Cancer isn't sexy.

[KarmaViolet]

Why are so many cancer research campaigns focused on sexualised images of women? Whatever possessed this lot - does anybody really think "mmm, disembodied crotches and a side helping of body-hair-shaming, that reminds me I really ought to donate to cancer research?"

It really boils my piss.

Cancer is many diseases, some of which only affect one sex. Breast and testicular cancer can be caught early by self examination so it's sensible to " raise awareness" of these processes specifically.

I went to bed last night so just catching up. Glad you picked up on the comment about women having more to cover up, Seven because I didn't get how that worked either!

I probably wouldn't have taken issue with it if it weren't for the fact that there's a long tradition of objectifying women's bodies under a thin veneer of it being justified for cancer research.

Like these links for example:

www.newstatesman.com/blogs/laurie-penny/2010/10/breast-cancer-awareness-pink

feministing.com/2010/08/31/promoting-a-worthy-cause-but-at-what-cost/

tigerbeatdown.com/2011/10/18/its-all-for-a-cause-you-know-breast-cancer-pinkwashing-and-objectification/

londonfeminist.com/site/an-odd-campaign-slogan/

And I do think that this campaign is sexualising - or at the very least objectifying - because it doesn't show a naked body, it shows disembodied crotches.

As for sticking a man on the end, pffft. I'm totally convinced that restores total balance then.

well exactly karma

it's in that context

Karma, I agree it's objectifying.

Seven I assume the "oblivious poster" is me? If I were "oblivious" I wouldn't have asked. You do yourself or the point no favours by being rude, especially when someone is actually trying to understand.

Rosa, I agree reading more will be interesting and educational so I will. I wasn't really meaning you were going to fast more that you are making connections I'm not ready to make yet iyswim.

Thank you to those who have taken the time to explain/discuss further, it has been very interesting to examine my own perception and understanding further once again I apologise for being in a combative frame.

it is a weird advert, and there's lots of to be had at it. But certainly in terms of the bloke 'taking up more space' doesn't really work, does it? They all appear to take up a quarter of the photo space - the blokes legs are apart, but the one woman with legs tight isn't giving him any more space than the others?

Though the idea of clearly sexist initiatives for charity raising is absurd - 'paying money to an idea that is 'sound' but we will also undermine the larger context, by dint of that' just smacks of minimising at best, aggressively side-lining at worst, and leaves the contributor with a misplaced feeling of "having done some good". imo