The Craze for the Cure: An Examination of Pink Ribbon Culture And the Industry Behind it.

As a society, we’ve become very much aware that advertisers will appeal to children, so much so, that many children recognize many brand names and logos at a very early age. In 1991, 91% of 6-year-old children were able to correctly identify different cigarette brands. Since then, our efforts to change this particular issue, in the United States, have been rather successful, but the advertisers have now begun using the same methods to appeal to children in low- and middle-income countries (USA Today). Almost everyone would say that these tactics are, obviously, not in good moral standing, and yet, similar methods are used with all different types of products appealing to a multitude of people accompanied with promises that ultimately are not met. Consequences can arise if we don’t change anything.

When it comes to the topic of breast cancer, one can easily see where advertisers have pushed the boundaries of a good cause. The efforts of certain organizations, such as, Avon, Susan G. Komen, and Estee Lauder, have made great impacts in breast cancer awareness, but at the same time, introduced many new issues with it. What was once a political activist movement has become a pink ribbon. It has forever changed the color pink in our minds, and has put a pretty face on a rather serious disease. Unfortunately, many have fallen for the trap, without thinking twice about it. Consumers, donors, and sponsors should be researching the efforts and events they sponsor, as many advertisers take advantage of people’s good hearts and put breast cancer ribbons onto products without revealing where the money is truly going.

Before exploring the atrocities occurring with these advertisers, there is a need for understanding exactly what cancer is. Often, the misconception of cancer is that one can get it from an outside source. The truth is that every person has cancer cells inside of