The Hunt for Pink October: What Helps Cure Breast Cancer?
The pink culture that defines breast cancer awareness sears our consciousness this month, with everything from pink helicopters to pink slugger violins to pink sleeves by quarterbacks.
But porn?
I just discovered that the adult entertainment site PornHub will donate one cent to a breast cancer research charity (Save the Boobs) for every 30 porn videos watched.
Seriously?
How generous! How wonderful that women will be exploited so that a penny will go for research for every 30 videos men watch to satisfy their prurient interest.
This is wrong on so many levels. Porn is not just a healthy outlet for men who need sexertainment. It has consequences no matter how you slice and spice it. The sex-slave trade is only one of the many dirty secrets that porn kings want to hide. Titillating videos of this nature are also associated with such unpleasantries as incest, rape, underage sex, and marital infidelity.
Many men have been addicted to porn for years, helpless to stop it no matter how hard they try. Some need more and more thrills to get the same self-pleasuring reaction to the images. Behavior that feeds the ever-deepening addiction can lead sadly to break-up of families. How does family breakup help those with breast cancer? Breakups adversely affect finances, and cause undue stress that depresses the immune system. I should know; I’ve been there.
Such flippant treatment of breast cancer is an insult to women everywhere. It’s belittling to those who’ve had a lumpectomy or mastectomies and/or breast reconstruction. It’s especially an affront to those with metastatic disease in which the cancer has spread beyond the breast to distal parts of the body. It’s a slap in the face to those who have already died from this dreaded disease.
And what about the disfiguring effects of lymphedema, an arm swelling that can occur after breast cancer surgery and radiation? No one wants to mention that ugly little truth, either. Who wants to address how the swelling can lead to complications beyond just cosmetic concerns, such as infections? Who wants to discuss unsightly bandaging? None of those topics is erotic, let alone stimulatory.
Instead of porn videos, these seekers of thrills should be required to see the The SCAR Project photo display. According to their website, the SCAR project is “a series of large-scale portraits of young breast cancer survivors shot by fashion photographer David Jay. Primarily an awareness raising campaign, The SCAR Project puts a raw, unflinching face on early onset breast cancer while paying tribute to the courage and spirit of so many brave young women.”
One look at these images will take away the pink glitter people continue to sprinkle on breast cancer.
Being encouraged to watch porn videos tempts men and gives them a convenient excuse to feed their addictions, while hurting their loved ones. Are you fed up with this low blow to the cause? Are you tired of how breast cancer awareness has become a form of sexploitation? Then it’s time to make our voices heard. Join me in putting an end to the porno-pink nonsense that damages our society and putting money into causes likely to effect change.
I particularly like to read The Pink Underbelly during October as the author points out all the pink inconsistencies that abound. In her latest post she describes Dr. Susan Love’s recent initiative: The HOW Study. This study is designed to find out the causes of breast cancer so we can prevent the disease from occurring. According to Dr Love’s website, some 280,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer last year. Of those, 40,000 women will die from the disease this year. Let’s get these statistics under control, not by watching porn, but by embracing worthy studies like this one. Another organization of value is The Army of Women. I’ve participated in several Army of Women studies and will continue to do so every chance I get, because I believe they will make a difference.
Down with pink! Instead, I’m seeing red. Let’s neutralize the color of the hunt this month by avoiding all causes that sport “tatas” and “boobs” and supporting causes that matter.
I totally agree with you, Jan. Why promote porn for a few more dollars to breast cancer research and or direct care if you are even more so generating dollars to the so-called breast cancer philanthropist with another motive? Keeping in mind you could be supporting sincere causes like SCAR. Orgs like SCAR who not only donate, but support in their mission what trying to beat down this disease is really about.
Yes, Rachel, SCAR and similar organizations are totally legit in their motive and efforts to eradicate this scourge of a disease once and for all. Sensationalism in the form of porn serves the opposite function. Thanks for your comment. xox
Words fail me, Jan. Seeing red with you …
You’re welcome Jan. Thanks for taking the time, not only to post, but to read all your comments and engage in the conversations. This issue you’ve brought up brings me to something in my own life that has made me reflect more on who we ask to help us: My husband is a business man and very practical. He believes in doing the right thing but also in getting the results you want. When I told him about some of the orgs exploiting breast cancer to make money/get on the bandwagon he said in so many words, yes, (our conversation started over KFCs pink deep fat fried chicken buckets) He said yes, but he thought if that’s how they want to spend their donation dollars, well, take the money. I see his point – not easy to raise the dollars raised so far that are helping only make baby steps. But again we do have to think about the lasting cultural effects tied to partnering with folks who’s businesses are not helping and may be hurting the cause they are supposedly supporting.
Just when I think th epinkwashing nonsense has hit rock bottom (pink KFC buckets come to mind), I see this. Porn??? Really? I’m speechless. Again, it’s all about the breast and not about the cancer. And the fact that the breasts on display in the porn industry most likely look nothing like real breasts, and certainly bear no resemblance to post-breast-cancer-treatment breasts…that makes me sick. That’s why things like the SCAR Project are so important. And that’s why Lymphedema education is so important–where’s the awareness ribbon for that! Breast cancer disfigures women for life, whether via surgery, radiation, and/or Lymphedema. That’s something the porn industry clearly doesn’t get. Keep spreading the word, Jan. you’re doing important work, and I’m grateful.
P.S. many thanks for the shout-out to my blog! xo
Your posting almost knocked me out of my chair. Porn??!? Really? Let’s talk about demeaning women for “the cause.” Horrible. I’m with you in seeing red.
Isn’t it terrible, Beth, about the lengths to which some will go to exploit others and gain more notoriety at the same time? I’m still shaking my head. Thanks for visiting. xo
Preach on, Nancy! It really makes me sick, too, this focus on air-brushed breasts that have no resemblance to reality. There is a ribbon for lymphedema, turquoise actually, but hardly anyone knows about it. We certainly don’t have a turquoise awareness month for lymphedema. I can’t imagine ever having that. Thanks for the encouraging words and I was glad to promote your blog. You are also doing an important work to get out the anti-pink word. xox
Yes, Rachel, we do have to consider the lasting cultural effects of these pink efforts and the logic behind all the hoopla. Thanks for your further comment and for discussing this with your husband. It’s great to get different perspectives on the subject. xo
It’s really hard to fathom, isn’t it, Yvonne? xox
Jan,
Just when you think you’ve seen it all… what can possibly be next? This one’s a new low. It’s beyond demeaning this sexualization of a horrible disease. Thanks for calling this one out. I think we’re all seeing red.
Yes, Nancy, what could possibly be next? I couldn’t bear to remain silent on this issue, especially when it has touched me so personally. Thanks for seeing red with me! xox
Just when you think you’ve seen it all…unbelievable.
By coincidence, I go together with two of my local ‘breast friends’ last night to watch a doco that was screened here this week about the SCAR project. Terrific, powerful stuff.
I know, Liz…just when you think that pink could only go so far! How wonderful that you could go with your “breast friends” (gives a new meaning to BFFs, doesn’t it?) to watch the documentary. I’m sure it was powerful. Wish I could have seen it with you Down Under. xox