Pink ribbon
Encyclopedia
Breast cancer awareness
Breast cancer awareness is an effort to raise awareness of breast cancer and reduce the disease's stigma by educating people about its symptoms and treatment options...
. Pink ribbons, and the color pink
Pink
Pink is a mixture of red and white. Commonly used for Valentine's Day and Easter, pink is sometimes referred to as "the color of love." The use of the word for the color known today as pink was first recorded in the late 17th century....
in general, identify the wearer or promoter with the breast cancer brand and express moral support
Moral support
Moral support is a way of giving support to a person or cause, or to one side in a conflict, without making any contribution beyond the emotional or psychological value of the encouragement....
for women with breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
.
Pink ribbons are most commonly seen during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure...
.
History
| Arabic: | شريط وردي |
| Urdu: | گلابی ربن |
| Spanish: | Cinta Rosada |
| Filipino: | Lasong Rosas |
| French: | Ruban Rose |
| Indonesian: | Pita Pink |
| Italian: | Nastro Rosa |
| Galician: | Lazo Vermello |
| Valencian: | Llaç rosa |
| Catalan: | Cinta rosa |
| German: | Rosa Schleife |
| Dutch: | Roze Lint |
| Danish: | Lyserøde Sløjfe |
| Croatian: | Ružičasta vrpca |
| Czech: | Růžová stužka |
| Finnish: | Roosa nauha |
| Hungarian: | Rózsaszín szalag |
| Macedonian: | Розева панделка |
| Norwegian: | Rosa Sløyfe |
| Korean: | 핑크리본 |
| Latvian: | Rozā lente |
| Lithuanian: | Rožinis kaspinas |
| Persian: | روبان صورتی |
| Polish: | Różowa Wstążka |
| Portuguese: | Fita Rosa |
| Romanian: | Panglica Roz |
| Russian: | Pозовая Лента |
| Slovak: | Ružová stužka |
| Swedish: | Rosa Bandet |
| Catalan: | Llaç Rosa |
| Turkish: | Pembe Kurdele |
| Japanese: | ピンクリボン |
| Chinese: | 粉红丝带 |
| Hebrew: | סרט ורוד |
| Serbian: | Ружичаста машна |
| Slovenian: | Rožnati trak |
| Ukrainian: | Рожева стрічка |
| Estonian: | Roosa lint |
| Greek: | Ρόζ κορδέλα |
| Thai: | โบว์ชมพู |
The first known use of a pink ribbon in connection with breast cancer awareness was in the fall of 1991, when the Susan G. Komen Foundation handed out pink ribbons to participants in its New York City race for breast cancer survivors.
The pink ribbon was adopted as the official symbol of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure...
the next year, in 1992. The pink ribbon was derived from the popular red ribbon
Red ribbon
The red ribbon, as an awareness ribbon colored red, has several different meanings in different contexts. Foremost, it is the symbol of solidarity of people living with HIV/AIDS.-Awareness symbol:...
for AIDS awareness. Alexandra Penney
Alexandra Penney
Alexandra Penney is an American author best known for her 1982 best-selling book How to Make Love to a Man who was also an editor at Self magazine and has been credited as one of the creators and popularizers of the pink ribbon as a symbol for awareness of breast cancer.Penney attended Smith...
, the editor-in-chief of the women's health magazine Self
Self (magazine)
Self magazine is an American magazine for women that specializes in health, fitness, nutrition, beauty and happiness. Published by Condé Nast Publications 12 times a year, it has a circulation of 1,486,992 and a total audience of 5,541,000 readers, according to its corporate media kit. The...
, and breast cancer survivor Evelyn Lauder
Evelyn Lauder
Evelyn Lauder was an American socialite and philanthropist who has been credited as one of the creators and popularizers of the pink ribbon as a symbol for awareness of breast cancer....
, the senior corporate vice president at the cosmetics company Estée Lauder
Estée Lauder Companies
Estée Lauder Companies, Inc. is a manufacturer and marketer of prestige skincare, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. The company has its headquarters in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.-History:...
created a ribbon for the cosmetics giant to distribute in stores in New York City.
A pink and blue ribbon
Pink and blue ribbon
The pink and blue ribbon is a symbol for promoting:* Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, United States, Canada, Australia and UK, on October 15th.in memory of Hagan Mark Breeze, January 13, 2011...
is sometimes used to symbolize breast cancer in men
Male breast cancer
Male breast cancer is a relatively rare cancer in men that originates from the breast. As it presents a similar pathology as female breast cancer, assessment and treatment relies on experiences and guidelines that have been developed in female patients. The optimal treatment is currently not...
, which is relatively rare. The pink and blue ribbon was designed in 1996 by Nancy Nick, President and Founder of the John W. Nick Foundation to bring awareness that "Men Get Breast Cancer Too!"
Meaning
The color pinkPink
Pink is a mixture of red and white. Commonly used for Valentine's Day and Easter, pink is sometimes referred to as "the color of love." The use of the word for the color known today as pink was first recorded in the late 17th century....
is considered feminine in modern Western countries. It evokes traditional feminine gender role
Gender role
Gender roles refer to the set of social and behavioral norms that are considered to be socially appropriate for individuals of a specific sex in the context of a specific culture, which differ widely between cultures and over time...
s, caring for other people, being beautiful, being good, and being cooperative.
The pink ribbon represents fear
Fear
Fear is a distressing negative sensation induced by a perceived threat. It is a basic survival mechanism occurring in response to a specific stimulus, such as pain or the threat of danger...
of breast cancer, hope
Hope
Hope is the emotional state which promotes the belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life. It is the "feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best" or the act of "look[ing] forward to with desire and reasonable confidence" or...
for the future, and the charitable goodness of people and businesses who publicly support the breast cancer movement. It is intended to evoke solidarity with women who currently have breast cancer.
Breast cancer organizations use the pink ribbon to associate themselves with breast cancer, to promote breast cancer awareness, and to support fundraising. Some breast cancer-related organizations, such as Pink Ribbon International, use the pink ribbon as their primary symbol. Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Susan G. Komen for the Cure, formerly known as The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, often referred to as simply Komen, is the most widely known, largest and best-funded breast cancer organization in the US....
uses a stylized "running ribbon" as their logo.
While specifically representing breast cancer awareness
Breast cancer awareness
Breast cancer awareness is an effort to raise awareness of breast cancer and reduce the disease's stigma by educating people about its symptoms and treatment options...
, the pink ribbon is also a symbol
Symbol
A symbol is something which represents an idea, a physical entity or a process but is distinct from it. The purpose of a symbol is to communicate meaning. For example, a red octagon may be a symbol for "STOP". On a map, a picture of a tent might represent a campsite. Numerals are symbols for...
and a proxy of goodwill towards women in general. Buying, wearing, displaying, or sponsoring pink ribbons signals that the person or business cares about women. The pink ribbon is a marketing brand
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
for businesses that allows them to promote themselves with women and identify themselves as being socially aware. Compared to other women's issues, promoting breast cancer awareness
Breast cancer awareness
Breast cancer awareness is an effort to raise awareness of breast cancer and reduce the disease's stigma by educating people about its symptoms and treatment options...
is politically safe.
Products
Each October, hundreds, if not thousands, of products are emblazoned with pink ribbons, colored pink, or otherwise sold with a promise of a small portion of the total cost being donated to support breast cancer awareness or research.The first breast cancer awareness stamp in the U.S., featuring a pink ribbon, was issued 1996. As it did not sell well, a new stamp
Breast cancer research stamp
The Breast Cancer Research Stamp is a semi-postal non-denominated postage stamp issued by the United States Postal Service, priced in 2010 as eleven cents higher than the standard first-class letter rate...
with an emphasis on research was designed. The new stamp does not feature the pink ribbon.
In Canada, the Royal Canadian Mint produced a silver commemorative breast cancer coin. 15,000 coins were minted during 2006. On one side of the coin, a portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
is illustrated, while on the other side a pink ribbon has been enameled.
Additionally, 30 million 25-cent coins were minted with pink ribbons during 2006 for normal circulation. Designed by the mint's director of engraving, Cosme Saffioti, this colored coin is the second in history to be put into regular circulation.
Intellectual property status
In most jurisdictions, the pink ribbon is considered public domainPublic domain
Works are in the public domain if the intellectual property rights have expired, if the intellectual property rights are forfeited, or if they are not covered by intellectual property rights at all...
. However, in Canada, the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation is a charitable organization which raises money to advance research, education, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Established in 1986, it works to fund, support, and advocate for education and awareness programs, early diagnosis and treatment of breast...
claims ownership of the ribbon as an official mark, a special form of trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
reserved for governmental and charitable organizations.
Uses
- In 2000, NABCO paid NamcoNamcois a Japanese corporation best known as a former video game developer and publisher. Following a merger with Bandai in September 2005, the two companies' game production assets were spun off into Namco Bandai Games on March 31, 2006. Namco Ltd. was re-established to continue domestic operation of...
to put the pink ribbon on Ms. Pac-Man. - On Sunday, October 10, 2010, all King Features SyndicateKing Features SyndicateKing Features Syndicate, a print syndication company owned by The Hearst Corporation, distributes about 150 comic strips, newspaper columns, editorial cartoons, puzzles and games to nearly 5000 newspapers worldwide...
comic strips were printed in shades of red and pink, with the ribbon appearing prominently in one panel.
Criticism
The Pink ribbon campaign is frequently used in Cause-related marketing, a cooperation between non-profits and businesses to promote a product that also supports a cause. Because the pink ribbon is not licensed by any corporation, it is more open to being abused by businesses that donate little or none of their revenue to breast cancer research. While companies such as Estée Lauder have distributed over 70 million pink ribbons, and donated over $25 million to breast cancer research, other companies have been discovered using the pink ribbon inappropriately—either by not donating their profits, or by using the pink ribbon on products that include ingredients which cause cancer.Pinkwashing
The misuse of marketing campaigns by businesses using the pink ribbon on their products have been described as pinkwashing, a portmanteau of pink ribbon and whitewashWhitewash (censorship)
To whitewash is a metaphor meaning to gloss over or cover up vices, crimes or scandals or to exonerate by means of a perfunctory investigation or through biased presentation of data. It is especially used in the context of corporations, governments or other organizations.- Etymology :Its first...
, which was coined by Breast Cancer Action
Breast Cancer Action
Breast Cancer Action is a national grassroots education and advocacy organization dedicated to supporting people living with breast cancer and creating system-wide change that will end the breast cancer epidemic. It was founded in 1990 by Elenore Pred, Susan Claymon, and Linda Reyes...
. They use the term to highlight companies or products which feature a pink ribbon, without donating money to charity, or with no transparency regarding where the funds are going. It also describes the use of a pink ribbon on products with known or suspected links to cancer.
Pink Ribbons, Inc
Associate professor of kinesiology and health studies at Queen's UniversityQueen's University
Queen's University, , is a public research university located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Founded on 16 October 1841, the university pre-dates the founding of Canada by 26 years. Queen's holds more more than of land throughout Ontario as well as Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex, England...
Samantha King claims in her 2006 book Pink Ribbons, Inc: Breast Cancer and the Politics of Philanthropy that breast cancer has been transformed from a serious disease and individual tragedy to a market-driven industry of survivorship and corporate sales pitch. A movie based on the book will be released in 2012. The National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
documentary film, Pink Ribbons, Inc., directed by Léa Pool
Léa Pool
Léa Pool is a Swiss-Canadian filmmaker who has also taught film at UQAM. She is openly lesbian. Her 1986 film Anne Trister was entered into the 36th Berlin International Film Festival. Her 1999 film Emporte-moi was entered into the 49th Berlin International Film Festival where it won the Special...
, highlights instance of corporate misuse of the pink ribbon and other issues around the campaign.
Prominence of the pink ribbon is also likely for having an impact on the marked increase in women having mammograms.
Breast Cancer Action
San Francisco-based Breast Cancer ActionBreast Cancer Action
Breast Cancer Action is a national grassroots education and advocacy organization dedicated to supporting people living with breast cancer and creating system-wide change that will end the breast cancer epidemic. It was founded in 1990 by Elenore Pred, Susan Claymon, and Linda Reyes...
calls the the annual awareness campaign "Breast Cancer Industry Month" to emphasize the costs of treatment. Their "Think Before You Pink" campaign urges people to "do something besides shop." The group has particularly excoriated major cosmetic companies such as Avon
Avon Products
Avon Products, Inc. is a US cosmetics, perfume and toy seller with markets in over 140 countries across the world and sales of $9.9 billion worldwide as of 2007.-Business Model:...
, Revlon
Revlon
Revlon is an American cosmetics, skin care, fragrance, and personal care company founded in 1932.-History:Revlon was founded in the midst of the Great Depression, 1932, by Charles Revson and his brother Joseph, along with a chemist, Charles Lachman, who contributed the "L" in the Revlon name...
, and Estée Lauder
Estée Lauder Companies
Estée Lauder Companies, Inc. is a manufacturer and marketer of prestige skincare, makeup, fragrance and hair care products. The company has its headquarters in Midtown Manhattan, New York City.-History:...
, which have claimed to promote women's health while simultaneously using known and/or suspected cancer-causing chemicals, such as parabens
Parabens
Parabens are a class of chemicals widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Parabens are effective preservatives in many types of formulas. These compounds, and their salts, are used primarily for their bactericidal and fungicidal properties...
and phthalates
Phthalates
Phthalates , or phthalate esters, are esters of phthalic acid and are mainly used as plasticizers . They are used primarily to soften polyvinyl chloride...
in their products.
Other meanings of the pink ribbon
A pink ribbon is used to tie up a briefBrief (law)
A brief is a written legal document used in various legal adversarial systems that is presented to a court arguing why the party to the case should prevail....
for delivery to an English barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
. The pink ribbon in this context is usually described as 'pink tape' or 'legal tape'. Also see 'red tape
Red tape
Red tape is excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules that is considered redundant or bureaucratic and hinders or prevents action or decision-making...
'.