What's wrong with the pink ribbon anyway?
I've been asked this question more than a few times. It seems like a fair question, so I thought I'd share some thoughts about why the pink ribbon has lost its appeal to many, including me.
There's nothing wrong with pink. There's nothing wrong with ribbons. Pink is just a color and ribbons are just ribbons...
Of course the particular ribbon that has come under such intense scrutiny of late is the pink ribbon. I wonder if there is anyone who hasn't at least seen the pink ribbon. It turns up almost everywhere these days and not just in the Breast Cancer Awareness Month of October anymore. And this is part of the problem. It's everywhere.
What may have been a good idea or symbol at one time quickly became overused and then misused.
It reminds me of when parents, coaches and yes, educators hand out ribbons to kids for everything. In an overzealous attempt to make all kids feel good, sometimes there can be too many "ribbons" handed out, literally and figuratively. When something is handed out too often, it loses meaning.
But back to the mother of all ribbons...
The problems with the pink ribbon continue to mount. For starters, I compiled a list of ten problems.
1. The pink ribbon has lost its effectiveness, becoming merely a marketing tool to sell stuff and I mean lots of stuff. Products adorning pink ribbons are everywhere. And the very fact that breast cancer awareness is so literally "tied into" shopping is in itself very questionable if not blatantly sexist. Why is breast cancer the "shopping disease"?
2. When utilizing this pretty pink marketing tool, the intent is not only to sell a product; it's to sell good will as well. Everyone is supposed to feel good about buying pink stuff with pink ribbons on it.
Pretty pink ribbon = good cause/good feelings for all.
Pink ribbons are too often used in an under-handed way to make consumers feel good about what they are buying and who they are buying from. In other words, pink ribbons boost profits and image for a corporation or organization at the same time. Pretty good bang for your advertising buck wouldn't you say?
3. However, pink ribbons can be and often are misleading. Sometimes the sale of a product with a pink ribbon on it results in not one dollar or even one penny going to breast cancer anything. Or sometimes there is a "cap" on how much will be donated no matter how many dollars get raked in.
4. Too often the product adorning the ribbon is questionable, or even actually "tied" to possibly contributing to cancer risk. Here are a few examples of controversial pink products.
5. Many find pink ribbons to be insulting as they seem to represent an attempt to "dress up" breast cancer and to portray it as the feminine, pretty, almost acceptable kind of cancer. It's a tidy way to "package" breast cancer.
6. And of course, pink ribbons represent females. Where does this leave the men who get breast cancer? As outcasts, that's where.
7. Next, let's not forget all that hope, faith and courage stuff. The pink ribbon is often used to represent hope, faith and courage; which is fine to a point. I'm not against hope. I'm certainly not against faith or courage either. No one is.
But when hope, faith and courage become entangled with a pink ribbon, are we unintentionally suggesting that women quietly and demurely sit back and accept their breast cancer and the lack of progress in prevention and treatment, much less a cure?
Is the message, even if unintentional, just remain hopeful and you'll be fine? Think about it. Is this really such a stretch? Remember all that sugar and spice nonsense?
8. The pink ribbon has turned into the "bully of ribbons" by overshadowing all the rest of the ribbons.
What about all those other colored ribbons? What about all those other diseases? I wonder how many people can name even one other colored ribbon and its "matching" disease. Don't feel badly if you can't. You are not alone.
9. And of course, there are too many to count lame attempts to make breast cancer awareness campaigns sexy or more light-hearted by adorning those sassy pink ribbons here, there and everywhere. Sexism is alive and well in breast cancer land.
10. Finally, the pink ribbon has been around for decades now and the results just are not good enough.
If you measure results in the only way that truly matters -- fewer deaths from breast cancer -- this has not been the outcome from all that ribboning. Every year breast cancer continues to claim about 40,000 lives in the United States alone.
So there you have it, a list of ten things wrong with the pink ribbon. I'm sure I've missed a few.
It's time to untie, retie, throw out or at least get the knots out of this pink ribbon, don't you agree?
A version of this post first appeared on Nancy Stordahl's blog, Nancy's Point.
Follow Nancy Stordahl on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nancyspoint
More here:
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/11/breast_cancer_vaccine_research.html
You said " And of course, pink ribbons represent females. Where does this leave the men who get breast cancer? As outcasts, that's where." Actually the pink and blue ribbon represent breast cancer awareness in men as well as Infant loss awareness. The pink and blue ribbon was designed in 1996 by Nancy Nick, president and founder of the John W. Nick Foundation to bring awareness that "Men Get Breast Cancer Too!"
You said "What about all those other colored ribbons? What about all those other diseases? I wonder how many people can name even one other colored ribbon and its "matching" disease. Don't feel badly if you can't. You are not alone."
The red ribbon is for AIDS Awareness as well as Drug Abuse Awareness. "The Red Ribbon Foundation is an organization founded in 1993 whose main purpose is the education about prevention of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Related Complex, ARC and AIDS." There are other colored ribbons that represent diseases.
Thank you for your excellent comment. I thought I was including the metastatic community in #5, but I agree with you, the marginalization of the mets community should have been at the top of the list. This is another huge problem with "pinking" period. The stage IV community is far too often left out in the cold. That was not my intent here. I apologize.
As a result, when I see a pink ribbon on a product I tend to choose something else.
I may be wrong that so-and-so's pink ribbon support means the money goes to SGK, and I appreciate any reasonable feedback.
I know what you mean about the association, however, many businesses and organizations now use the pink ribbon as a marketing tool. It has become the breast cancer symbol or brand. Everyone needs to "pink responsibly" and be aware of where their dollars are going.
While I do acknowledge that nutrition is vitally important and does play a role in prevention and treatment, I can't agree with you and call it a prevention or a cure. Nutrition is one of many factors coming into play regarding our health.
Did you know that Dr. Vincent Tuohy of the Cleveland Clinic has developed a PREVENTIVE breast cancer vaccine that is 100% effective in preventing breast cancer in mice? It's ready for clinical trials in human but the pink ribbon community has rejected funding.
I've been through the cures: 20 weeks of chemo, bilateral mastectomy and weeks of radiation. I finally had reconstruction 3 weeks ago. Although I am grateful for my cures, I want prevention for women in the future. My tax deductible contribution went here this year: https://secure3.convio.net/ccf/site/SPageServer?pagename=tuohy_api_donation_form&JServSessionIdr004=y53y4a6on8.app331b
More at ThePinkVaccine.com
Thank you so much for reading and commenting. I am aware of this potential vaccine being worked on that you mentioned. I'm not entirely sure where things stand as far as testing it in humans. I do know there is a petition on www.change.org regarding it. I'm sorry for your diagnosis and all you are dealing with. It's a lot isn't it? We do need more research working on prevention. We also are in dire need of researching why cancer metastasizes. Actually, we're in dire need of more research period!
https://www.change.org/petitions/the-nfl-support-prostate-cancer-awareness-funding
https://www.change.org/petitions/the-president-of-the-united-states-stop-sexism-in-the-affordable-care-act
Good example of #8 isn't it? Thanks for the comment.
But yes, I would like to see prostate cancer get much more attention and funding than it currently does. That's why I included the group's link there in my NFL petition as they are currently not an admin./salary machine.
The same way that, for instance, a lot of huge animal charities are not longer about helping animals, they're about feeding a giant marketing machine.
I would really encourage people to find small, local organizations who do their marketing through free social media and volunteer-organized events, and put all their donations directly towards helping those who need it. And give your charity $$ to them.
Your suggestion to donate to smaller, local organizations is a good one. However, there are some wonderful larger non-profits doing great work. We all need to be smart about not only where we donate, but also how we shop every single day. Pink ribbons on a product might be meaningless. Thanks for your insights.
Why hasn't any of that money raised to search for cures been used to examine existing remedies? No money in it? None of these researchers want the search to end, unless they can cash in on a cure. These natural cures aren't patentable, hence unprofitable. Here is a patented cure: US Patent # 6,485,755 Nov. 26, 2002. There are others. Also check: www.cancertutor.org
You raise some valid points and asking questions is always a good thing. Thanks for adding to this discussion.
I'm sorry for your diagnosis and I'm sorry you felt forced to be the local poster child for breast cancer. I completely agree it's time to move beyond awareness. Of course it's better to catch any cancer early. However, a cancer detected early can still metastasize later. We need to tell the whole truth. We need real awareness. And we need more dollars going to research. Thanks for your comments.
Pink Ribbon has also issued warnings to anyone else attempting to use "____ For the Cure," threatening lawsuits for trademark copyright violation. This makes sense in a business sense, but Pink Ribbon isn't meant to be a business but rather a charity. You are certainly right about the bullying aspect.
You make a good point about Komen's lawsuits. However, this post isn't just speaking about Komen. I purposely didn't name names. "Pinking" has now become common practice for too many to count corporations and businesses. It's interesting to hear how your mother feels. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and hers.
I completely agree with your excellent points. I hope people continue to take notice and then take action by paying attention to what they are buying and asking some questions. We need to move beyond that first step. Thank you for commenting.
Well, the issue here really isn't about a color or ribbons is it? It's about misuse and branding a disease. Your friend's statement is a sad commentary for sure.
I'm very sorry for your loss. The pink ribbon does tend to over shadow all the others doesn't it? Your situation is a perfect example of #8 on my list. Thank you for commenting.
Your concerns are very valid, no apologies needed! You make valid points for sure. I happen to be BRCA2+, so I know exactly what you are talking about in regard to the genetic links. I also agree there should be more collaboration across the board. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
You are certainly not alone in feeling the way you do! I completely agree the focus must be on more dollars for research. Only through research will we learn about prevention, better treatments, preventing bc from metastasizing and more. Commercialization of a horrible disease is just wrong. Good for you for taking a stand.