Save the Boobies

Warning: I'm on a rant, here, and this is (somewhat) of an adult-type subject. I don't even know if your adorable children read my blog, or if you, yourself, reading this right now are an adorable little child..just take caution before reading. I don't want to offend anyone.

(Do you have Facebook? Because if you don't, some of this post may not be as close-to-home as it will to those who do have FB. But please, even if you don't have Facebook, keep reading. You know, if you'd like. I'm not going to force you to do anything you don't want to do. Thats rude.)

SO. I'm back in school. (woo-hoo!) I'm taking an English class. I like English, alright. I consider myself a decent writer, so I am confident in this class and I've always got good grades in English classes so that helps my confidence level. I'm not a huge fan of all the writing assignments though. I really, really, really don't like being told to write about a certain, assigned subject, I'd much rather be given a vague, broad topic and be able to choose what I'd like to write about based off of my own interests, likes, etc. Do you get it?

Lucky for Chelsea, my first real paper in this class is an argumentative, two-sided essay and the topic is something of our choosing. Thank you, Professor. I decided to choose something that I will probably regret later because I know I'm going to become obsessed over this subject and stress about it like a mad-woman and I'd be willing to bet I'll lose some sleep over it. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, I don't know, yet, if its a homework assignment I really want to do good on, or know that I can do really good on, this is how I handle it. Hey, its who I am. I'm embracing it.

Subject: Breast Cancer Awareness

Here is where FB comes into play. Have you seen all of the ways people, specifically girls, I guess, are trying to promote awareness for this?

Allow me to give you a few examples.
(at least i think these were all breast cancer awareness games...to be honest, i didn't pay much attention to them when i'd get the messages encouraging me to "play" them...so correct me if i'm wrong. really do, though, because i'm going to write a paper on this and i want it to be right. oh! and if there were any more ways to become aware, please inform me, if you wouldn't mind.)

• There was one time when a message was sent around FB to all the girls that instructed you to change your status to "I like it on ______." In the blank, you were supposed to write where you usually put your purse. For example, mine would probably have been, "I like it on the floor" or "I like it in the closet." The idea of this is to make the boys scratch their heads over what on earth this status could mean. But, naturally, their minds are going to go towards dirty thoughts, I mean lets face reality, people, a person who has been exposed to any media is going to think this is the location of where a person is having sex. Okay, so whatever, its a bit comical, but what on earth does where you like to have "it" have to do with breast cancer?! 
• There was another message that went around saying that you should put the color of your bra on your status. Okay, this one is a little more closely related to breast cancer. Bra's hold your breasts...so there you go, sort of related. But still... Are we going to read so-and-so's status that says "red" or "purple" and immediately think of supporting breast cancer? Maybe I'm the odd one out here, but I know that wasn't what I thought when I'd read those status's. I guess at least this one doesn't put your mind in the gutter as bad as the first one...
• This one, I'm not necessarily sure has to do with promoting breast cancer awareness, I heard it was, but I don't know. Regardless, its gross. Anyway, the message was that girls were supposed to put your shoe size with a frowny face after it. For example, mine would be: 7 :( I didn't get this one at first, but rumor on the street has it that this is supposed to be the size of..you know, male anatomy. Why does a girl have to put this, though?! (Not that a boy should, either, though) And again, how in the H does this promote breast cancer awareness or show your support? This one just makes me feel dirty and puts my mind in a place it shouldn't be. 
• My last FB-point is the most recent "game" floating around. This one deals with your birthday. Your status is supposed to read, "I'm ___ weeks and craving ___." In the first blank, you put your birth month, in the second blank, you take your birth day and there is a list provided of 31 different food items and you match the food with your birth day number. Mine would be, "I'm 12 weeks and craving creme eggs." (ps i will never crave those. never. they're icky.) This one bothers me on so many different levels. This is offensive to me and I've never even had breast cancer or any sort of cancer, at that. Ugh. Okay, rant time. Most women who have had cancer, survived cancer, etc. become infertile and cannot have children. I don't know, but I'd assume this would become somewhat of a fragile subject for these amazing cancer-fighters/survivors. Right? Then how is pretending your pregnant on FB showing your support for this cancer? Its not! This one, in my opinion, is more for the comical/entertainment factor rather than the support. I wonder if whoever started this "game" thought that one through...Probably not, I'm guessing. In no way, shape or form does this have anything to do with breast cancer.

Alright, there you have my Facebook argument.

Now, here is the part I'm torn about. How do you feel about the "I Love Boobies" paraphernalia? This one is at least somewhat good because (to my understanding) some of the money from the purchase of the shirt, bracelet, etc. go towards breast cancer research. That is good, yeah? However, do you wonder if people buy the products with the intention of giving some of their money to the research? Or do they just want the product because its amusing to wear an item of clothing or to sport an accessory that says, "I Love Boobies," and it just so happens that some of the money goes to the good cause? I think there is a very fine line between good intentions and not-so-good intentions on this one. I don't know, what do you guys think? I need help on this one. I'm torn, torn, torn.

Then there is the breast cancer awareness and support that I fully am in favor of. The pink ribbon items, for example. I'm all for the pink ribbon magnets on your car, the opportunities we have to buy items at the store that are pink and some of the proceeds go towards research. For some reason I find it more supportive towards breast cancer if you have the choice to buy a hair straightener that is pink and the money goes towards research or a plain one. Do you know what I mean? If you have the choice to support and you choose to support, that, to me, means so much more.

There's also the runs/races. I support these, too. You get the shirts that have clever little boob references, but they're acceptable to me because when you see the person in that shirt, you know they ran to support the cause. This race shirt is different than the "I Love Boobies" shirt to me because you had to work in order to wear the race shirt and do physical work and actually show your support, physically.

What I'm trying to get at is this: There are so many good ways to promote breast cancer awareness and show your support without being completely ridiculous, stepping over too many lines and maybe insulting cancer survivors and fighters.

One last thing..sort of on the subject, sort of not and I can't decide if this is going to be in my English essay or not, please feel free to give me your opinion, I need it!  Why do you think breast cancer is sooooo widely supported and well-known when there are so many other cancers that deserve just as much attention? Is there a reason breast cancer is more commonly advertised than other cancers?

Alright, alright. I think I'm done, now. I know my argument, so far, is a little Facebook heavy, but I'm going to try and have my other points get a little stronger, in the process of writing however many drafts I write of this paper. Please, please, please leave your comments, feedback, arguments, let me know if there's any more points I should make, important things I've left out that would be beneficial to this paper, etc! I need all sorts of help with this paper. :) Yup, I love you all.

Also, if you wanted to wish me luck on this paper that'd be nice, too. :)

kthanks.loveyou.bye.
chelseakate.