Save The Boobies!

Wow, that was a long absence. I have been suffering from a prolonged case of writer's block and I had to dedicate a lot of time and energy to eating Christmas chocolate. Unsurprisingly, I was roused from this unproductive slump by anger and frustration. Because that's the type of gal I am.

This morning I began to notice that a lot of my female Facebook friends had random colours as their Facebook statuses. I didn't understand, so, after checking it wasn't some super-cool internet trend that I had missed, I decided to ask what it was all about.

It turns out, the colours weren't random. Women have been encouraged to update their statuses with the colour of their bra. Why? For breast cancer awareness, that's why. Apparently telling everybody on your friends list that you're wearing a red bra, is, like, totally a positive thing.

Except that it's not. It's creepy.

Practically, it's not useful because it's cryptic. It doesn't tell us anything about breast cancer, how to donate to a breast cancer charity, how to prevent the cancer or even how to check ourselves for it. We all know breast cancer exists, so it doesn't tell us anything new.

My other main problem with it is that it enforces the idea that breast cancer is bad because breasts are attractive and sexy, not because it kills women. It is hard to deny that describing your underwear in a public sphere is supposed to be a bit titillating. It reminds me of an this American breast cancer campaign:



I don't know about you, but this ad made me want to punch myself in the face. Reducing women to their body parts, removing their humanity, making them a piece of meat is NEVER acceptable, even for the cause of breast cancer awareness. Granted, the Facebook thing is not as bad as this, but I see it as part of the same sexist strategy.

What would have been positive, is if people, not just women, had been encouraged to post links to self-examination guides or websites where you can donate some money.

I want women's lives to be saved, not just their boobies.

(This is a good guide to self-exams and you can donate to Breakthrough breast cancer charity here.)

Normal service returns soon

I will update Swimsuit Issue soon when i cease being a useless human being. Which will hopefully be this week. In the meantime, here's my new, more personal blog: hey goo!! what's new?

The first post explains what I want to do with it. It isn't very interesting, but if you want to have a look then go ahead!!