The blog below is a look into a case study about memes and breast cancer awareness. Does over sexualizing a topic make the topic any more scary and just because it is referencing boobs is it sexual?
- Memes encourage or discourage
- Using the female body to stir emotions
- Sexualizing or opportunistic
Follow or Lead
In the case study about breast cancer memes, the question was brought up about when does a meme actually help a cause. Does getting people to participate in a challenge or quest really help a cause? The breast cancer memes that ask people to make a statement about their bra color or tell people where they like it may cause a huge stir and go viral but does this really help the breast cancer awareness cause? Facebook breast cancer awareness memes that have a sexual connotation seem to go viral almost immediately. Many of the memes and challenges that are spread throughout social media are upsetting and degrading to women. One of the challenges #holdacokewithyourboobschallenge was supposed to spread awareness but most people say it just sent an image of sexuality. Response to these sexualized memes can be everything from sad to hopeful. But does the challenge help bring awareness?
Sexualizing or Awareness
These challenges are popular on social media because they allow people to participate in something and feel a sense of belonging. People naturally want to be accepted and belong top something bigger than they are, but the opportunity to bring awareness to a horrible subject is missed when people sexualize it. Some changes that could be made are make challenges that expect people to actually do something to help with raising awareness. Raising awareness does not have to linked to how a person “likes boobies” or “I like it on the (insert geographical location here).” Awareness is getting women and men to take self examinations and going to the doctor seriously not encouraging National No Bra Day. Social media reaches billions of people a day and sexuality helps things go viral but cancer isn’t sexy or glamorous. Even Porn Hub donated money but like other social media campaigns, the donations were linked to sexualization.
Stop Sexualizing Breast Cancer or Use Every Means Available?
Does creating an emotional experiences for users help spread awareness? Using cyber-activism to spread awareness works; however, the complaint by some is all the attention on women’s breasts is sexualizing women and defeating the reason awareness needs to be made. The social media campaigns and memes spread throughout the internet because people want to be involved and help bring about change. One way people do this is through Cyberactivism. This digital activism has an advantage because people can get involved from anywhere. People do not need to leave home or miss work to get involved. A business can use the thought process behind cyberactivism to build brand loyalty or authenticity. People want products they can trust and if a company can be trusted they can build a community of followers. An example of this is Dove using real women in their social media and print marketing campaigns. In the end there really isn’t an answer to whether a seductive breast cancer awareness campaign works. What works for some people is offensive to others.
Writing for Edutainment 