Fashion & Style
The Guys in Bras
On Wednesday afternoon, I met up with Improv in Toronto and boobalicious in Nathan Philips Square for their mission, Pink Bra Flash Mob. I've been to several of IT's events, and while the group is usually smaller than expected, they're never lacking any attention from onlookers.
Wednesday was no exception as about a dozen 'agents' - men and women - showed up in bright pink bras and walked around carrying signs saying "BEAT CANCER". When we headed over to Yonge-Dundas Square, heads turned as people wondered what free stuff we were giving away. Everyone eventually caught on, and - armed with free sandwiches and deodorant from promotions going on in the square - started asking if they could have their picture taken with "the guys in bras".
The event culminated in everyone lining up and holding up their signs for all to see, and then running away. The intent was to disappear, but several people actually followed the agents across the street to ask questions about the event, have their picture taken, and get a flyer from Boobalicious.
Overall, the mission was small, but it got people talking. The intent was to raise breast cancer awareness, and at the very least, I doubt many people will soon forget seeing a bunch of half-naked guys walking around downtown Toronto wearing bras.
Writing and photos by Jen Grantham
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Don't get me wrong, their hearts are in the right place, but did this actually accomplish anything? Do you think the profile of breast cancer was at all elevated by this and if so, any action that wouldn't have otherwise taken place would? I mean shouldn't some effort be make to at least draw attention to a specific campaign, event or service to make any attention actually make a difference in some way? "Awareness" campaigns always seem to divert otherwise useful energy and effort from actual practical uses in the name of getting people's attention.
Also I find the title of "Improv in Toronto" rather dubious too. What about this or a free hugs campaign is "improv"?
I don't mean to come off as critical (except for the criticism part) but really just all comes off as some bored people looking to create a spectacle but attaching a cause to their name to try and make it worth doing. I'm all for making a scene but don't try to make it philanthropy, just admit to being silly for fun. Flashmobs don't need to have a point, and when they do they usually miss the mark.
I think it was a very nice and innovative gesture. No one can really say how much if may have accomplished, but it seems like a fun way to raise awareness of an important issue.
Seriously, of all the causes that need to create more "awareness", I think breast cancer is the bottom of the list. Why do we even identify certain types of cancer at all? Doesn't everyone benefit from general research? Oh yeah, it's because some douche thinks it would be fun to wear a pink bra in Yonge Dundas Square.
While it was in the name of a noble cause, it just comes off as another cry for attention from the same group that organizes subway dance parties.
The question is, does breast cancer really need more awareness? It's one of the most publicized cancers/causes out there, with numerous events dedicated to it.
Personally I think the "awareness campaigns" and other efforts could be better spent on other equally important, but less visible causes/illnesses. Breast cancer gets so much attention already it's always top of mind anyway. The other causes really do need awareness.
Of course, don't take this to mean I am against finding a cure for breast cancer. I would just like to see support of other cancers or illnesses.
Whoa, cranker!
This campaign is a lightheartedly provocative way to raise awareness by people who may not otherwise have the contacts, funds, nor formal forums to do so.
I am hoping the video of this is broadcast on Youtube so others across the globe and get similarly inspired via public forum.
What would you prefer, a Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon at the Metro Convention Centre for $250 per seat featuring well-heeled/well-fed Executive Keynotes and their Powerpoint charts, pontificating to attendees who check their Blackberries non-stop while stiffly munching on iceberg lettuce smothered in Kraft dressing?
Sheesh.
"I don't mean to come off as critical (except for the criticism part) but really just all comes off as some bored people looking to create a spectacle but attaching a cause to their name to try and make it worth doing."
Quoted for truth. Flashmobs are narcissists of the highest order.
If you can find me a single person in the square who was UNAWARE of breast cancer prior to seeing these guys, I will eat my hat.
"Doesn't everyone benefit from general research?"
There's no such a thing "general research" when you mean cancer. Under the umbrella of "cancer" there're more than 70 diseases which differ in symptoms, behavior and treatments. Some have higher mortality rates, some have lower. Even under the name of "breast cancer" there're classifications.
Now, I find this campaign funny and true. But I personally think there's enough awareness of the breast cancer. I would shift the focus to obesity and all the kinds of fast foods. Those are direct causes of various types of cancer.
The real problem here is that all of these cancer foundations, mainly the breast cancer foundations, are much, much better at raising attention of their cause and raising money for breast cancer, than they are of actually finding a cure for cancer. Ask anybody in colon cancer, prostate cancer, the funding to them is reduced because of this heightened attention towards breast cancer and the sympathy that gets drawn towards a cause with your Mom's face on it. Just saying.
@ David:
"The real problem here is that all of these cancer foundations, mainly the breast cancer foundations, are much, much better at raising attention of their cause and raising money for breast cancer, than they are of actually finding a cure for cancer."
Actually, they are finding a cure for the breast cancer. Today, "breast cancer" is no longer a death sentence and a survival rates are going up. As well as the prostate cancer, by the way.
Actually I would prefer the "Breast Cancer Awareness Luncheon" because at $250 a plate they would at least have been raising money. What did this accomplish? I get the feeling that it was the idea of planning another outrageous flash mob that spawned this rather than than cause itself.
That's true, but you're missing the point of my comment. There is a critical amount of funding that needs to be reached and for breast cancer research that's been hit and the effects are the reduction of deaths in breast cancers, three women in my family have had breast cancer and have come through fine so I have an understanding of this. The point is that there is an industry now of breast cancer awareness because organizations that get an infrastructure created around them don't tend to go away so they are continually raising money etc. I hope you get where my comment was coming from.
Also on a side note, there are way too many breast cancer charitable organizations currently in existence. For example, for every charity, there is an office, a receptionist, a director, fixed costs, variable costs, etc. Again, it's an industry.
You know what, I agree.
Just to give an example of the disparity between cancer organizations, The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) reported revunue of $ 52,973,959 in their 2008 tax return. On the other hand, Prostate Cancer Canada (PCC) reported revenue of $ 3,282,024 in their 2008 tax return.
According to the Canadian Cancer Society, a seperate organization from the two mentioned above, 22800 men and women are diagnosed with breast cancer per year and 23500 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer per year. 5450 men and women will die from breast cancer per year and 4400 men will die from prostate cancer. The death rate, per 100,000, is 23 individuals for prostate and 22 for breast cancer.
I am really sorry, but breast cancer does not need more awareness or more funding. There is a National Breast Cancer Month for crying out loud!
P.S. Please don't take this as an attack on breast cancer. Just like many, I have had family and friends who have been touched by this form of cancer. I'm just going more along the lines of David's comment in that if you search "breast" on CRA's charity website, you get 73 results.
@badbhoy have you actually visited the boobalicious website? They host a killer party every year to raise money for breast cancer research, and they rely heavily on volunteers and corporate donations to make sure the money goes where it belongs - the charities.
Personally I'd rather not spend $250 on an expensive dinner where I have no idea where my money is being spent. I'd rather spend a fraction of that, have a good time, and spend the rest contributing to a good cause.
I think the whole idea is hilarious, getting a bunch of IT guys out to get half naked and bring some attention to a good cause shows that they're not taking themselves too seriously.
It's legal in Ontario for women to walk around topless.
Wearing only pink panties, they would have gotten lots more publicity and money too. Men excluded, please.
One of the things that bugs me about all these awareness campaigns is that they put a lot of time and effort into a lot of nothing. Not necessarily just this event or breast cancer, but your illness related charities.
For instance. So much money and effort goes into Fashion Cares and other AIDS/HIV awareness campaigns, but you listen to the speeches and there's nary a mention of how you prevent yourself from contracting a preventable disease. The speaker talks about how they host the event to raise awareness of the disease, and instead of calling for individuals to protect themselves and encourage testing, calls on the next act.
Fine. The point of the evening is to entertain folks with big wallets, I get that. And perhaps those truly cynical would suggest that organizers feel that their audience doesn't need the lecture. But come on -- why is it that everytime someone fights for the attention of the masses, that they essentially scream "woo!!" into the mic before flinging themselves into the proverbial mosh pit.
I think back to the eighties and early nineties, when shows like Rescue 911 were on, and it seemed like every month there was a story on your local news about some kid performing cpr or the heimlech manuever on someone because they saw it on TV and knew what to do. Hell, just teaching kids about 911 was huge. That's awareness!
If all of these folks were so dedicated and vigilant to the cause, maybe they should find something helpful to say when they get some attention. Guys in bras demonstrating mammograms, more no glove, no love talk at Fashion Cares.
Information, not stunt please.
I think the information is there as it seems that the mission of the stunt was all about the getting more information/direction to this boobalicious.ca website.
I just checked the website, it seems like an amazing event with art, music and fashion mix. Its being put on from a group of personally impacted by the disese who wanted to create an environment to celebrate and educate and are committed to seeing an end to a particular desease (in this case breast cancer).
At the end of the day, lighten up people. Nothing wrong with spreading the word in a unique way.
I decided that I'm going buy a ticket to the event - should be a great time...some people here should get off the couch and buy a ticket too.
This is starting to make me sick, quick someone found a foundation against this.
First, stop this "awareness". We are all aware of breast cancer, as well as HIV, etc. The goal has been completed, we are all aware.
Second, was the event promoting breast cancer awareness or the boobalicious website. If i had to guess its the boobalicious event, and from the website, it seems like a very vague event including drinking, music, some art exhibits, and breast cancer awareness??????
Third, can we all realize that the people that buys these tickets are faux philanthropists shaking an angry fist at the disease that is cancer and saying "To hell with you, we'll beat cancer with music, art, and love............and at least 10% of the door"
Fourth, we have to face the fact that this is our poor society. Where we need to feel like we're helping by co-ordinating and attending this events where we chalk up our excesses to charity to alleviate the burden of responsibility that we actually have. We all take a big step away from the problem and then pay $100 for a ticket to an event where $75 of that goes to the cost of entertaining ourselves, and then maybe, maybe $25 goes to the cause, and then walk away feeling good because we sacrificed our night to charity.
"Third, can we all realize that the people that buys these tickets are faux philanthropists"
Wow, you really need to get off your high horse and realize that people are just trying to help. Are you so pompous to think that you are somehow better than those who are actually contributing to a cause simply because you don't see it's value?
How you can pass judgment on people for organizing(or attending) an event that intends to contribute positively to our society is beyond me. When you're at the pub or the club or whatever else you waste your money on, I hope you feel better for not getting involved in something bigger.
Give me a break. I for one am going to attend the event, enjoy the show and lighten the hell up.
Wow Nikolai, I really could not have said that any better!
David, stop hiding from the computer screen and get out more.
First, I shouldn't have been so general in my comments, I was probably too loose with that. I didn't mean to make it such a blanket statement.
However, I don't see where my point of view comes from a "high-horse" or by being pompous, I think it's actually rather the opposite. I think a good point is your value comment, I see a value in a cause, but it's how the organization "representing" a cause functions that I have I'm writing of.
I think the crux of my argument is that these events don't really do that much change, and that if you looked at it's efficiency, which is to say, with money is very week. I don't think that anyone really has the right to feel that by their attendance cancer is a step closer to being extinct. I've made some comments above about the fixed/variable costs of all of these organizations that are all for the same cause and it's inefficiency.
You can attend the show and I hope you have a good time, but the contribution you are making doesn't even compare to the person that spends an hour volunteering in a hospital filling up cups of water for dying cancer patients, not even close.
Ok David, so are you saying that one must volunteer to be a better person? Why are you wanting to 'knock out' another way to help out?
There are different levels of charity help, this being of them.
I'd love to hear what you do to help out. As "breast" cancer has too much awareness now, do you give to World Vision instead? Unicef? Coin box when your getting your Timmie's? $1 for a paper hand at the grocery store? Homeless guy on the street?
Just curious as to what makes it 'right' for you...
"the contribution you are making doesn't even compare to the person that spends an hour volunteering in a hospital filling up cups of water for dying cancer patients"
That is an excellent point David. Thank you for that perspective, I agree that there is no comparison between attending a fundraiser and actually organizing one. However I cannot condone writing off a fun and lighthearted attempt at making a difference, based on the failures of past and completely separate charities.
I agree that awareness is not enough, and I apologize for presuming your arrogance but I was merely responding to the idea that there could possibly be a 'faux philanthropist'. Call me an optimist but I have always acknowledged the value of even contributing thought and action to incite change, regardless of monetary gains. Philanthropy in any shape or form should be encouraged rather than discouraged.
I stand behind both IT and Boobalicious and respect the good work they are capable of doing and am not willing to attack the IDEA of what they are doing based on my own personal biases.
I don't recall trying to "knock out" anything, and you're right there are many levels of charity. First, I think you should look at my comments in the frame of the blog posting and earlier comments made. Second, personally I don't believe that I do enough for charity, I'm not sure if there is an "enough", but anyways I don't think I've done that amount.
If you would look at my comments with the perspective of the posting, you would realize that raising funds for a charity/cause and raising awareness for a charity/cause are different things. I think the beginning focus of these points were with regards to awareness for already massively publicized causes.
Also, for my donations, I tend to look into the accounting of charities because I like to see what percentage of each dollar donated goes to overhead/salaries/marketing, etc. and what actually makes its way through the organization to the end cause. For example, I think there is a systemic problem with the number of charitable organizations in Canada, there are 161,227. Here's my source, http://nonprofitscan.imaginecanada.ca/files/en/nsnvo/nsnvo_report_english.pdf . So think about 161,227 offices, phone/fax lines, websites, insurance, salaries, variable expenses, marketing costs. Are there actually 161,227 causes? No, there are probably a few hundred, maybe thousand. But instead the charitable dollar in Canada gets lost and tied up in all of these unnecessary and redundant expenses.
Actually I don't see a big difference between those that attend these events and those that organize them.
For those of you interested, the official video for the mission is now up on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KauKI7KPBSY&feature=sub