Get ready... "Pink season" is already starting!

I've probably posted this on another similar thread. I agree that the pinking of so many items is silly and probably does little to benefit bc research or patients directly. Last year, about a week before my bmx, I was shopping for things for my classroom. I always look in the clearance bin and found large box of push pins at a great price. They were pink and must have been left over from the previous October. I never laughed so hard at the ironic timing. Still, being a cash strapped public school,teacher, I had to buy them. Every time I pin student work up with the pink push pins, it makes me laugh. I am not bitter, pissed off or angry about the silly pinking that goes on. Stage IV gives me enough to worry about.

Caryn

Again, Ill mention the 100$ gas card I got from ACS sponsored by Kohls. That was extremely well appreciated practical help. Same with the hats and look good feel better class. They really reach out to people so we do know where money is going. Try calling ACS with a question. They are wonderful.

I think I've finally come full circle about the whole "pinkwashing" and my anger over companies who profit from my disease.

At first, I was just pissed off about pink. I mean really, how is your wearing pink socks going to help MY breast cancer?

But I've put some serious thought into this (and have read carefully all the "Pinktober Revolution" , "Pinkwashing" etc. threads here on BCO), and here is what I have come up with.

I believe in teachable moments. I had one in the Hallmark store the other day. I talked with the buyer and the young clerks about how the pink ribbon products they had on their shelves sometimes mentioned how much was donated, and to whom, but mostly they did not. In my opinion, those companies were profiting off my disease. They really listened, and were horrified.

I've told my friends that I cherish all the pink ribbon themed gifts they brought me along with their prayers, their cards, their meals, and their friendship after my BMX last year. But this year I was asking them for another kind of awareness.

I explained where the real need was - in funding for research to actually find not only a cure, but prevention. But this takes real money, and has to be funneled to the right institutions.

I asked them to go beyond the idea that "Awareness" just means every woman should have a mammogram. I had them for years and they did nothing for me. They missed my cancer every time. 

I asked my friends to look for examples of pinkwashing, and to not be pulled in.

I asked them to please contact vendors who pinkwash, ask how much is donated, and to which organization. And to tell those who do not contribute that they are profiting off others' misery, and that no longer will people buy their products.

And on a smaller scale? Pink ribbon cookies that fund services to local women are awesome. I agree - better to help someone buy gas to get to chemo treatments than to fund a certain someone's reported $8,000 salary.

Deanna I did read that article....against my betta judgement....As always it makes my blood boil.....I havnt been to the stores that much but im goin to PA tomorrow sporting my navy focktober shirt......

Am I banging my head up against the wall with this pinkwashing??????

Another 3 weeks of this shit...

Time to take out the orange and black to celebrate Halloween!!!!!!!!

Find a damn cure/vacine NOW.

Blessings, what a wonderful post.

I was interviewed by a reporter today about my feelings about pink october, and I told her I get really mad at "charities" that collect a lot of money using breast cancer as a motivator and don't give back in a meaningful way. 

Your post just summed it all up for me:

I explained where the real need was - in funding for research to actually find not only a cure, but prevention. But this takes real money, and has to be funneled to the right institutions.

I asked them to go beyond the idea that "Awareness" just means every woman should have a mammogram. I had them for years and they did nothing for me. They missed my cancer every time.

I asked my friends to look for examples of pinkwashing, and to not be pulled in.

I asked them to please contact vendors who pinkwash, ask how much is donated, and to which organization. And to tell those who do not contribute that they are profiting off others' misery, and that no longer will people buy their products.

And on a smaller scale? Pink ribbon cookies that fund services to local women are awesome. I agree - better to help someone buy gas to get to chemo treatments than to fund a certain someone's reported $8,000 salary

And I would say, 200,000 salary, but what a great and insightful and thoughtful post.

Thank you.

Kira

Aw, thanks, kira - actually, that "$8,000 salary" was supposed to read $800,000 salary because I read somewhere that's what Nancy Brinker gave herself when she stepped down and created a new job for herself with Komen. But I could be wrong!

Blessings - That was a wonderful post  - thank you! Much to learn from.

JoanQuilts, your article was so well written.  

LilacBlue the NFL is partnering with the American Cancer Society. The ACS is really excited about this partnership because not only does it raise awareness but it should convert to $$ for the ACS programs/sponsored research. All the items the players/refs/coaches wear will be auctioned on too.

Lago, the NFL is able to give more $ to ACS.  Just saying. 

Cottontail - me too!

I'd like to recommend the Dr Susan Love Research Foundation. 85 cents of every dollar goes directly to research. The website is www.dslrf.org. You can donate or join the Army of Women who are notified of research studies needing subjects. No obligation to volunteer. She is also involved with Health of Women study which plans to follow women for 20years to try to discover the cause. Both groups need women of all ages, races, cancer status, or no cancer. Basically, being female (or high risk male) qualifies you to be a participant. It's all done on-line with questionnaires.

People are aware but if they don't see it, and see it often they will forget and not donate.

I hate that we have to resort to tactics like this but getting people to part with thier money in these times is tough.

Lago, I think you and I are going to have to agree to disagree on this one. There is not a thing anyone can tell me that will convince me that pinkwashing, in general, or the NFL thing, specifically, are good things.





The Planned Parenthood thing earlier this year irreparably tarnished Komen for me.

The pinking of an item is actually more likely to make me NOT buy something. Even if, say, the only option on the shelf was "pink," I would purchase something completely different, go to a different store in search of another option, or just go without.
I'm stubborn like that.

Gillyone, nice article, short and to the point.