Pinxploitation

Laurie, over at "Not Just About Cancer", posted about all the pink marketing in October for breast cancer awareness and she called it "pinxploitation". I think it's appropriate and wanted to give her credit for her new word. Thanks, Laurie!!

In the last year or so, after I learned how much the companies make from pink ribbon marketing, but only a small percentage of the profits actually goes to breast cancer research or support - I have tried not to literally buy into pink ribbon marketing. I don't really participate in Walks for the Cause or Races for the Cure. However, I do understand that the pink ribbons and such help breast cancer survivors connect with others going through treatments and find support and I know that my family and friends feel that by participating in such events, they are supporting me. I sometimes get gifts with pink ribbons. And, that's okay. By receiving them, I know they love me and are thinking about me and I accept those gifts in the spirit in which they are given.

So, I am engaging in a small, quiet protest by not buying into pink ribbon marketing. But I don't make others feel bad or guilty for doing so because I think their heart is in the right place and also because there's enough guilt and bad feelings in the world that I don't need to add to it. I just focus on things that make me happy and don't dwell too much on the negative.