Okay, enough is enough.
Dearest people in fandom: I really do understand how one wants to create awareness about something via fandom. Many times it really works. I've lost count of how many bids have been done during the past two years to help victims of natural disasters, for example, or offerings when a member of the fandom can't pay for their medicines. These are some things that make me proud and so glad of being part of fandom.
HOWEVER. THERE ARE WAY AND WAYS TO DO THIS. And if your way includes making distasteful jokes, if they add sexism, chauvinism and perpetuate harmful myths?
YOU ARE FAILING.
NOW. BREAST CANCER.
- MEN CAN ALSO GET BREAST CANCER-
- IT'S NOT ABOUT BREASTS, IT'S ABOUT SAVING LIVES. AS PRETTY AS BREASTS ARE? IT'S NOT ABOUT SAVING BREASTS, BUT THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE CANCER.
- PLEASE, PEOPLE, STOP CONTRIBUTING WITH THE MYTH THAT WOMEN WITHOUT BREASTS, OR WOMEN WHO HAD TO HAVE MASTECTOMIES ARE LESS WOMEN FOR NOT HAVING THEIR BREASTS.
Laughter IS the best medicine, it's true. But please, please be aware of what you're posting. You want to make people laugh, fine! Be my guest! I'll love you forever if I get to giggle! But don't crack jokes that end up being more harmful.
This post says it better than I can (I repeat, this hits way too close home):
HOWEVER. THERE ARE WAY AND WAYS TO DO THIS. And if your way includes making distasteful jokes, if they add sexism, chauvinism and perpetuate harmful myths?
YOU ARE FAILING.
NOW. BREAST CANCER.
- MEN CAN ALSO GET BREAST CANCER-
- IT'S NOT ABOUT BREASTS, IT'S ABOUT SAVING LIVES. AS PRETTY AS BREASTS ARE? IT'S NOT ABOUT SAVING BREASTS, BUT THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE CANCER.
- PLEASE, PEOPLE, STOP CONTRIBUTING WITH THE MYTH THAT WOMEN WITHOUT BREASTS, OR WOMEN WHO HAD TO HAVE MASTECTOMIES ARE LESS WOMEN FOR NOT HAVING THEIR BREASTS.
Laughter IS the best medicine, it's true. But please, please be aware of what you're posting. You want to make people laugh, fine! Be my guest! I'll love you forever if I get to giggle! But don't crack jokes that end up being more harmful.
This post says it better than I can (I repeat, this hits way too close home):
- But I do have an issue with the kind of language used in these campaigns because it emphasises the sexual desirability of breasts, especially as objects for male sexual gratification - and not a woman’s health and wellbeing. ‘Feel Them Up’ is associated with the sexual behaviour of some men. The phrase is linked with and suggestive of adolescent males groping girls. (You would never hear the sentence ‘She felt him up in the back of the car’).