As most of you good citizens know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month - yes the month of pink ribbons, pink bracelets, and sometimes, pink t-shirts. Now, as a disclaimer for what follows, I in no way mean to disrespect cancer victims, survivors, or research, nor do I mean to implicate my criticisms in conjunction with the loss or heartache someone experiences when they, or a loved one, deals with cancer. However, this month, I am upset, irritated, and tired of seeing pink whenever I walk into Target.
Let me start from the beginning. My family has a long history of cancer. Two of my uncles have died from skin cancer and numerous other family members, including my mom and grandpa, have dealt with benign to malignant types of cancer. Cancer has been a big part of my life, and it is something that I worry about anytime one of us gets a terrible sunburn.
A few weeks ago, an officemate, whom I love and adore, brought a pink Breast Cancer awareness oven timer to work. My other officemate and I remarked on how neat it was, and remembered that it was time to kick off our own cancer awareness. (The oven timer was eventually going to be used in class for timing activities.)
When I went to Target later that same day, I was struck by the vastness of Target's Breast Cancer awareness, even though it was only late September. There were pink brooms and cleaning supplies, pink pots and oven mitts, pink purses, totes, and manicure sets, pink egg beaters, even pink Brita water filters.
This is when my agitation surfaced. Now. I am all for cancer research and raising money, and if this is the only research can get funds, then so be it. But the fine makers of the Brita water filter are most likely not concerned with how many women OR men are helped with their oh-so-altruistic efforts, they are most likely concerned with how many people are paying $24.99 for a Brita water filter... and the profits reaped therein. Are we really to the point in this country that we believe a company marketing a pink broom really cares about research, or do we understand that a company has decided to tap into a very lucrative market?
I am infuriated to think that just because something pink appears on shelves in October we should buy it because we are "socially aware." (I am equally irritated at the marginalization of all things "going green" because it's good business.)
I will conceit, though, that some of these companies must have a good motive because I know there are many, many good people in the world, but when was the last time a ginormous corporation cared about one person, let alone a minority of people suffering from a disease. Doesn't the recent $700 billion dollar bailout speak volumes about the actual concerns of fat cats?
And let me get back to this broom business, because like hell I'm done ranting. A quick search on Target.com for "breast cancer" yielded 115 results. After the fifth page of results, I ran across what I would define as five - 5 - "male gendered" products, including pink gardening shears, a pink tool set, and a Madden Football game with pink packaging compared to the 15 other results per page dealing with womanly products. How does a "Fox Run Breast Cancer Awareness Baking Set" for $14.99 help people become aware of the fact that breast cancer is an unyielding beast?! Why are most of the products geared towards stereotypical, archaic women's roles? Men have mothers, sisters, girlfriends, and women in their lives. Can they not be aware? Why do we even have to have pink as the color? Because only girls like pink? Men can get breast cancer. Should they have to identify with a pink ribbon? On that note, why don't we have a Testicular Cancer awareness month? Cancer is not indicative to the female species. Bah!
What I'm really getting at here is that consumers should not feel morally obligated to buy pink products in October OR feel P.C. because they have done so. If people want to contribute to cancer awareness, why not do so directly on web-sites and bypass companies whose main goal is more money in already bulging pockets?
Are we more worried with having a pink broom so that when neighbors come over they see we are "aware," or are we worried about the disease? (I ask myself this question because I really, really wanted the pink pots.) I think that most of us consumers really want to help with cancer research and this may be the only way we know how; these are just recent thoughts on motives for doing so. If you are the person who purchases pink products because you are a good person and know you ARE helping someone, please continue to do so because the world really needs people like you, especially right now.
Any thoughts on this are more than welcome. I would love some feedback... because, really, I could be wrong.
7 comments:
freak. i am so sick of breast cancer chips and breast cancer gum and breast cancer candles and breast cancer tape.
and i don't think it's just that all this cancer commercialism is foolish; i think it's disgusting. these companies don't care about my mom or my aunt, and how dare they pretend that they do in order to make a buck?
lamecore.
Although you make some good points, I still think that it's a great way to raise a little extra money for breast cancer awareness (having pink shit everywhere, I mean). And yes, you're right, cancer is not just in women-- but last time I checked, pink wasn't just for women either. :) And breast cancer is just one type, there are tons and tons of organizations to help different types of cancer.
If you've ever tried to raise money for something, you know that people are sticklers with their money and it's a bitch to try and convince them that your cause is something they should spend their money on. While I do agree it's sad and pathetic that we have to sell pink pots and pans in order to make people want to contribute to the cause--I say "go for it"! If someone buys a pink broom who wouldn't otherwise contribute to cancer research...at least they are getting a pink broom (and they wanted it). :) I think it's a really great idea.
And I'm running in the Breast Cancer Awareness 10k on Saturday--and I'm getting a pink t-shirt out of it. ha ha
I agree with you. It seems like whenever somebody in humanity has a good idea about something (for example- pink ribbons to support breast cancer research) companies around the world see it as a way to make money. My husband's dad almost bought me a pink tool set once and he even mentioned that if I had it, I would "look like" I was a supporter of breast cancer research. I don't want to "look like" a supporter- I want to be support. I do see the point of the other comment though- sometimes the only way to get us selfish americans to "donate" to something is by offering us exciting things like cute pink brooms and pots and other accessories. So, unfortunately, it may be the only way to go.
I saw an old man last week wearing a John Deere hat that was both manly and pink for breast cancer awareness. It was cool.
But yeah. I'm not so much into philanthropic entities that spend money that I donate to produce crap to get me to donate more. Just give the freaking money to research!
So funny you wrote about this because I have been thinking the same things. Consumers should pay attention because many times, only 1% of the profit (and that's a catchy thing; if a business doesn't make a profit on the pink brooms--and they can track that individual item--then they don't donate anything because no profit was made) goes to breast cancer research.
And while we're at it, why isn't more attention given to HEART DISEASE (the number one killer of American women), LUNG CANCER, and OBESITY? Those are the top three killers of American women.
Sometimes I feel a little guilty when I don't wear whatever color of bracelet society is supporting that month. But then I get over myself real fast.
Is this marketing exploitative? Of course, but that's just part of the capitalist system. And if, at the end of the day, some companies fork over a few dollars to support cancer--I'll take it. Of course, I am a whore.
By the way I loved TAL's podcasts on the economy.
And if you want to buy pink pots then buy them BECAUSE you like them, and NOT because you feel like you should or shouldn't.
Thanks for finding that statistic R. It just further irks me, and, at the same time, proves my point.
When I went to Safeway the other day, they were definitely raising awareness. There were pink flyers, pink balloons, and pink t-shirts. What is different about Safeway, though, is that they have customers donate directly to Breast Cancer Research. THAT is something I CAN get behind. Companies who are capitalizing on pink products are left directly out of the equation.
Raising money is a bitch, but there are many better ways to do it: Safeway's method, going from door to door, participating in cancer walks, having conversations, etc., without capitalism and without playing to stereotypical, redonkulous gender roles.
Post a Comment