'De-Pink,' Says Rebel1in8

Jacqueline, author of the Rebel1in8 Web site, has a great image on her blog—when I first saw it, I thought it was a one-breasted Barbie doll, wrapped in pink ribbon, that disappears as the ribbon collapses.

Turns out, that’s no Barbie doll. It’s Jacqueline herself, all wrapped up in five yards of pink satin ribbon.

See it for yourself at www.rebel1in8.com.

Jacqueline writes that she and her good friend Tina, of www.diynotdie.com, are a on mission: “To 'DE-PINK' and hopefully empower women with some dignity and integrity by unveiling the transparency of the PINK cult.”

More from Jacqueline:
“While the whole PINK campaign, since the early nineties (http://www.bcaction.org/Pages/GetInformed/FAQPolitics.html#Q4), has brought a lot of attention and supposed funds to breast cancer research, I believe it has become, yet another social/political burden, and its emphasis is now in seductive marketing tactics and exploiting women through the disease.

“Most breast cancer campaigns involve pink ribbons or cries of ‘save the breast’ and most consumers don't realize or acknowledge the trickery that's going on.

“I have received a breast cancer diagnosis twice, and it took me a while but I eventually began to fight the assault. PINK wraps women up in the disease and all of the social burdens that are bound to it regarding their bodies. Even the new Susan G. Komen ads appear to be more about women's bodies than their lives.”

I couldn’t agree more.

I was also really fascinated by the image, and I asked Jacqueline to explain how she did it.

She says, “This image came to me in my mind exactly as it looks. Rebel1in8 was taking on a life of its own and as I began to formulate my mission the images, concepts and writings began to flow.”

Jacqueline’s sister took the photo with a digital camera as Jacqueline directed her on the wrapping, and the photo is used both on her Web site and on some postcards.

Jacqueline and I have agreed to join forces in the Boycott October campaign, and she suggested a source for my Boycott October buttons, which will be available soon.

@ Jeanne Sather 2007.