ANother Reminder
Alright, fam. As we head closer to October I would like to start my yearly reminders that Pinkwashing is a popular marketing tool and it sucks.
Just because it's pink, or has a pink ribbon on, it doesn't mean you should buy it. It doesn't mean the company actually donates anything towards breast cancer treatment, research, etc. Companies are not obligated to. A lot don't. Its pink to drive up sales; that's it.
Many of the companies that are the first ones to slap pink ribbons on their packaging are the same companies who make products with known carcinogens in them. Deodorant and antiperspirant companies are particularly egregious about this; and its an especially big and fancy "fuck you" because the armpit (where the product goes) is breast tissue.
You don't get to put cancer causing components in a product that you are supposed to rub on breast tissue daily, and then slap an anti-breast cancer ribbon on it and declare the problem solved. Maybe try, I dunno, taking the carcinogens out of the product?
Research how you spend your money. Look into the companies you support. Don't just buy a product because it's pink and believe that your money has gone to a foundation.
Verify that they donate. Verify how much of what money they donate and verify to which foundation.
Let's say I want to buy batteries:
In October I will have no problem finding pink batteries because everything that isn't Halloween themed is breast cancer themed in October. I may be tempted to buy the pink ones.
The packaging says the company donates from my purchase; so buying them means I've done a good deed, and my remote works again cause yay batteries. Its an easy feel-good.
Battery Company A will have pink batteries and pledge a portion of the profits from the sale of those pink batteries will go to Charity X.
That company will then claim in their fiscal reports that it cost them a lot of money to change all their machinery over, redesign things to be pink, reprint packaging and battery sleeves etc.
Of the extra, lets say, 100k made - only 10k was "profit." Battery Company A pledged a PORTION of the profit.
So after lining their own pockets, lets say they give 5k. That's 50% of their profits. That's massive. Most companies say 10% but I'm gonna go ahead and say 50% cause Battery company A is "woke."
Though, as an aside, I encourage you to do the math on "10% of profits go to..." and be prepared to be disgusted.
Anyway "50% of profits" in this example means 5k, so here we go.
That 5k goes to Charity X. Charity X just happens to be one of those charities where for every dollar donated, 90 cents goes to "operating costs" and a dime goes to the actual cause.
It happens a lot. Some of the biggest names in charity work do very little giving and a whole lot of posturing. They're big names because the money goes to marketing, not the cause.
So what have we mathed this down to? $500 of that initial $100k raised. Nothing. We could have raised that by collectively searching our couches and cars for loose change.
Some companies do better. A few do legitimately great work. For most, it's a big show that lines lots of pockets before tossing a single penny towards anyone affected by breast cancer.
How do you ACTUALLY help?
Start locally. Look for small grass-roots organizations. Make donations directly to treatment centers, food banks, etc.
You may even have local "mastectomy boutiques" that cater specifically to people whose bodies have been changed. My local one offers education and resources as well as clothing, bras, pads, bindings and other accessories.
Find ways to support caregivers. Connect with local religious organizations if that is your jam. Many will have members who are suffering and could use help or kindness.
If you knit, consider making warm hats, shawls, or socks for those in treatment. The treatment itself can often leave them cold and uncomfortable- and that's without hair loss. Its so much worse for those who lose their hair.
Anyway, all this to say spread love this October - but do it mindfully.
If your intent is to donate to a charity, do it directly. If your intent is to buy cool pink batteries, do it.
Please do not confuse one for the other this year.
Just because it's pink, or has a pink ribbon on, it doesn't mean you should buy it. It doesn't mean the company actually donates anything towards breast cancer treatment, research, etc. Companies are not obligated to. A lot don't. Its pink to drive up sales; that's it.
Many of the companies that are the first ones to slap pink ribbons on their packaging are the same companies who make products with known carcinogens in them. Deodorant and antiperspirant companies are particularly egregious about this; and its an especially big and fancy "fuck you" because the armpit (where the product goes) is breast tissue.
You don't get to put cancer causing components in a product that you are supposed to rub on breast tissue daily, and then slap an anti-breast cancer ribbon on it and declare the problem solved. Maybe try, I dunno, taking the carcinogens out of the product?
Research how you spend your money. Look into the companies you support. Don't just buy a product because it's pink and believe that your money has gone to a foundation.
Verify that they donate. Verify how much of what money they donate and verify to which foundation.
Let's say I want to buy batteries:
In October I will have no problem finding pink batteries because everything that isn't Halloween themed is breast cancer themed in October. I may be tempted to buy the pink ones.
The packaging says the company donates from my purchase; so buying them means I've done a good deed, and my remote works again cause yay batteries. Its an easy feel-good.
Battery Company A will have pink batteries and pledge a portion of the profits from the sale of those pink batteries will go to Charity X.
That company will then claim in their fiscal reports that it cost them a lot of money to change all their machinery over, redesign things to be pink, reprint packaging and battery sleeves etc.
Of the extra, lets say, 100k made - only 10k was "profit." Battery Company A pledged a PORTION of the profit.
So after lining their own pockets, lets say they give 5k. That's 50% of their profits. That's massive. Most companies say 10% but I'm gonna go ahead and say 50% cause Battery company A is "woke."
Though, as an aside, I encourage you to do the math on "10% of profits go to..." and be prepared to be disgusted.
Anyway "50% of profits" in this example means 5k, so here we go.
That 5k goes to Charity X. Charity X just happens to be one of those charities where for every dollar donated, 90 cents goes to "operating costs" and a dime goes to the actual cause.
It happens a lot. Some of the biggest names in charity work do very little giving and a whole lot of posturing. They're big names because the money goes to marketing, not the cause.
So what have we mathed this down to? $500 of that initial $100k raised. Nothing. We could have raised that by collectively searching our couches and cars for loose change.
Some companies do better. A few do legitimately great work. For most, it's a big show that lines lots of pockets before tossing a single penny towards anyone affected by breast cancer.
How do you ACTUALLY help?
Start locally. Look for small grass-roots organizations. Make donations directly to treatment centers, food banks, etc.
You may even have local "mastectomy boutiques" that cater specifically to people whose bodies have been changed. My local one offers education and resources as well as clothing, bras, pads, bindings and other accessories.
Find ways to support caregivers. Connect with local religious organizations if that is your jam. Many will have members who are suffering and could use help or kindness.
If you knit, consider making warm hats, shawls, or socks for those in treatment. The treatment itself can often leave them cold and uncomfortable- and that's without hair loss. Its so much worse for those who lose their hair.
Anyway, all this to say spread love this October - but do it mindfully.
If your intent is to donate to a charity, do it directly. If your intent is to buy cool pink batteries, do it.
Please do not confuse one for the other this year.
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