Now that we're in October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month has officially begun. As I was scrolling through Twitter today, I came across a video of a woman showing how to properly check your breasts for any lumps. The video was extremely helpful and also a wonderful reminder to give myself a check-up, but her message was overshadowed by the countless immature men in the replies of the video. The woman was shirtless in her video while showing how she checks to see if there are any abnormalities in her breasts.
There was nothing sexual about the video, but just the fact her breasts were out had every man salivating.
Breast cancer is a serious disease and women should not be sexualized for giving themselves check-ups. It was disgusting to see the number of men in the replies saying something in the vein of "Hey sexy, let me check your breasts for you."
Women do not exist to please you.
Our breasts were not made for you to fondle.
Videos encouraging us to make our health a priority should be shared, not used as an opportunity for you to make a pathetic pass at a woman trying to share her knowledge.
The replies under that tweet made me think of how much I hate the idea that women have to wear bras and prevent their breasts from showing through their shirts. This entire concept only exists because it will "distract" or "entice" men if your breasts are showing. How is it my fault that a man only sees me and my body as being something sexual? I should be able to wear a shirt without a bra underneath without having to worry about a man feeling justified in making lewd comments about my breasts. Why do men not have to wear bras? Why can they go shirtless and not have anyone think twice about it? Our chests are exactly the same. The only difference is that society views male chests as something as boring as a hand, and female chests as a sexual object.
The comments under the video also reminded me of the objectifying "I love boobies" campaign. The people I have seen wearing those bracelets have almost always been men, and I'm not surprised since it was also men sexualizing an educational video about breast cancer self check-ups. Supporting the fight against breast cancer should not only matter to you because you want to "save boobs." There are people attached to those boobs that you have such an unhealthy obsession with.
Your desire for women to not die of breast cancer should not be because you do not want to lose access to our breasts.
It should be because we are human beings that deserve to live full and healthy lives.
You are a vile human being if you think otherwise.
To all my wonderful people out there with breasts, take the time to watch and share the video about how to check your chest for lumps. Make sure to check your breasts each month and do not let anyone sexualize you for it.
