Crystal Bell: 'Revenge' Finale Recap: The Most Shocking Death Ever
BritChick Paris: I'm 38 and Want a Baby - Is it Too Late?
Boobs, knockers, hooters, funbags, ta-tas -- we've got plenty of silly nicknames for the leading ladies in our lives. But apparently, when it comes to a serious issue like breast cancer awareness, not all monikers for the good ol' chesticles are well received.Last weekend we shared the details on our "Save the Ta-tas" T-shirt design contest -- but we totally didn't expect backlash that ensued. What's so controversial about saving boobs, right?
Apparently a lot, at least when your campaign involves saving "ta-tas," a term that a couple of readers found was plain "demoralizing and insulting" in the context of a serious disease.
"I'm tired off all the inappropriate slogans like 'save the ta-tas,' 'feel your boobies,' 'save second base,' and 'save a life, grope your wife,'" says Erin. "They make me sick ... The MAIN point behind breast cancer awareness should be to save LIVES, not 'boobies'."
Our thinking is more in line with reader Jeff's: "People notice and support catchy slogans like "Save the Ta-tas" when they would probably overlook more generic 'Help End Breast Cancer'-type T-shirts," he says. The active nonprofit fundraiser also notes, "When something makes me smile or I find it cute as well as acceptable, that is the way to generate funds." And ultimately, raising money and awareness is the goal, right?
The argument's not over yet ...
B wilson, whose sister passed away from breast cancer, says straight up: "I hate this shirt! It is saying that saving breasts is more important than the life they are attached to. Slogans like this are just as ignorant as the people that choose to wear them!"PeggySue insists that "referring to an immature term for 'men's playthings'" takes the focus off saving lives. She throws in some slogan suggestions for men's colon cancer ("save the assholes!") and testicular cancer ("happy squirrels have healthy nuts"), adding: "Not so funny when we take the seriousness out of a horrible disease for a man, now is it?"
Actually, yes, we think it is. Is there a T-shirt printer out there taking this down? We have our wallets open ...
Seriously speaking though, is boob wordplay really so inappropriate? How do patients get through that life-changing an illness without the ability to take a pun alongside the pain?
Breast cancer survivor Jo Anne puts it simply: You can't. "I seriously doubt I would have made it. Through the removal of both breasts, reconstruction surgery, six months of chemo and more reconstruction surgery, my sense of humor kept me going."
Tell us what you think: Is using the term "ta-tas" totally insensitive and a disrespectful way of rallying attention around a serious cause? Or is it OK to encourage fighting the fight with a little tongue-in-cheek humor?
Remember, you can still enter your design for our breast cancer awareness T-shirt contest by Thursday, October 30! See full contest details here.
Comments:
Add a comment
Thursday 05 November
By Gina
Why can't you just call them what they really are BREASTS? You don't hear about Prostate Cancer being called "wee wee", "wanker" or any silly names. I think it's degrading to call womens' breast silly names like ta tas. I am all for humor as a cancer survivor, but hey where is the dignity in calling such a serious cancer by a degrading name to women? Why should humor be used to degrade it? Where is the self-respect? It appears instead of promoting awareness, you're seeking to get attention with sexual innuendos. I think most of us understand the importance of cancer awareness (breast and other cancers) but it's not always necessary to use degrading names to grab everybody's attention. They are called BREASTS.
Reply
Thursday 05 November
By Jessica
I feel that when using humorous and catchy slogans like "Save the Ta-Tas" reduces the anxiety about this disease. It is a VERY serious disease, but I think that when the solemnity associated with it is reduced, people are more willing to talk about it and do something about it. If it is kept with this serious vibe about it, people will feel threatened by it and want to avoid doing anything to check themselves and talk to others about it. The humor ultimately lightens the mood, spreads awareness, and generates more action simultaneously.
Reply
Monday 09 November
By Dora
My mother had breast cancer and it did finally cause her death, (It had metastisized to other areas) She had no sense of humor and refused to reach out to a support group. She wanted to be the poor pitiful one. I also think that helped to kill her.
I have had friends that have won the battle and a few that lost it. I am a firm believer that humor is a great this to use to make people who are still uncomfortable with CANCER relax and do what is needed.
If dumbing it down for men, Or making it funny and more to the point for younger people so be.
We must not be so prime and proper about it Yest they are breasts. but once in a while saying ta-ta's, boobs, or the girls helps get the MESSAGE out there. AND IN THE END THAT IS ALL THAT MATTERS.
It offends me that we still have not been able to find a cure or a why to prevent Cancer.
So all of you self rightous people just need to get over yourselves because it is not about you.
To the daughter who feels that the commercials talking about fighting is disrepectful PLEASE do.not. Look at your Mother as a Warrior in this Battle she fought hard but was lost the killer had invaded to far. Now she is one of our HEROS she gave her life for the battle she fought hard. She was a casualty but she will never be forgotten!! You are here to carry on the battle for her and yourself and any daughters or nieces. Stand proud for her and yourself.
Now Lets all do something to stop ALL cancers. If it is to buy a tee shirt wear a ribbon. Make people aware.
And if Wearing a tee that says save the balls or check your boys monthly would get message out there lets do that also.
Reply
Tuesday 10 November
By Sage
My biggest beef with this is that it's immature. I'm with everyone else who is wondering why we can't treat this as seriously as the disease demands we do. Why do we have to attach some stupid, catchy slogan to breast cancer just to make people give a damn? Doesn't that say something REALLY bad about our society when we have to be able to giggle at something in order to care about it? I totally understand the basis, that it's important that we can laugh and keep a sense of humor even when something is really awful, but this is just pathetic.
Reply
Tuesday 10 November
By Alex
I am going to have a shirt made that states "can you check my nuts"
It is all about awareness people.
Reply
Thursday 12 November
By Jay
I realize October is over, but I just want to say, I love this campaign! To create awareness means precisely to call attention to a problem, not to give out detailed explanations of every single one of its consequences. I'm pretty sure t-shirts with medical papers about oncology printed on them would be way less effective.
I also think it's really important not to undervalue breasts. Of course a woman's life is more important than her breasts, but boobies (yeah, I said it) are a huge part of femininity. Isn't that the reason women who undergo mastectomies have reconstructive surgery afterwards? Isn't it also the reason the Wonderbra sells like crack... and was even invented in the first place? It's not about attracting men, it's about being women. With ta-ta's. That need to be saved.
Reply
Monday 23 November
By Mikayla
Regardless of the wording, the organization is doing a good thing. They are raising money to help find a cure for this sadly, popular illness so women in the future can benefit.
By having the tatas slogan, it has allowed people to remember to support the pink ribbon, women who are/were affected, the struggles and hardships from the fight, and the lives lost or remained from breast cancer.
To me, a 17 year old girl, it reminds me of the family friends I love who have gone through the struggle and made it, my aunt who is currently going through the battle, and the possible friends, or myself, who in the future may look to the tatas logo for support through the hard times.
Keep it up tatas! Fight for the cure!
Reply
Monday 14 December
By Ami
Okay, so I am apparently the only person on the planet who still remembers Tom Green's ballad for the early detection of testicular ca.... "Squeeze yer balls so you don't get cancer...." (really you all need to google that right now!) And they don't call prostate cancer "wee wee cancer" because the prostate is not in the "wee wee" it's a gland in the pelvis just below the bladder. And if you can think of a catchy way to say that and get the 40+ crowd excited about getting a finger up the butt more power to ya! The thing about a slogan like save the ta ta's it that it really is a lot more personable than breast which can kinda sound clinical in comparison to such a light term. What ever your take on the term ta-ta (which really seems benign to me) you need to consider the motivation. No one is going to like every term. And ta-ta is a likeible term for younger women who aren't likely to think about breast cancer as an issue for them. This is a group that really needs to be reminded about breast health as they are less likely to have physician breast exams and most certainly will not be having routine screening mammograms. This is the age group that needs to be thinking about self breast exams. Early detection in this age group is key as cancers in young women are far more aggressive. If the term bothers you, I suggest you think about the YOUNG women who won't be reached by other means. These are the lives that will be saved by a funny reminder to feel comfortable enough with your own ta ta's and give em a monthly rub down!
Reply
Sunday 10 January
By Sandra S
Speaking as a young woman (or is 22 too old?), I find the term degrading. It's a pathetic reflection on our society that men scoff at wearing a "Save a life" t-shirt, but will gladly walk around wearing a "Save the ta-tas" t-shirt. I mean, if all we really care about is making money, why don't we start filming porn movies featuring big breasted women, and call them "Save their big t-ts". I bet that will really bring in the cash, all the while giving men an excuse to degrade women, and making women who lost their breasts feel even worse. I mean, does any of this money even go to breast cancer research, or does it just pay for several steps backward in female history? Yes, I wanted to be made equal, so that my breasts could be referred to as ta-tas. I hate that shirt. I will never buy one, and I will never date anyone who wears one. I used to take breast cancer seriously, but now it's just a joke.
Reply
Saturday 06 March
By n shish
As a 27 yr breast cancer survivor I would prefer "Save your Mother--Sister-Wife." Since I had a mastectomy in 1984 I could not "Save the Tata" I lost one. Fortunately my husband valued ME above my "tatas". my boobs don"t match but he loves me and I am STILL here. So " SAVE THE WOMEN" could be a better slogan.
Reply
Friday 07 May
By Tiff
People, buy yourself a sense of humor. I know quite a few that live the slogans that are MEANT to be funny, not offensive. Men call them what they want, get over it. Btw I like "save the assholes" for the colon deal & happy squirrels have healthy nuts. Now that's funny!!! It's called fun & learning to make those in tough situations ease up.
Reply
Saturday 09 October
By Mark
For women that have been raped and/or molested and then get breast cancer, I am sure you can understand why they might not embrace your feelings. Yes humor is an important part of healing. No, making light of things that have the ability to hurt others (deeply) is not (IMHO) appropriate.
If a catchy slogan demands sexual overtones in order to catch on, maybe a bit more thought needs to go into the campaign instead of just relying on the lowest common denominator to do the work for you and those that are hurt by it be damned.
Free speech, do as thy will. It isn't like most of the money goes to breast cancer support anyway. In my opinion, this particular campaign has little to do with breast cancer support and 75% to do with making money.
Reply
Sunday 17 April
By Tim M
There are few people in this world that have not lost a loved one or friend to this horrible disease. And for any of you out there in this world to believe that we are using these terms/t-shirts as degradation to women is wrong. My wife and I have a very close friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer about 5 years ago and is now a cancer survivor. When she was diagnosed she and all of us male and female were devistated. As a group of friends should we looked for ways to help support our friend in need. She needed support in many ways. Personally and financially. The group of friends have always been there for her personally and we always will be. But financially we all looked for ways to help as well for travel and medical expenses that we all don't realize go together with cancer treatment. When we found the save the hooters t-shirts we brought the idea to our friend and her husband and everyone was on board and all for getting the shirts for her support. All of us were involved in getting designs and ideas for the t-shirts and the plan was in place. We live in a conservative community in the SE corner of ND and things like this hit hard where everyone knows everyone. Nearly everyone in town purchased the t-shirt and it has become an annual event to celebrate her success with the cancer being in remission. Someone in this comment section asked if the monies from these sales of t-shirts and such even get to the persons or cancer organizations. I for one can say that the funds from this situation did and continue to get to the person that needs them. Its not about saving the breasts or ta-tas or hooters or what ever you choose to call them. Its always about saving the person. Personally neither of my parents reached their 60th birthdays before being taken from us by cancer. Those of you out there that speak so strongly about the terminology being used for support of breast cancer and those who have been so unfortunate to have been diagnosed with this horrible disease please stop and think about what you are accusing others of. Do you really think that all that is being thought of is saving the breasts?...Not really. I have a special place in my heart for any and all cancer victims/survivors. I can't help each of them specifically but those that are close I surely can, and if it is by selling save the ta-tas, hooters racks or whatever t-shirts then I choose to do so. We do live in America where we are all free to speak our feelings. Lets all support those who need it not be so critical of the way that we get from point A to point B.
Reply
Friday 19 August
By Blaise
I saw the bumper sticker for the first time yesterday and got so furious that I almost drove off the road and had to do some deep breathing exercises so that I wouldn't drive angry... While I would find the saying funny if they were trying to close a local strip club, as the daughter of a woman who succombed to breast cancer after a ten year battle, I find this vulgar and insensitive. I would rather have my mother than her breast!
Reply