I never met my maternal grandmother. She lost her battle to breast cancer in 1981 when my mother was only 14. From the stories I've heard and pictures I see, I wish she could’ve been part of my life, especially for my mother. She was just one of millions of women who have lost their battle to Breast Cancer; and while we know we can’t change the past, fundraising and organizations dedicated to cancer research have raised millions of dollars to finding a cure. In 2015 alone, it is estimated 231,840 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 60,290 new cases of in situ breast cancer including DCIS and LCIS.
With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, everyone is eager to donate and participate in awareness campaigns. Recently however, there has been a bit of a backlash from cancer survivors and those actively fighting. A Huffington Post article last week shed some light on this. The piece was written by a Breast Cancer survivor speaking out about her frustrations with the various movements created to raise awareness this month. She touches on “pinkwashing” or the phenomenon of organizations pushing their product or message claiming to support a cause, and gaining from it more than giving. Yet, the majority of the article expressed how personally offended she was to hear to about “National No Bra Day.”
After doing a quick Google search of National No Bra Day, I found July 9, 2015 as the official National No Bra Day; but I also found a number of sites that advertise National No Bra Day on October 13, 2015. This date in October has gained some traction, but not without people speaking out about the concerns surrounding the supposed “supportive” movement.
When I was in the seventh or eighth grade, I remember “I heart boobies” bracelets from the Keep A Breast Foundation became a big thing, almost a fashion statement. My mother made it clear that she didn’t like the gesture, and so I didn’t get one. When I asked her why she wasn’t a fan she said it wasn’t a respectful way to raise awareness or funds, that the 8th grade boys walking around with them on their wrists were more interested that they said “boobies” than the actual cause behind it.
In some sense I agree with her, although the Keep A Breast Foundation makes other products that perhaps aren’t as flashy (and is a reputable charity). At the time I had no idea why she was rubbed the wrong way by the gesture, but after having two other females in my family diagnosed with Breast or Ovarian Cancer (which are often linked) and getting breasts of my own, I can understand where she was coming from. As someone who is severely worried about contracting one or both of these cancers (I’m three times more likely than my mother), and having other loved ones effected, sensitive support is something that I try to keep in mind.
Whether or not National No Bra Day on October 13th is officially recognized, it has no place in Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the reaction it has received is evidence of that. It isn’t exactly supportive to walk around braless, flaunting a symbol of your womanhood that these women may no longer have in the name of Breast Cancer Awareness. We need to be mindful of the campaigns we start, support and participate in. While the aim of campaigns like this is to create awareness by empowering women and grabbing attention, it is not “fun” or “supportive” for those who are dealing with or who have survived such a harrowing illness.
As always, remember to schedule your yearly mammogram and perform regular self-exams to check for anything that feels out of the ordinary, no one knows your breasts better than you! Find more info
For more information on how to practice sensitive support check out these other helpful insights here and here.
