It’s that time of year again. The time when every product under the sun dusts off its pink packaging and women all over Facebook post cryptic status updates about where they like ‘it’ or something akin to a pregnancy update. For some reason this is to raise awareness of breast cancer. Today I woke up to see my best friend’s status read “I’m ten weeks and I’m craving thin mints.” I guarantee not once did breast cancer enter my mind. Nope. I spent all morning wavering between extreme hurt that I found out that my best friend was pregnant via Facebook and pissed off that she didn’t tell me.
Another example of breast cancer awareness: A pink bridge.
Except of course she isn’t pregnant. She’s raising awareness about breast cancer. I get that these memes are fun, and in no way do I think less of those who participate in these memes. Not at all, but it just seems silly to me. Want to raise awareness? Be aware yourself. Why waste time with elusive status updates? Post a link to an article, some research…something! When we as women harness the power of social media we move mountains. Just this week JCPenney removed a girls’ shirt from their website after we took to Twitter with our outrage. Imagine if we could harness this power more regularly, bombarding our congressmen and women, the big pharmacology companies…maybe we could move some mountains in women’s cancer research. Heaven knows we need more money for research. Research that could save the life of someone we know.
Oh yes, I’m speaking as someone who has a friend battling breast cancer. Again. For the fourth time and now it’s spread to her spine, neck, ribs and hips. Every breath she takes raises my awareness. Every post she publishes on her blog raises my awareness. She is not perfect. I’m sure she doesn’t want to be the voice of awareness for so many of us. She wants to play with her kids, take them to school, pursue her dreams, love her husband. She wants to live. She doesn’t care where you keep your purse.
Today, instead of posting some silly Facebook meme, I’m posting the link to her take on the very first meme…the unintentionally hurtful bra one. Perhaps you’ll join me. Maybe we can raise some awareness this way.
It’s not enough. It’s not enough for all the women struggling to fight breast cancer, struggling to just be moms, wives, scientists, lawyers, cooks, architects. To just be.
It may not be much. But today, it will be a start. It will be enough.
Here is the link to the words of the beautiful Susan Neibur. Join me: In The Name of Awareness.
xo
Stephanie
We hope that you will join us in our Be Enough Me for Cancer campaign where we link up stories of our own being enough. For every 20 linked up posts, Bellflower Books will provide a memory book to a woman fighting breast cancer. It may not be enough to find a cure, but it will be enough to help bring a smile to courageous women that are giving it their all, every single day. The link up opens on Monday morning and remains open for three days. No blog? No worries. You can also comment on the post or on the Just.Be.Enough. Facebook page with your own story and be “counted.”
beautifully said. I agree wholeheartedly. And thank you for linking to Susan’s blog, too.
Frelle recently posted..Now That’s Just Uncalled For
Thank you. Susan’s post says it better than any meme ever could.
I agree. The first year I thought it was fine and didn’t understand the uproar over how the bra colour meme didn’t help spread awareness. But as it’s gone on, I see it. We need to do more and not fool ourselves into thinking that things like this are enough.
Robin | Farewell, Stranger recently posted..This I Know For Sure
At least the bra one had something to do with boobs! But a fake pregnancy announcement, well, I just don’t see the logic.
Minky recently posted..Helter Skelter.
I completely agree. I got the message from a friend instructing me to change my status to “I’m 13 weeks and craving chocolate cake.” Not only did I think this was a silly and convoluted way to “raise awareness,” I also thought it would be extremely inconsiderate to friends of mine who might be struggling with infertility (of whom I know a few). If I WERE actually pregnant (which is plausible with where I am in life), I would keep it to myself until the right moment and then I would personally and gently tell them so that when the news revealed itself, they could prepare themselves. I certainly wouldn’t want them to find out via Facebook status update. Even the temporary hurt and confusion that a “Breast Cancer Awareness” status update could cause felt unacceptable to me.
I think the allure of this type of status update is more about being in on a secret and keeping people guessing. Which has nothing to do with breast cancer awareness. Thank you for the link to your friend’s blog. I am looking forward to clicking over!
Amanda recently posted..Monthly Recap: What I learned in August 2011
YES! This! I agree, and while of course the hurt inflicted on those dealing with infertility would be unintentional. still, is some silly meme worth it? Especially when it’s not clear what that meme is about?
Minky recently posted..Helter Skelter.
I did not participate in this series of questionable and frankly, juvenile memes, because I thought it was superficial and insincere. You’re right, awareness? What awareness? How many years are we going to talk about awareness, when it’s time to put your money where your mouth is? Thank you for writing this Stephanie, and linking to Susan’s post.
Alison@Mama Wants This recently posted..Scavenger Hunt Sunday #2
you are awesome. that is all.
Minky recently posted..Helter Skelter.
Amen! Great Points!
Amen! and thank you.
Minky recently posted..Helter Skelter.
Oh my gosh! I know that bridge! Sundial Bridge. I didn’t know they lit it up pink!
Sheri recently posted..3rd grade week 5 & 6: Lentil
Totally disagree. I saw my friend’s status and before jumping to conclusions (like you all are saying she would have told us face to face) I Googled it – a list of websites talking about breast cancer awareness appeared. I now know why she’s done it and have taken time to read some of the articles.
This quite a common thing to do these days and the more people that post similar status, the more this will be discussed. The meer fact that you have felt compelled to write this (rather harsh) article shows that this approach is working and will continue to do so. Not everything has to be as black and white and posting a link to a website… any publicity is good publicity.
Agree totally with Ben.
And given that three of my FB friends all posted “I’m X weeks and craving….” on the very same day, it was clearly a viral message rather than a personal announcement.
I Googled it, and now I know what it represents. Very good way of spreading publicity.
I understand how it’s supposed to create awareness for breast cancer but personally I feel it was gone about the wrong way. Seriously, instead of silly status updates why not post about breast cancer awareness. Point blank. No subterfude, no questionable messages. Think about it from some women’s point of view…the ones who have been unable to conceive, have miscarried or such. This X weeks and cravings has really hit them hard emotionally. I know it, I’ve seen it. I’ve had several friends who have posted begging people to stop because it hurts for them to read status updates like this.
There truly has to be a better way. And that’s my two cents.
Juggling Act recently posted..Sad Goodbyes
I read your post days ago and the linked ones as well. Absolutely moving!! I never did get the whole pregnancy thing Amd what was it last year a purse thing?? If I have to take time to google search a FB Message is it really a worthy movement? It actually made me feel left out of popular kids game, everyones playing and I don’t get it. I see absolutely no connection in the FB message and the message they are trying to spread. Dont dick around and play games, get the message out there and tell people like it is. God only knows the fighters and survivors don’t get to play cutesey games! -Laverne (thank you for the lesson and insight!!)
Kindredadventures recently posted..I am. I can. I will.
I don’t get any of those memes, just like I don’t get the “99% of people won’t repost this” things that float around on Facebook.
I agree that there are better ways to spread awareness than to post silly things.
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I disagree with you. The reason I stumbled into your blog is because I googled “Im 6 weeks pregnant and craving for Kit-kat chunky” that my friend in Facebook posted. I wouldn’t have done it if I wasn’t curious enough. Sorry to tell you, but posting a link about an article about Breast Cancer Awareness will not really give people much interest. Like me, I never give second look on things that don’t interest me such as links or whatever. But this what you called stupid meme is so interesting enough to make me google it. Now, I’m more aware of Breast Cancer Awareness. I agree with Ben and Neal, and those who disagree just want to link to their blogs. Just my thought. Thank you.
I would love to participate on this awareness campaign. It isn’t easy for those people who are enduring such hard times upon having the breast cancer taking into their lives. Women all around the world should be given a chance to have the utmost respect regarding this campaign.
Jenny recently posted..hair loss after pregnancy
Grace and Jamie you miss the point – all you have googled is a stupid gimic which says it is raising awareness of breast cancer. Have you taken the time to read anything else on the subject you didn’t already know? Therefore breast cancer screening, funding etc awareness is not raised – just the words
breast cancer awareness.
There is also the issue that the purpose of these gimics is too exclude men. Why exclude men? I have in the past contributed time and money to breast cancer charities however with this exclussion I get the hint that my help is not wanted.