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All the pink noise drowns out the voices of people who are directly affected by breast cancer. We’re told to “fight like a girl” and “kick cancer’s ass.” But the truth is more often it feels like cancer treatment is actually kicking our ass. Are we losing if we’re too sick to run a marathon or too sad to “smile more”?
We’re told that if we just buy the next pink ribbon product, or walk for breast cancer, or help spread awareness, fewer women will die from breast cancer. But the truth is there is too little to show for the hundreds of millions of dollars raised in the name of breast cancer.
We’re told our anger is not helpful. But what’s actually not helpful is when corporations partner with mega nonprofits in an effort to build their brand, but fail to take the necessary steps to ensure their products or services aren’t increasing our risk of breast cancer.
We’re told our rage isn’t healthy, but what’s actually unhealthy are the synthetic chemicals that can increase our risk of breast cancer, chemicals we’re all exposed to from before birth until our deaths, chemicals that we can’t just avoid through careful consumer choices.
The disconnect between pink ribbons and how we feel is another–distinctly capitalist–cruelty of the disease, and many people in the breast cancer community feel disheartened by corporate interests covering up the ugly reality of breast cancer. In so many ways, pink ribbon culture is gaslighting, in its crudest, cruelest, pinkest form.
It’s long past time to move from awareness to action. Political action. Because breast cancer is and always has been political, just like women’s health and bodies are political.
In solidarity and with heartfelt gratitude,
Karuna Jaggar, Breast Cancer Action
P.S. Donate now and you’ll be entered to win a This is What the Cancer Resistance Looks Like t-shirt. The winner will be announced on January 2.
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