A royal fuss

So much angst over Kate Middleton exposing her breasts in public. And by public I mean any place a high powered lens can invade your privacy.  Last week it was Harry’s ass.  This week Kate’s breasts. Why does it seem like this is so much worse?

The magazine who printed these should simply photoshop pink ribbons over Kate’s nipples and call it a PSA, just in time for the pink washing of the world that was formerly known as October.  God knows, we need more fun pictures depicting breast cancer.  Kate will be redeemed and the magazine can cash in on breast cancer.  Win/win.

Here. They can use my ribbon. It even comes with a pretty little chain of daisies.  Fun and feminine!

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This makes me think of how breast cancer awareness ads always show perky young, blemish free (heavily photoshopped?) breasts and when someone dares show what a real breast with cancer looks like in an effort to educate women it’s deemed “shocking” and comes with an accompanying warning.  Really? A warning?

12 comments

  1. Bethany · September 15, 2012

    Oh sista!!!! I am so on board. Pink ribbons on cat food? Are you kidding me? How about deep dark scars instead? It’s not pretty and pink to me. It uses to be. When it was about other people- my aunt, my cousin, my college room mate. When I was raising money it was a pink ribbon. But then when it was me? Well that was a different story.

    I didn’t like the commercialism, the ad campaigns, the real issues masked under pink balloons and t-shirts and 5ks and lapel pins. Fuck you. It’s not like that.

    Cancer is a life changer. I do consider it a gift at this point. But one that was presented in a poorly wrapped package complete with depression, drugs and despair. Out of The journey emerged an awareness of life, a level of gratitude that is inexplicable and a need to push past the pink ribbon.

    The billions of dollars that are raised for this cause leaves me baffled when not that far away there are people who can’t afford food. I still can’t grasp the disparity within this global economy.

    Yes, I’m beyond lucky to have been born in this country and to receive the level of care I did during my cancer treatments. Its humbling to believe that it was just shear luck. Other places in the world barely understand what the word means.

    So as our country ramps up to pimp out the NFL, the grocery stores, billboards and the malls I dream of a place far away that could do so much more with my $25 donation. It feeds a family of six for two weeks in Kenya. Really.

    Again I’m grateful to be here, to be alive and to have the freedom of speech that so many fought for. I just want the WHOLE WORLD to be a better place….not such a horrible thing is it?

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    • mainelyhopeful · September 15, 2012

      I was never a fan of the pink ribbon and commercialism. With all the money raised for breast cancer over the past 10 years we should have had a cure 5 times over. Pink KFC buckets? handguns? The list of crazy goes on and on. It wasn’t until I was diagnosed that I really felt like I had a right to say anything as though feeling that way was disrespectful to breast cancer patients somehow. September is childhood cancer awareness month, btw? How many people are aware of that? How many other cancers get no press at all? It’s fucked up.

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  2. decisionsformyfamily · September 15, 2012

    Who ever would have thought cancer research would come down to the best marketing team? They can never actually cure them at this point though because too many people are employed raising money and “awareness”. Six figures for the heads of the “charitable” organizations. I guess I should really stop watching the news…I am growing way too cynical!

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    • mainelyhopeful · September 15, 2012

      I’ve said right along there is no money in a cure. I know I’m cynical but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true.

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      • Shaunna · September 19, 2012

        I agree with you. Cancer is big business and bring many fortunes to companies state side and abroad. There will never be a cure, only new drugs that can assist in your treatment.

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  3. embracing chemo · September 15, 2012

    You speak for many of us. Thank God for The Scar Project http://www.thescarproject.org. As they say, breast cancer is not a pink ribbon.

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    • mainelyhopeful · September 15, 2012

      Thank you for the link. I’ve seen this before. It’s very powerful

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    • Shaunna · September 19, 2012

      I was just about to post the website to the scar project. Great minds think alike. It took alot of courage for these women to have their picture taken!

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  4. judiththomasberg · September 18, 2012

    Hear, hear Susan!
    Why the perky healthy breasts instead of the scars? Because the former get’s the mens attention the latter scares the crap out of everyone and no one really likes to be reminded of the cruel truth.

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  5. Herdy · October 2, 2012

    I’m all for supporting a continued effort in raising funds for research into cancer…but that’s just it – any cancer. Cancer is horrible no matter what part of the anatomy it attacks, so why is there so much more awareness and money thrown at certain cancers? Why can’t there be one pot for all?
    I also agree with the pinking-up of everything…I find it rather patronising, as if they’re trying to make breast cancer palatable for the masses. It would add more value if they knew the truth!

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