How LOW Will Komen GO?: A New Front Runner?

"I win! I win! I win!" says Debs of debutant.com.

Debs' entry has indeed hit a new low in the exploitation of women with breast cancer: Jingle Jugs for Life.

The product is clearly geared to the Frat Boy market:

Interfraternal and Panhellenic Philathropy [sic]

As a member of a fraternity or a sorority, raising money for philanthropy can be weary and burdensome. By combining comedy and charity, Jingle Jugs for Life can change this by making philanthropy a fun and rewarding experience. See the Get Involved Now tab for details.

But what are they selling, you ask?

Jingle Jugs are life-sized breasts that jiggle and play music. Another quote from the site:

OUR NEWEST VERSION OF JINGLE JUGS

Our newest version of Jingle Jugs comes with a pre-recorded breast cancer message. A second re-recordable chip allows the user to record a message of his or her own choice, such as a favorite song, your favorite team's fight song, a romantic message, a political commentary . . ., all to which the Jugs will dance and move in synch.

Like I said, a new low in pink-ribbon marketing. I think Debs may have a winner here.

But wait, despite the pink ribbon on the site, this company does not say which breast cancer effort will benefit from sales of this product. Nor does it say how much money it will donate for every pair (there is no post-mastectomy version) of Jingle Jugs sold.

If Komen doesn't get the proceeds, we may have to disqualify Debs' great entry. Hang in there for the special All-Time Low Award, Debs!

For more on the contest, see How LOW Will Komen GO?: A Contest

@ Jeanne Sather 2007.

Comments

[Susan]

Personally I think this is hilarious. (And I had a double mastectomy.) It's absolutely geared at the college-guy market. I don't think this fits into the same category as M&Ms and english muffins AT ALL because it's not some huge company exploiting breast cancer to make money. It's some frat guys who thought the jiggling boobs thing would be funny, and decided to donate to breast cancer as an after thought. I think it's cool that frat guys would even think to donate to breast cancer at all. So I think it's great, and say more power to 'em!

[Jana]

Did you see the page on their website asking for donations to "send a rack [of boobs] to Iraq?" It is unbelievable:
http://www.jinglejugs.com/iraq.html

[jeanne]

Susan--I take your points, but I also see this kind of attitude toward women's bodies to be a sign of some pretty serious women-hating, women-objectifying on the part of the frat boys. If either of my college-age sons found this funny I would feel that I had not raised them right.

What could be better for a young male who doesn't know how to act with women? Get the boobs without the rest--mouth, heart, emotions, smelly arm pits ...

[chemorox]

Here's Komen accepting a big ol' fat check:
http://www.jinglejugs.com/photoalbum.html

[jeanne]

Debs--I think you may have won. The Jingle Jugs Web site has a photo of its folks handing over a blow up of a check for $50,000, made out to Komen.

I'll try to post the photo.

Komen--what are you thinking? How low will you go?

[Susan]

Women-objectifying? Yes. Immature? Yes. Women-hating? I think that's a bit harsh. I absolutely think the Jingle Jugs are extremely immature and tacky - no argument there. Yet I still maintain that for college guys to decide to donate some of their proceeds to cancer says something GOOD about their character. Their sense of humor is crass but to entirely overlook and dismiss their choice to give to charity isn't really fair.

Just my opinion - not trying to ruffle feathers or start an argument. Just offering another perspective. Friendly debate gets us all thinking, which is a good thing!

[sis #2]

Actually, I think that it makes all the sense in the world that Jingle Jugs - a company that obviously likes the boobs, would give money to an organization that can save the boobs - never mind that there is a woman, mother, sister, child attached to the boobs.

Believe it or not - this is not the first case of objectification of women in the world and it wont be the last. However, it is my opinion, that the Jingle Jug company has made this donation, (and probably a larger % of their profits compare to the size of their company vs. lets say M&M co.,) to ease their guilt for liking "just-the-boobies" so much.

( * )( x ) ( x )( * ) ( * )( x ) <- that's my impression of Jingle Jugs

BTW - that's what this whole "pink ribbon" business is about. When you stop saying - "breasts" and start saying "boobs," everything starts making sense.

The leading cause of death in women is not "breast cancer," it is HEART DISEASE. The 2nd leading cause of death is not "breast cancer," it is LUNG CANCER.

But the fact of the matter is this...

Hearts and lungs are not as sexy as BOOBIES; therefore, not as big a money maker. Because the reason, why you all are so upset, is the obvious fact that these companies are making money off of your pain, fear, and tears.

The flip side of it is this... I know if my sister, who had leukemia, had silly cr@p being sold to cure her cancer, I would buy it. BLOOD CANCER is not as sexy - it doesn't sell, so...

The marketing ploy works, as long as people fall for it. But in it's failing... does it mean the end to an incredible source of funding for breast cancer research? So goes the old adage "Don't bite the hand that feeds you."

So I hope you do well in spreading awareness and hopefully those companies will get a conscience. But... that only happens when there is a reason to grow one - like external pressure ...

- letters of complaint
- boycotting products
- etc.

No man can stand the sound of a woman nagging, must less thousands and thousands of women who control the domestic spending power in America nagging.

Sorry for the long post, but I guess I had more to say about then I thought.