Oh, the outrage being directed at Pink! I’m not going to attack the Komen Foundation for pulling Planned Parenthood’s funding – it was a poor choice that they’ve since corrected. It would be dishonest for me not to admit that I’ve kept my distance from Planned Parenthood and have at times been concerned about potential backlash from being in the vicinity of the group – not that I don’t support their work.
Many women’s organizations believe in the work of Planned Parenthood because we know and understand the myriad of services offered. Pro-lifers tend to overlook all the good Planned Parenthood does and focus on abortion, which only represents three percent of their overall services to women. Regardless of where you stand on the abortion issue, it’s hard to argue the fact that Planned Parenthood has helped nearly 1.6 million men and women with cancer screenings. And believe it or not, STD testing and treatment makes up the largest portion of the services performed at 38 percent.
I do understand the pressure the Komen Foundation must have been under when they made their decision, Planned Parenthood is a controversial organization. I have to admit that I was surprised to see so many women and men rally around Planned Parenthood and fight for women’s health. Women especially went on the defense for the organization and demanded Planned Parenthood not be defunded based on pressures from pro-life camps. Abortion rights were established shortly after I was born, so I haven’t seen this sort of outcry before around women’s reproductive rights.
The PR and relationship offices of the Komen Foundation have their work cut out for them for the near future. When they’re done with this media storm and relationship repairing, I wonder if they can explain a few things…like how in the name of “pink” does this newest partnership with Discount Gun Sales promoting a “pink” handgun relate to breast cancer awareness, besides being pink-washed? Or, the partnership Komen formed with KFC promoting ”pink” buckets of fried chicken. Now, I like fried chicken just as much as the next person and I could live on the mashed potatoes and gravy at KFC, but this isn’t exactly healthy fare – isn’t that what the pink promotion is supposed to be about, promoting health and awareness?
The upside to this fiasco is that it sparked a conversation about women’s health that hasn’t happened in years and put breast cancer screening and awareness on the front page. Perhaps it educated and has provided low income women who didn’t think they could afford a mammogram with a resource. Also a plus, the record fundraising, including a $250,000 matching pledge from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, will assist Planned Parenthood in providing even more cancer screenings – which is good for all women.
Kris – I like your point that people were likely educated about the fact that there is a resource out there where affordable mammograms can be had. That is likely the only positive spin that can be placed on this whole situation.
I will say that I am pink-washed to the bone, and I seriously question the cause marketing and licensing decisions Komen has made in the past couple of years. I’ve been worried that they have lost their way in a wild hunt for royalty checks. There’s such a thing as losing control of one’s brand, and I think they’ve reached that point.
I did not support Komen because they gave funds to Planned Parenthood. PP does a lot of good. I appreciate their stance on providing birth control, the free services that they offer to less fortunate women, and the medical services they provide (minus abortion). However, I cannot in good conscience allow my donated money to go towards an organization that provides something I do not believe is right (even if it only makes up 3% of their services), nor do I want to donate money to an organization that advocates and lobbies for the evil that is partial-birth abortion.
Pennyln – I think it’s admirable that you’ve done your research on the organizations you support. Most people don’t and I would bet there were quite a few “pink supporters” who had no idea their money was being passed to another organization.
Guess you didn’t like my response to your screed regarding PP vs SGK. Too bad you pulled it down. PP bullied SGK to back down over a meager $600,000 grant. The issue had nothing to do with money. It all had to do with giving PP some credibility that they ‘were doing good for women’. PP never did mammograms which is what SGK supporters believed PP was doing. PP was only doing manual exams which any woman can do for herself at home. All SGK wanted to do was redirect those dollars to groups who would actually do mammograms for women. SGK never argued that PP was doing anything wrong. PP receives almost a half a billion dollars every year from US taxpayers. In 2010 they performed over 300,000 abortions which brought in $164,000,000 in revenue. So, anyone who ever believed it was about money is naive.
Actually, P., I’m fine with you disagreeing with me and stating your opinion. I don’t “like” personal attacks and posts that are rude and disrespectful. I’m not rude to anyone when I reply and I expect the same from people who comment on my blog. I’m happy to have a civil discourse, but I won’t engage in a nasty name calling fight.
Kris
Why do you applaud SGK’s reversal in giving grants to Planned Parenthood? Why should they be ‘bullied’ into granting money to the organization that finally was forced to admit that they never did mammograms, but only did the same type of exam women can do at home? All SGK wanted to to was give the money to organizations that would do those mammograms.
PP does clinical breast exams, the same as you receive in your physicians office during your check-up. Remember that some women don’t have insurance to visit a physicians office for a check-up and probably don’t receive these clinical exams. From my own experience, and yes I do regular exams myself, I wouldn’t know a lump from all the other “stuff” I feel in there. Many women just aren’t comfortable with self exams and feel less than confident in their ability to spot a cancer.
PP does outsource the mammograms they recommend – and they pay for them when women can’t afford them. SGK paid for approximately 6,400 mammograms out of the more than 70,000 mammogram referrals made by PP.
I disagree with the way SGK approached the defunding of PP and that they made it political – women’s health care should not be political. I agree that they can give their money where ever they like, just as donors can.