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Pink Ribbons, Inc.: Breast Cancer and the Politics of Philanthropy Hardcover – Aug. 22 2006

by Samantha King (Author)

4.5 13 ratings

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In 2005, more than one million people participated in the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s Race for the Cure, the largest network of 5K runs in the world. Consumers thoughtfully choose products ranging from yogurt to cars, responding to the promise that these purchases will contribute to a cure for the disease. And hundreds of companies and organizations support Breast Cancer Awareness Month, founded by a pharmaceutical company in 1985 and now recognized annually by the president of the United States. What could be wrong with that?In Pink Ribbons, Inc., Samantha King traces how breast cancer has been transformed from a stigmatized disease and individual tragedy to a market-driven industry of survivorship. In an unprecedented outpouring of philanthropy, corporations turn their formidable promotion machines on the curing of the disease while dwarfing public health prevention efforts and stifling the calls for investigation into why and how breast cancer affects such a vast number of people. Here, for the first time, King questions the effectiveness and legitimacy of privately funded efforts to stop the epidemic among American women. Pink Ribbons, Inc. grapples with issues of gender and race in breast cancer campaigns of businesses such as the National Football League; recounts the legislative history behind the breast cancer awareness postage stamp—the first stamp in American history to raise funds for use outside the U.S. Postal Service; and reveals the cultural impact of activity-based fund-raising, such as the Race for the Cure. Throughout, King probes the profound implications of consumer-oriented philanthropy on how patients experience breast cancer, the research of the biomedical community, and the political and medical institutions that the breast cancer movement seeks to change. Highly revelatory—at times shocking—Pink Ribbons, Inc. challenges the commercialization of the breast cancer movement, its place in U.S. culture, and its influence on ideas of good citizenship, responsible consumption, and generosity.Samantha King is associate professor of physical and health education and women’s studies at Queen’s University, in Kingston, Ontario.

From Booklist

The pink ribbon has come to symbolize efforts to find a cure for breast cancer. But it has also become a powerful symbol for corporate philanthropy, boosting the image of corporations, that promote products from yogurt to cars, slicing off a portion of proceeds to support breast cancer research. King, a women's health issues scholar, explores the phenomenal growth of Pink Ribbons Inc.; the annual massing for the Susan G. Komen Foundation's Race for the Cure 5K runs; and other high-profile events with huge corporate sponsorships. However admirable the effort to find a cure, King argues that it overwhelms efforts to learn how and why women get breast cancer and how it can be prevented. Prevention efforts could help more low-income women who lack the means to pay for treatment. King examines the history of philanthropy and how breast cancer became such a prominent cause, garnering far more support and publicity than other diseases, demonstrating the ability of American women to flex their political and economic muscle on behalf of an important cause. Vanessa Bush
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Print length

157 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Univ Of Minnesota Press
Publication date

Aug. 22 2006
Dimensions

14.96 x 2.54 x 22.86 cm
ISBN-10

0816648980
ISBN-13

978-0816648986
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Univ Of Minnesota Press; First Edition (Aug. 22 2006)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 157 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0816648980
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0816648986
Item weight ‏ : ‎ 440 g
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 14.96 x 2.54 x 22.86 cm

Best Sellers Rank: #787,416 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #225 in Breast Cancer
- #328 in Pharmacy
- #430 in Internal Medicine Oncology

Customer Reviews:
4.5 13 ratings

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Samantha King

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Samantha King is associate professor of physical and health education and women's studies at Queen's University in Kingston, Ohio.

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Judith Grad

Great and highly recommend

Reviewed in Canada on October 5, 2013

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I give it 5 starts because I found it informative and would encourage everyone to read it. It is important to educate ourselves and this book is a good beginning.

Reviewed in Canada on February 13, 2012

This book came quickly and in excellent condition. I am enjoying it because it is a very interesting and thought provoking read.

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Patricia R. Andersen

race for the cure? more like race for the bank account.

Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2015

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This is a very good book. I think the editing needed to be tightened up, but that is my opinion. I will warn you this book will make your sick to your stomach.
Why would it make you sick to your stomach? When you see how much money is raised to "increase awareness" and how little money actually goes to finding a cure, you will be shocked and angry. I lost my mom and my sister-in-law to this disease. It is an ugly disease. If you are not "aware" of breast cancer, then you must be living under a rock at the bottom of a deep well. Almost everybody knows somebody who has breat cancer.
This book will most likely make you angry. It made me angry. All those pink products advertised in October making all that money for the companies that produce the stuff. Most of it does not go into prevention or cure, just paying the executives big salaries.
If you are wondering why so much money is being spent on "research" on breast cancer, read this book. It won't make you happy but it will give you what you need to break away from the pink ribbon culture.

Pooja Kiran Patel

very interesting insights on capitalization of health campaigns and disease

Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2014

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Liked how it illuminates the different aspects health movements and initiatives. How these initiatives are exploited and used by companies to make profits

One person found this helpful

Ashley N. Mack

Great.

Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2013

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A great study of the neoliberalization of activism and politics. If you are interested in how neoliberal discourses have come to change our orientation towards public life, this is a great book, whether or not you are interested in breast cancer politics.

3 people found this helpful

Ashley

Great book!

Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2013

Verified Purchase

I thought the book was pretty interesting, and worth the read, even if I did have to read it for a class.

One person found this helpful

Baxter

Should be a MUST READ

Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2012

Verified Purchase

"Think Before You Pink" - next time you are at the grocery store and the ask you if you want to donate to Breast Cancer "Awareness" tell them you are already "aware" - and then suggest this book - quite the eye opener.

One person found this helpful

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Pink Ribbons, Inc.: Breast Cancer and the Politics of Philanthropy Hardcover – Aug. 22 2006

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About the author

Samantha King

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