The Problem With National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

- “The main issues we face today were prefaced by the work done by the previous waves of women. We are still working to vanquish the disparities in male and female pay and the reproductive rights of women. We are working to end violence against women in our nation as well as others. We are still fighting for acceptance and a true understanding of the term ‘feminism,’ it should be noted that we have made tremendous progress since the first

To this day the women’s suffrage movement ignites women in the present to keep those right burning. Alice Paul and her fellow women suffrages demonstrated through speeches, lobbying and petitioning Congressional Committees, with parades, picketing and demonstrations, and with arrest that lead to imprisonment. These women express courage that women still uphold for years after their legacy has passed on, such as the article “Women’s Strike for Equality,” by Linda Napikoski, in the demonstration that was held on August 26, 1970 on the 50th anniversary of women’s suffrage. As well as an article “Women to Protest For Equality Today,” by United Press that talks about on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the women’s suffrage and “declared war on firms that Damage the Image,” of the fair sex. Alice Paul, set the stage for inspiring women to fight for their rights everywhere across the world.

The women’s liberation movement (or feminism as it is now known) of the 1960s and 1970s touched every home, business, and school (WA, 705). The movement even touched the sports and entertainment industries, in fact, “There are few areas of contemporary life untouched by feminism” (WA, 717). The word feminism in the early 1960’s wasn’t often used and when it was it was used with condescension or hatred. However, in the late sixties that changed thanks to a new group of women. This new diverse group of women included the: young, old, heterosexual, lesbians, working class, and even the privileged. This diverse group came together and collectively created the second wave of feminism.

Peggy also talks about how she sees the use of the pink sign all over from the stores to a car wash. It’s a sign to tell people to get check breast cancer has the pink ribbon and the author talks about how men are incouraged to grow out their facial hair for prostate cancer. The author talks about how mammograms are both a saver but harmful because it can scare young woman. Yes they can save a woman’s life but they are also cause more problems from the radiation from the mammograms and the fact they can cause unwanted

We have all seen the pink ribbons. They have become a national, if not international symbol for breast cancer support and awareness. Breast cancer knows neither racial boundaries nor age restrictions. Females of all ages and ethnicities can develop breast cancer and it is the leading most common cancer among women. Calling attention to this often fatal disease is important by supporting its victims, families and friends of victims, as well as raising funds for breast cancer research. Though males are not immune from developing a breast cancer, for the purposes of this paper, this paper will be limited to information relating breast cancer in females.

The coin was small, and its value was only one dollar, but to Betty Friedan, and to women everywhere, it was worth so much more. Every person who looked at the silver coin would see not only a picture of women’s rights activist Susan B. Anthony, but also a symbol of the changing world, and how hard people had fought to make that change. This was the first time a woman had been etched into the metal of a coin, and it meant that, finally, the efforts of Betty Friedan and Susan B. Anthony, herself, were paying off. Despite being lampooned and being ignored, both Anthony and Friedan made it their life’s work to grant women basic rights. Though their lives were one hundred years apart, both feminists are responsible for many of the freedoms women

In Pamela Haag’s publication, “Death by Treacle”, she analyses the symbolism in American culture today that promotes constant charitable giving through excessive awareness and the channels that encourage it—social media. Samantha King’s 2006 book Pink Ribbons Inc. was a breakout disruption in the examination of the pervasive “pink” marketing campaign that happens every October. King remarks, “The most significant risk factors for breast cancer (such as genetics and age) can’t be altered by women, which is why it’s often regarded as a “blameless” disease. It attacks mostly women, who account for the bulk of America’s purchasing power. It attacks the very symbol of femininity, the breast. And a pink ribbon is cute and soothing.” (Frieswick,

Of the eight common conditions which are influenced by disparities under the 2013 Agency for Health Care Research and Quality (AHRQ) disparities report, I chose the topic on cancer, particularly breast cancer.

According to the United States Breast Cancer Statistics (2016), in 2016 there will be an estimated 246,660 newly diagnosed cases of invasive breast cancer and 61,000 of non-invasive breast cancer among women. For this reason, when studying breast cancer based on a large-scale impact, it not only affects the patient themselves but, as well as their families and communities nationwide. Furthermore, many contributing factors lead to this being such a public health issue. Conclusively, there are specific programs, services, and policies that help to assist the contributing factors of such a public health threat. Nevertheless, breast cancer is still an increasing concern in society, and much-needed research is required to be able to detect and treat this disease.

In her essay she relates the rise of feminist consciousness in the 1960s to numerous changes in American society, especially the rise of other protest movements. Echols said, “On September 7, 1968, the sixties came to that most apple-pie of American institutions, the Miss America Pageant” (Echols, 308). The reason she said this was because one hundred women’s liberation activists descended upon Atlantic City to protest the pageant’s promotion of physical attractiveness as the primary measure of women’s worth. From there, the protestors set up a “Freedom Trash Can” and filled it with high-heeled shoes, bras, girdles, hair curlers, false eyelashes, typing books, and representative copies of Cosmopolitan, Playboy, and Ladies Home Journal. They wanted to burn the contents but couldn’t because of the laws for bonfires on the boardwalk. Also, word had been leaked to the press that there would be a symbolic bra-burning. However, there were no bras burnt that day. But the image of the bra-burning, militant feminists remains part of our popular mythology about the women’s liberation movement. The Miss America demonstration represents an important moment in the history of the sixties as well as the women’s movement (Echols, 309-310).

The second article that I have chosen was written in July 1969. It discusses excerpts from The Redstockings Manifesto and the feminist movements that arose in the late 1960s. The manifesto illustrates how feminism had evolved from demands for equal treatment for women. (984) Women

Lydia Mason is 57 years old and lives in Baltimore, Maryland. She took a Women’s Studies class in 1979 at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. At the time, Women’s Studies was the most interesting class out there. It was very popular amongst young people. “Everybody took it,” she said “girls and boys. Everyone wanted to know more about it.” This positive attitude towards the history of women’s suffrage continued until around fifteen years later. Then, the term feminist started to become something with which people did not want to associate themselves. “In the late eighties I would start to hear people say ‘You know, I’m not a feminist, but…’ and then follow it up with something that I personally believed to be a feminist thought. And I still hear that today.”

In the essay, “Bad Feminist,” by english professor and novelist, Roxane Gay, examines the “myth” of “essential feminism,”which means that there are right and wrong ways to being a feminist. Through her own personal experiences as a feminist, she argues the expectations, and labeling due to cultural stereotypes for not living up to feminist ideals. She claims that there is no certain way to being a feminist. Throughout her essay, Roxanne does an astonishing job at appealing to her audience with strong, emotional context by going into detail with her own thoughts are about feminism. Also, her references such as, popular magazines,

June 23 is the national holiday raising awareness to breast cancer, and the color pink- the official hue for breast cancer awareness. On Tuesday KLCS-TV PBS Los Angeles will honor victims and survivors of cancer with the début of the personal and heartfelt film “Sunshine, Noodles and Me.”

The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation marks its 20th anniversary with its retro-styled Pink Caravan this year. The Pink Caravan has been part of the breast cancer awareness campaign that has been launched by the NZBCF since the start of its various programmes for women’s health promotion in New Zealand. The Pink Caravan will be visiting 32 towns of New Zealand as part of its itinerary with a mission to provide breast health information to the men and women who need access to free medical breast check-up, breast cancer monitoring, inquiries, and to be able to sign a petition for an extended government support for free mammogram screening to older patients.