Six weeks later, as it does every October, everything turned pink.
At my gym, Wednesdays are even designated wear pink days.
I love boobies with pink ribbons curling into the shape of the Os.
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My stepmom, Marilyn, hated the warrior and battle speak around breast cancer awareness.
Is it really true if you fight cancer hard enough, you will win?
She and the42,000 other people whose livesare cut short each year would say no.
I couldnt help but wonder if they cared more about fashion than cancer awareness.
Decades later, its why pink is near-synonymous with breast cancer awareness during October.
But because of that merchandises lucrative powers, pinkwashing has become its own sneakily sinister problem.
These problems within pink ribbon culture allow for the exploitation of breast cancer patients.
More broadly, pinkwashing also refers to the everyday use of the color pink without real intention.
For example, does my elementary-age sons sports team really know why their socks are pink in October?
Do the socks actually support the cause in a tangible way, or do they just look cool?
Of course, trying to raise awareness in this particular way has its positives.
I just wish that enthusiasm didnt peak when everything goes pink.
Thats a luxury for the people who have not been affected by this disease.
Others cant tuck the trauma neatly away as easily.
And I understand that feeling first-hand after having lost someone to the disease.
Needless to say Ive been avoiding the gym on Wednesdays this month.
Marilyn participated in annual awareness walks that mattered to her.
