Pink is the color of October. This is because October is Breast Cancer Awareness month—a great cause and a great idea. But the “awareness” that is spreading on social networks such as Facebook is far from productive.
There have been several status updates spreading breast cancer awareness lately. While promoting breast cancer awareness is a grand notion, it is what these Facebook users are saying to promote it that is done in an inappropriate fashion and is just plainly in bad taste.
A message is going around between girls on Facebook which claims that that in order to spread breast cancer awareness, they should state where they like to put their purse in their status update. For example, in the status update you are supposed to say, “I like it on the floor,” if you put your purse on the floor.
Now, you may be wondering how exactly this spreads breast cancer awareness. The answer is simple—it really doesn’t.
In keeping with this idea of awareness, women are also to keep it a secret from guys. There are two things wrong with keeping it from men. First, it is sexist to exclude them. In fact, men can get breast cancer, too. According to the National Cancer Institute, out of the 207,090 cases of breast cancer in 2010 alone, 1,970 were men, making male breast cancer comprising roughly 1 percent of all cases. A small percentage, sure, but no less serious.
Second, if you are supposed to be spreading awareness about something, why exclude almost half of the population?
Last year the cool thing to do on Facebook regarding breast cancer was to post the color of the bra you were wearing, but only the color of the bra. Again, it was a secret from boys; however, at least it had something to do with breasts!
It is great that the generation of Facebook is spreading awareness of breast cancer, but they are not spreading it in an accurate or appropriate way. It seems like the idea of the whole “I like it on the (blank)” concept comes off more like promoting female sexuality in the place of a serious illness.
The status updates regarding this are promoting normative female sexuality to raise awareness against a disease that may require those who have it to get a mastectomy. Often people who get a mastectomy have their sexual appeal questioned.
It would be a lot better to simply post, “I support breast cancer awareness.” Which is great, but at the same time, what kind of sane person does not support breast cancer awareness?
The best thing you can do to spread breast cancer awareness is combine it with action. What people really need to do this month is do something.They could donate, they could volunteer, and they could participate in a walk or race to support breast cancer awareness. Actions are stronger than words, after all.
While talking about breast cancer—as well as other worthy causes—is important and necessary to promote its awareness,z actions are equally—if not more—important. It is because of actions that there is research, not just with breast cancer, but with all cancers. It is because of actions that there is treatment, that there is funding, that there is awareness surrounding these very important issues. ?