tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137428085539999645.post7901846528401478171..comments2022-12-03T06:26:32.135-08:00Comments on Nothing Outside the Text: Risqué Without Risk: On Gendering Disease, Sexy Status Updates, and Pseudo-ActivismMarehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03199544659297403648noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137428085539999645.post-49897809961454057762011-10-23T08:29:28.378-07:002011-10-23T08:29:28.378-07:00@SqueakyMouse we men are not as dumb as you seem t...@SqueakyMouse we men are not as dumb as you seem to think. Even one mention of the purses was enough for me to understand the concept.treedwellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16342530371183121220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137428085539999645.post-90311008657708516292010-10-16T17:21:10.872-07:002010-10-16T17:21:10.872-07:00As I read this article and the accompanying posts,...As I read this article and the accompanying posts, I found myself mentally ticking off from a list of points that subconsciously bothered me about this campaign. Personally, I participated in the 'game' after a lengthy period of resistance. In the end I updated my status because "everyone else" was doing it - but I held some reservations. <br /><br />What a rich vein you have provided me with to mine with my Secondary English classes as we explore critical literacy and the responsible use of social media!<br /><br />However, after mentally ticking off my list of concerns, I was left with just one not touched on here where gender and sexualisation are the themes. The item I refer to is security. Why on earth would we publicise so widely the location of our handbags in our house? (my status update was cryptic on this point). Facebook is not as secure as we would all wish and I certainly don't advertise in status updates when my house will be empty, when I will be away for a few days or what my contact details are. I have no interest in tempting fate (or light fingered opportunists).Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08075359143149940209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137428085539999645.post-8135140242716146862010-10-14T15:07:14.368-07:002010-10-14T15:07:14.368-07:00Yes! "Keep motorboating alive"...really?...Yes! "Keep motorboating alive"...really? Kudos to you for a great post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137428085539999645.post-9753560099369075762010-10-09T10:04:11.524-07:002010-10-09T10:04:11.524-07:00i don't think this is a ~trifling topic~ at al...i don't think this is a ~trifling topic~ at all. women get pigeonholed into this "sex: now that i've got your attention" stuff way more than men do. as for the why, see 'sexism' for details. there is nothing wrong with wanting to be sexy and desirable or to celebrate the female form, but there comes a point where this overshadows other aspects of the female experience. it's not about whether posting about this issue is as serious as the fact awareness of other cancers is lower. to be honest, i doubt that the points about pancreatic and ovarian cancers would have been brought up in response to a less substantial post on breast cancer month, such as "i like it on the counter at subway"Ednahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16384845553868986637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137428085539999645.post-46072916798178387242010-10-09T09:11:06.826-07:002010-10-09T09:11:06.826-07:00Great blog post on a less than effective awareness...Great blog post on a less than effective awareness campaign. Having watched my mom's 10 year battle with breast cancer, I can honestly say that this campaign would not have saved her and probably will not even make any research money for the Komen "search for a cure" folks either (a campaign I generally despise). I guess my question back though is that if the "I like it _____" campaign is an ineffective social awareness campaign, then what are examples of effective ones? Sometimes I feel like the government, non-profits, business and doctors alike fail miserably at connecting with the "average Joe" out there, no matter what they are selling. Americans as a whole have become more difficult to reach. With the overload of information, the ever vigilance we have to not get ripped off, fooled or misled, the lack of time we have to devote to any one issue, is it any wonder that awareness campaigns don't work?Adalheidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00374705229456185535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137428085539999645.post-10085507923837302582010-10-09T04:40:02.312-07:002010-10-09T04:40:02.312-07:00An interesting article, I too noticed a lot of I l...An interesting article, I too noticed a lot of I like it ... posts and then went to find out what was going on, which presumably is the intended effect. <br />By the way, the corresponding male prostate cancer 'fun' awareness campaign is called 'movember' and is a huge phenomenon in both the UK and Australia. However it does require more effort on a participant's part, as it asks men to grow a moustache for the month of November.<br /><br /> http://www.movember.comUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16217301767014099498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137428085539999645.post-75926154122650203832010-10-08T20:11:07.211-07:002010-10-08T20:11:07.211-07:00Mare, I think you are trying too hard to turn some...Mare, I think you are trying too hard to turn something simple and fun into a senior thesis, and your subject lacks substance. The posts irritate you. If there is one thing that having a serious illness will illustrate, underline, high light and actually change in your life, it is the knowledge that it is important to remind yourself to not take yourself so seriously. You may not agree with this today, but give it 10 or 20 years. I reiterate; take that fire that burns so passionately within you and focus it on a thing more relevant than a cheerful little game. I have one I'd love to read your thoughts on:<br /><br />http://www.pancreatic.org/site/c.htJYJ8MPIwE/b.5050503/k.40C9/Pancreatic_Cancer_Facts.htm<br /><br />Facts 2 and 3 infuriate me. Breast cancer and prostate cancer have received enough attention to improve survival rates exponentially. Despite the highly publicized celebrity cases of pancreatic cancer (Patrick Swayze, Steve Jobs, Ruth Bader Ginsberg...) it is a mere blip on most people's radar. We all know that cigarette smoking causes not just lung cancer, but has been linked to a variety of other cancers. Is anyone aware of the fact that many of the behaviors that lead to Type 2 diabetes also contribute to pancreatic cancer?<br /><br />You present a furious argument opposing a trifling topic. Toss us some righteous anger about something intolerable and heartbreaking. I can't wait.Kathleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02653269933972890038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137428085539999645.post-11505079740690333072010-10-08T10:32:19.798-07:002010-10-08T10:32:19.798-07:00I'd like to thank everyone who's commentin...I'd like to thank everyone who's commenting here for sharing their thoughts. I'm compelled to make a few things clear:<br /><br />There is a world of difference between a promotional campaign that sexualizes disease for the sake of marketability, and breast cancer patients and survivors feeling sexy about themselves. While the former may, for some, lead to the latter, by no means should the latter be contingent upon the former. I truly hope breast cancer patients and survivors out there feel like the gorgeous, sexy beings they are all the time, regardless of whether or not they're participating in this game.<br /><br />If this game caused someone to become aware of breast cancer when they weren't before, great.<br /><br />If this game caused a survivor or patient to feel sexy and/or good about themselves, great. <br /><br />If there are some people who run marathons for cancer and think the game is silly and fun and that criticizing it is evidence of being uptight, so be it.<br /><br />None of these things mean we should cease to critically reflect on the game and the manifold, contradictory, and not-entirely-reconcilable ways in which it effects us and our world. <br /><br />Just a warning, folks. I invite debate and disagreement, but I will delete any comments doing so using disrespectful language.Marehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03199544659297403648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137428085539999645.post-86439354672851673572010-10-08T08:22:39.543-07:002010-10-08T08:22:39.543-07:00As a male, let me say what the "where do you ...As a male, let me say what the "where do you leave your purse" campaign did. I first saw it on a friend's Facebook page. Curious, I read a number of comments. The last one was from the poster, who told everyone who had commented what the point was. ZING! I SO GOT IT, and was embarrassed to have thought what I did. But you know what...it made me think about the whole cause, in a way that got through to me. I know the Susan G. Komen Foundation has done an AMAZING job of publicizing breast cancer. But almost too good a job, because I can easily tune out all the "pink" messages without thinking about what they really mean. What "where do you leave your purse" got me doing is THINKING about breast cancer awareness again. For that very reason, I think it did a job that needed to be done.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01931733607766480804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137428085539999645.post-2632748325573200092010-10-07T22:28:32.345-07:002010-10-07T22:28:32.345-07:00Interesting and not so surprising. I (rightly or w...Interesting and not so surprising. I (rightly or wrongly never do 'round-robins') unusually for me participated in this, 'Like it on the floor' thing to raise awareness of Breast Cancer. I don't see the connection either but then this may not have been designed to raise my awareness I thought. <br /><br />In pop culture weird connections are presented to us to successfully market things to us.<br /><br />The clincher was that the message, which arrived in my inbox from the US/UK/Italy, said that this game had had a great effect at raising awareness last year. (The colour of my bra?? Surprising but apparently true.) So I did it and folks thought (I think) that it was out of character and so yes have questioned it.<br />So two points:<br /><br />1, I went to a very proper girls school. But everyone knew that if you wanted to make the whole school aware that you had lost your school book etc you should write a note on the school notice board that went like this:<br />"SEX. (written huge) Now I have got your attention has anyone seen...." It worked every time because it insured (if not done too often) that every man, woman, child and teacher would read it, for sure.<br /><br />2, if they hadn't instigated this silly game that I too do not think is entirely relevant (at all) would you be writing about Beast Cancer Awareness today? (apologies if you would be, we don't know each other, I am here due to facebook.)<br /><br />I am glad to read a well written argument. I am now going to link your text to my page and see what others think.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137428085539999645.post-90818326692879553912010-10-07T21:52:10.331-07:002010-10-07T21:52:10.331-07:00A friend who recently had a radical mastectomy sen...A friend who recently had a radical mastectomy sent me an inbox message requesting that I participate in this "silly little game." I was happy to do so, because it meant something to HER. I am 46 years old. In the last 10 years, 14 of my friends (only one male) have been diagnosed with breast cancer and only one has succumbed to the disease (so far). If I gave it another 10 minutes, I'd probably be able to add 5 or 6 more to that list. More than half of the ladies I've mentioned are facebook junkies, as am I. They have experienced fear and pain and humiliation as a result of their disease. While this campaign may not compel women to activism, it might remind a few women to schedule their mammograms, or to check for lumps in the shower. It is not without merit. It is silly. It is fun. And people who no longer have breasts DO like it on the floor, and in the car, and on the kitchen table, because they are sexy. So take up your fight against people who would refer to breast cancer as "trendy" because people have been made aware of it. Not all activism is grand in scale. The little things also matter.Kathleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02653269933972890038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137428085539999645.post-23544969821986161282010-10-07T20:00:27.952-07:002010-10-07T20:00:27.952-07:00Awesome, I thought I was editing the comment, but ...Awesome, I thought I was editing the comment, but in fact I just deleted it...nice...Here's the comment...again...<br />My sister and I were railing about this yesterday. What tomfoolerly...seriously. It makes a mockery of people who are breast cancer survivors and the desperate slap in the face fear that arises when you hear that dreaded diagnosis. One of my friends noticed that breast cancer seems to be a "trendy" cancer to have--in that it gets a lot of attention when cancers such as prostate, liver, ovarian, etc. do not. But if that attention is ridiculous and/or misguided then maybe being trendy isn't all it is cracked up to be :-/<br />I commented on the blog and finished with this:<br />While social media has enhanced many people's ability to engage in activist movements (after the earthquake in Haiti, facebook was the first place that gave me access to places to donate money and supplies), it has still debilitated it as well. I'm thinking most specifically about young people, who have not been taught to take the next step from posting their bra color to opening their wallets or getting down and dirty in the trenches of these kinds of issues. Hopefully there ARE folks who are being motivated by these kinds of campaigns, though (no matter how silly it seems). It would be nice to wrong, at least on that end...Race Against the Machinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01260769310102638554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137428085539999645.post-67519450347277146222010-10-07T19:57:10.292-07:002010-10-07T19:57:10.292-07:00You are very right to remind us that we shouldn...You are very right to remind us that we shouldn't toss the baby out with the bathwater, Lawyer Mama (I infer your name is Stephanie? Hiya!). All in all (and this is the eventual conclusion Gladwell's piece makes), while social media activism has tremendous potential and is often very valuable, it can not, and should not, be used as a replacement for the older grassroots face-to-face model, but rather, is most effective when used as a supplement to the older model. <br /><br />My post here is directed at a very specific kind of social media activism. As Squeakymouse suggested above, I'm going to try and compile some research on how social media activism affects grassroots activism, starting with trying to find out if last year's "bra-color" game affected march turnouts, breast exams, etc. A daunting task, to be sure, and I would very much appreciate any citations you could throw my way. <br /><br />Same goes for anyone else who might happen to read this. If you know of any studies/ statistical data sources about social media activism interacting with grassroots activism, please send them my way. <br /><br />Thank you, everyone, for sharing your thoughts.Marehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03199544659297403648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137428085539999645.post-68455311329158984952010-10-07T19:52:29.269-07:002010-10-07T19:52:29.269-07:00Marty pointed me to your piece, and for the most p...Marty pointed me to your piece, and for the most part, I'm with you. I think the meme is nonsensical and meaningless. But I don't think it's emblematic of activism in the social media space. To paint all engagement via social media as being as meaningless as this meme is dismissive and untrue.<br /><br />Gladwell has a point where it comes to pseudo activism (and where it comes to breast cancer, there's far too much pseudo activism masquerading as genuine engagement), but it's simply wrong to imply that all social media activism is the same.Julie Marshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05386446012443269817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137428085539999645.post-81433185054833003482010-10-07T19:49:37.012-07:002010-10-07T19:49:37.012-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Race Against the Machinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01260769310102638554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137428085539999645.post-4714110227291406712010-10-07T19:39:27.554-07:002010-10-07T19:39:27.554-07:00That's true, Stephanie. It's not an all or...That's true, Stephanie. It's not an all or nothing deal. Activism can be greatly enhanced by social media as the Momocrats well know!<br /><br />Then there is also the wild card of activists run wild like the "intactivists" who have been attacking the mom in Indiana who lost her 7 week old son yesterday. They have done nothing but smear their cause - that and inflict huge amounts of pain on a family they don't even know.<br /><br />But you are right - there are plenty of positive examples of social activism done right through social media. I was tossing the baby ;)Marty, a.k.a. canapehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15061361665908074413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137428085539999645.post-32301391628206208092010-10-07T19:30:07.761-07:002010-10-07T19:30:07.761-07:00That's not to say that I think this stupid lit...That's not to say that I think this stupid little game was a good thing. I just don't think we should toss out the baby with the bathwater. The problem is with this social media campaign, not with people who engage through social media.Lawyer Mamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06819273107327846943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137428085539999645.post-26487222201640301012010-10-07T19:27:43.612-07:002010-10-07T19:27:43.612-07:00I don't necessarily think that you didn't ...I don't necessarily think that you didn't get it, Marty. With "it" being Gladwell's point. Pseudo activism is a bad thing if it takes the place of real activism. And I haven't seen that it is. According to the research I've seen on volunteerism, people are more engaged now than ever. (I can get a citation if anyone wants it.) now, whether or not this engagement has is a result of social media, we can't say. But let's not discount the effect of getting people slowly engaged through social media. It's been a valid model of engagement used mostly famously by the Obama campaign in 2008 and countless nonprofits and activists alike. Of course, as a new media guru for a nonprofit, perhaps I'm able to see what social media can do to engage people in real life. <br />Lots of great points in this article, but you lost me when you dismissed what happens online as pseudo activism that happens because of social media.Lawyer Mamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06819273107327846943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137428085539999645.post-72429221242351869782010-10-07T19:14:45.529-07:002010-10-07T19:14:45.529-07:00Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
I'm a two-...Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.<br /><br />I'm a two-time survivor of inflammatory breast cancer, a huge fan of social media, and this game makes me so angry I can't see straight. Or maybe that's just the chemo.<br /><br />I wrote a letter to Salon with my objections as a survivor earlier today; I didn't even get into the objectification of women or the arguments you made. Awesome.<br /><br />Thank you for this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137428085539999645.post-74101824728321837872010-10-07T19:06:20.995-07:002010-10-07T19:06:20.995-07:00This is so spot on, thank you. I am bothered by th...This is so spot on, thank you. I am bothered by the argument that this is a valid awareness raising campaign because "See here? We're talking about it. It's working!"<br /><br />Your analysis refutes that statement so well. <br /><br />I had forgotten so quickly about the recent Gladwell article. I rolled my eyes at it and thought to myself that he just didn't get it. And now, just days later, I see that I didn't get it. Humbling.Marty, a.k.a. canapehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15061361665908074413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137428085539999645.post-17321895731167520892010-10-07T17:12:59.031-07:002010-10-07T17:12:59.031-07:00Thank you for posting this. It is one of the best ...Thank you for posting this. It is one of the best articles I have read in a long time and you have articulated exactly how I feel about this. I look forward to reading what you will post on here in the future!Erik Sutchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07670196606858040890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137428085539999645.post-62610574943822366522010-10-07T17:09:19.066-07:002010-10-07T17:09:19.066-07:00Good call, Squeaky. I got so wrapped up in the wri...Good call, Squeaky. I got so wrapped up in the writing that I totally overlooked the omission! Edited to amend the oversight 8:09 pm.Marehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03199544659297403648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137428085539999645.post-59083071341923728812010-10-07T15:17:59.561-07:002010-10-07T15:17:59.561-07:00Squeaky, that is an excellent question, and I than...Squeaky, that is an excellent question, and I thank you for raising it. I'm going to go investigate and I will be sure to report back what I find. <br /><br />If there hasn't already been a study, I hope there is soon. How fascinating that would be!Marehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03199544659297403648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137428085539999645.post-29378828288318169172010-10-07T15:17:36.919-07:002010-10-07T15:17:36.919-07:00Oh one other comment. It seems you are playing rig...Oh one other comment. It seems you are playing right along in this article by continuing to leave men in the dark about what "it" is. You only mention purses a couple of times in passing and no one who didn't know would figure it out. Or is this article only for women, like pink breast cancer ribbons?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01610116374494336614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5137428085539999645.post-90302430930477220292010-10-07T15:15:03.890-07:002010-10-07T15:15:03.890-07:00I have a question. I. too, question the usefulnes...I have a question. I. too, question the usefulness of this campaign. however, I withhold commentary until I read an analysis of what happened last year. Somebody must have studied it? Did more people contribute to the cause? Did more people come out for marathons? Did more people go to the doctor for breast checks? That's a pretty important part of the discussion, and I haven't seen it addressed yet by those who criticize the campaign. btw I agree with everything else. Just hoping somebody has some facts.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01610116374494336614noreply@blogger.com