our bedroom in mostly pink and lavender. Maybe that was an over reaction, but it then made it mine. I have been given several pink tote bags, hats, scarves, and pins and a bracelet. Some days I feel like a pink day, other times I don't - if that make much sense. I also have a gray sweatshirt with Breast Cancer Sucks in pink letters and some days that says it all.

WellWater · January 2009

I am totally on board with getting rid of the pink ribbon......give me a bow and arrow anyday. Great idea -

and Nancy....I absolutely love your idea of printing up some labels saying that Breast Cancer is a disease not a marketing opportunity. I sent an email to absolutely everyone at the end of September warning them not to fall victim to the PinkRibbon hype. Allow me to borrow your idea - next year I'll plaster them everywhere!

Thanks Robyn.

Analemma · January 2009

Here you go - I found Watson's thread from last December.

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/8/topic/697031?page=2#post_769912

I also found lots of other thread by putting "pink ribbon" in the search box.

I love the Bow and Arrow but I doubt if you can get Komen to change their logo. Weren't they the originator of the pink ribbon, and wasn't that the first of all the colored ribbons for different diseases?

GramE · January 2009

YVW, Robyn. It was not my idea originally, but use it as you want. BTW, by the way, Target has a huge supply of pink kitchen tools - spoons, tongs, spatulas - on clearance last week... Guess not everyone fell into the pink product ploy...

I doubt Komen would change their logo - I suggest black and white, simple, under stated, not calling too much attention as the color pink does, and (dare I say it) unisex... I would be careful with copy righting any slogan or logo. Dont want some fool company grabbing your idea and making big bucks off of it.

Robyn66 · January 2009

See this is where I always get stuck. I get a great idea, and am not good with the publicity or knowing what the next step should be. I wouldn't expect Komen would change their logo but ours could just be a kind of movement. I don't know how to set up a fund raising operation, or who the money should go to. Perhaps it would be great to create a fund for women who are going through this in hard times and need some help with financial support? Would anyone know a charity that would really need to be espoused by a group??

If you want to get in to wearing a bow and arrow now, e-bay has tons of bow and arrow charms and archer charms. That is what I am going to get. I would like it to be something simple and elegant that can be worn all the time either a pin or pendant.

I wish I knew a business woman who could help me with the rest of this.

Love to all,

Robyn

hollyann · January 2009

The bow and arrow symbol are actually the symbol Genetech uses for their drug Herceptin.....It is a pink woman shooting an arrow with a bow........It is on their blankets they give out to chemo patients where I go for my checkups.......

My Epiphany-to my fellow pink hating sisters

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