There is a meme flying around Facebook that has gone viral. Unless you live under a rock I can’t see how you would have missed it. Women all over the world have been posting things like, “I like it on the kitchen counter” or “I like it on the living room floor.” It is meant to bring awareness to Breast Cancer.
I will admit, I don’t see the purpose of it. I participated mainly because I wanted to show that I think about breast cancer and support awareness of it. I don’t think that posting where I like to put my purse is going to do anything to change the world, but I think that anything that people do to get people talking is good.
Recently, I logged onto Facebook and saw that there was some backlash going on about this meme. To be honest, it pissed me off.
The basis of the backlash was based on a letter that a respected blogger, who is also battling cancer, sent to Salon.com. Without including the whole letter, it basically said that “Playing games in the name of breast cancer, or purchasing pink products that donate a penny to the cause, is just insulting.” It went on to say, “If you want to raise awareness, talk about the signs of cancer. If you want to support research, donate directly to an organization like the American Cancer Society. If you think the government should fund more cancer research, call your Senator.”
I took a deep breath and thought about what I wanted to say. I tend to say things sometimes without really thinking them through. Because I do this, I sometimes come across bitchy or hurt someone’s feelings and I didn’t want to do that because I can see this blogger’s point. After some thought, here is what I said….
”I don’t have cancer. Never have and pray that I never will. This kind of letter makes me mad though. Doing ANYTHING to help raise awareness is doing SOMETHING.
Not everyone has the resources, knowledge, education or depth to call a senator. Turning a photo pink on your Facebook page is simply acknowledging breast cancer. What makes me even more mad is that this controversy only seems to surround breast cancer. If I add a yellow Livestrong band to a photo there is never ONE complaint, not one.
I guess I just wish that people would see this as people doing the best they can. If it is turning a photo pink, wearing a pink ribbon, “liking it on the kitchen floor” or purchasing products that give back, they are doing SOMETHING! We are all just doing the best we can.”
I live in Silicon Valley. I pay nearly $2000 in rent so that I can provide a safe home for my daughter. I buy my groceries with coupons every week so that I can make the almighty dollar work for me. I don’t have any extra money to give to causes no matter how honorable they are. I have done so in the past, donating thousands of dollars to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society through Team in Training but right now, I just don’t have the capacity to do so. Instead I choose to do small things like turning a photo pink, purchasing a $1 support ribbon or participating in a meme.
Sometimes people need to take a deep breath and take something at face value. Do women think that we are going to rid the world of or find a cure for cancer by participating in a cute little meme? I hope not. But I also hope that people see that we are all just trying to do what we can, what we think is right and if that isn’t enough for you, then I am sorry.
The thing about that meme though, was how were you supposed to know what it was for. I didn’t actually learn that until I read her letter. I didn’t try to figure it out either, to be honest, so I’m not sure how it actually increased awareness. I think we just need to take a look at all the time & $$ spent on pink & awareness and see if there are more effective uses.
I love this post, and I completely agree. I understand how breast cancer survivors may feel sad when they see memes about what color your bra is, given that many of them no longer have anything to fill the bras with. But what everyone has to remember is that the vast majority of people who participate in these memes have nothing but the BEST intentions. I’ve decided to wear pink every day in October (and my 9-year old daughter has decided to join me) and upload a photo of myself wearing pink every day. That might seem like self-indulgent narcissism to some, or jumping on the cause bandwagon, but what I want to do is raise awareness of breast cancer –and if even one person reads my post, and it inspires her to put up her own post, or it jogs her memory and she decides to schedule a mammogram, then I’ll be happy.
As to all the complains that everything is too pink, I’m siding with Nancy Brinker (the founder of the Susan G. Komen Foundation) when she said: It’s not nearly pink enough.
I do see your point Nicole. I don’t totally see the point of the purse thing. I think my point is more that anything you can do to raise even a conversation is better than nothing.
Well written, Lia!
I’m all for doing little things, because collectively we can make a big difference. I haven’t donated a cent to Breast Cancer Awareness this year (although Yahoo! donated $1 on my behalf) and I didn’t play this game. Honestly, I didn’t get it either and it felt a bit spammy to me since it wasn’t on topic. But I have been wearing pink every day this month. I have written about Breast Cancer Awareness on my blog. I did participate in Relay for Life a week ago. There are a lot of ways we can make a difference and we should all cheer each other on for wanting to do so!
My gut reaction is to fall into the “lighten up” camp as well. What’s that old saying… “Negative publicity is still publicity.”
Like Nicole, I don’t rush out in October to buy everything with a pink ribbon on it. I can pretty much guarantee that nearly all those companies are making boat loads more in revenue than what they are donating to the cause. Although, I was so thrilled to see that my giant corporation of a company pledged $1M to to develop the world’s first virtual tissue bank at the Indiana University Simon Cancer Center, available as a free, publicly accessible, online resource. Little fanfare and no one has to buy anything pink. 🙂
That said, when I really think about it I can completely empathize with Susan and women who are fighting for their lives right now against cancer. I can see how it was cruel and insensitive. And for that, I do feel bad in participating.