What does BCA have against the pink ribbon?
The pink ribbon’s goal is to raise awareness. We ask, “Awareness of what, and to what end?” It is most often tied to activities that simply encourage women to get mammograms, and it was created by—and is used by—corporations to prove their concerns about women’s issues. The pink ribbon does not speak to the fundamental changes in the research agenda, the health care system, and our approaches to treatment and prevention of breast cancer that we feel are necessary to end the rising rates of cancer. For this reason, you do not see pink ribbons, or anything pink for that matter, on this website. Simply put, the ribbon does not say enough. It is a pretty ribbon, but there is nothing pretty or comforting about breast cancer. So, though you won’t find any pink ribbon pins in the BCA merchandise store, you will find the BCA “Cancer Sucks” buttons and stickers. See also: Aug/Sep ’96 article “Let Them Lick Stamps,” about the first United States postal stamp on breast cancer, which pictured a wo
