Beyond the Pink Ribbon: The Politics of Breast Cancer, Civic Engagement and Corporate Philanthropy

Samantha King, Associate Professor, Associate Director and Graduate Coordinator, School of Kinesiology at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario

Host: Kimberlie Kranich

The National Cancer Institute estimates that just more than 12 percent of U-S women or “1 in 8” born today will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some time in her life.  Approximately 40,000 U.S. women die from breast cancer each year.  Only lung cancer claims more cancer deaths among women.

In the U-S and increasingly worldwide, the movement to end breast cancer is symbolized by a pink ribbon and the strategy is to raise billions of dollars for research and to promote early detection through mammograms.  Cause-driven marketing encourages us to buy products that display the pink ribbon and to participate in 5k races for a cure.  Are these the best strategies?  Where did they come from and who is really benefitting?

We go beyond the pink ribbon to the politics of breast cancer, civic engagement and corporate philanthropy with Samantha King, author of  “Pink Ribbons, Inc.”

The Department of Kinesiology & Community Health and the Center on Health, Aging and Disability is hosting a screening of Pink Ribbons, Inc. at 7:00 PM, on Thursday, September 27 at the Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Museum, 600 S. Gregory St., Urbana, IL 61801. After the film, Samantha King will field questions about the film and her research.