Support women's sports and SHARE this story with your friends!

If you’re a Facebook user, you’ve probably seen the bra colors of some of your female “friends” posted by now. Doing so is the latest viral marketing campaign — this one allegedly aimed to raise breast cancer awareness.

This “awareness” campaign, however, is not connected to any legitimate breast cancer research or cancer-related organization, but rather, it’s the latest in a random chain email from an unknown source who started it all by posting:

“Some fun is going on….just write the color of your bra in your status..just the color, nothing else, and send this on to ONLY girls no men… it will be neat to see if this will spread the wings of cancer awareness. It will be fun to see how long it takes before the men will wonder why all the girls have a color in their status…thanks ladies!”

FUN? Really?

I have seen many women suffer through this devastating disease, and sadly, a dear friend died from it less than a year ago. So, after seeing Facebook posts stating “Pink”, “Nude” or even “None” with “LOL”, smiley icons and even sexual comments posted in response by men and women, excuse me for thinking this is anything but a “fun” moment on Facebook. There is simply nothing hilarious about cancer and making light of it this way only encourages people to take it less seriously.

Even so, the absurdity didn’t seem to stop some from being thrilled about the so-called awareness campaign. Andrea Rader of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, told ABC News, “We think it’s terrific. It’s a terrific example of how little things get started on the Internet and go a long way to raise cancer awareness.”

But what good has it really done for breast cancer awareness? Does anyone on Facebook really not already know about breast cancer? How does posting the color of our undies really help cure this disease?

Tracy Clark-Flory of Broadsheet agreed, “This bra color movement seems a similarly desperate attempt to get guys to simply give a crap about breast cancer by making it sexy and flirtatious, which I find not only embarrassing to women but insulting to men.” Mary Carmichael of Newsweek also backed this up, “They’re not saying a word about cancer. This isn’t awareness or education; it’s titillation.”

So, if we really want to use Facebook to help the millions of people affected by cancer, how about posting a number instead. Like one to indicate the number of cancer-related fundraising events you’ve participated in. Or the number of times you’ve contacted your local legislators to make cancer research a priority. Or the number of meals you’ve brought to the families of those affected by cancer. Or the number of hours you’ve spent thinking of someone who has died from the disease.

Now that’s a status worth posting, don’t you think?

Share on Facebook

Support women's sports and SHARE this story with your friends!

• SportsPLUS
• Cause/Charity

View Original Post at cooladventuregirls.com

View ddunham426's Full Profile

There is 1 comment on this post. Join the discussion!

anngaff says:

You're so right....I got a message about it and didn't even know it was related to breast cancer awareness at all...by the time it got to me, that part must have been removed from the message. FAIL.

Sunday, January 10, 2010 at 11:35pm EST

Leave Your Comment:  Read our comment policy

Login  |  Sign Up

LOGIN TO WOMEN TALK SPORTS:

Username: 

Password: 

SIGNUP FOR A WOMEN TALK SPORTS ACCOUNT:

A Women Talk Sports account allows you to maintain a profile at www.womentalksports.com and login to comment on posts using your WTS identity.

Fields marked with a * are required.

Your First Name*: 

Your Last Name*: 

Your E-mail*: 

Your Website: 

Your Location: 

Your Twitter Username: 

Create a WTS Username*: 

Create a Password*: 

Confirm Password*: 

Check here to receive bi-weekly emails from Women Talk Sports and partners highlighting discussions on our site and upcoming women's sporting events, as well as informing you of new products, services and special offers.

I accept the Terms & Conditions for joining Women Talk Sports