Last semester, I took a course in Women’s Health in Politics. A good portion of the class was dedicated to aspects of the women’s rights movement and various issues that have subtle or noticeable effects on women such as: mental illness, reproductive rights, and chronic pain. One subject we dedicated  our time to was the symbolism of the pink ribbon and the misdirected intentions that have sprung forth from it. Although it is meant to create an environment of solidarity for women with breast cancer, the pink ribbon has resulted in the commercialization of the disease. How do pink trinkets minimize the magnitude of a life-threatening illness? How does the abundance of pink fundraising help or hurt the causes of other life threatening illnesses? If the eradication of breast cancer is the goal, then what percentage of funds raised go to research compared to awareness programs? Once generalized, one can see that these questions pertain to any aspect of activism and are crucial to consider when considering the role money plays in fundraising for a ‘good cause.’

Last semester, I took a course in Women’s Health in Politics. A good portion of the class was dedicated to aspects of the women’s rights movement and various issues that have subtle or noticeable effects on women such as: mental illness, reproductive rights, and chronic pain. One subject we dedicated  our time to was the symbolism of the pink ribbon and the misdirected intentions that have sprung forth from it. Although it is meant to create an environment of solidarity for women with breast cancer, the pink ribbon has resulted in the commercialization of the disease. How do pink trinkets minimize the magnitude of a life-threatening illness? How does the abundance of pink fundraising help or hurt the causes of other life threatening illnesses? If the eradication of breast cancer is the goal, then what percentage of funds raised go to research compared to awareness programs? Once generalized, one can see that these questions pertain to any aspect of activism and are crucial to consider when considering the role money plays in fundraising for a ‘good cause.’