A one-inch thick rubber bracelet, similar to the Lance Armstrong 'Live Strong' bracelet, is creating quite a stir in some schools in the U.S. The bracelets are part of a nationwide campaign to make young people more aware of breast cancer.
The Carlsbad, Calif., based non-profit, Keep A Breast, decided the best way to increase awareness among teens was to start producing rubber bracelets. The bracelets are bright pink and have the tag line "I love boobies" in big bold letters.
The bracelets caught on quickly among kids. However, some parents and school districts aren't so sure about the message on the bracelets. Some feel the language is too sexually suggestive and some schools have implemented a boobie bracelet ban. Some schools will even suspend students if they wear the bracelets to school.
ʺWe understand that some people find 'I love boobies' offensive,ʺ said Kimmy McAtee, spokeswoman for the Keep a Breast Foundation. "Many others find it refreshing in the sea of pink ribbons. We’re really taking a positive style of communication and taking something scary and taboo and making it positive and upbeat." The intention of the non-profit organization is to raise awareness for breast cancer in a unique way, not to cause controversy or drama in schools across the country.
Despite some schools cracking down on the bracelets, students have been vocal about the novelty item on blogs and other sites such as Facebook, saying they want to wear them in support of what they believe is a good cause.
Parents' opinions are mixed, judging by postings on a variety of parenting blogs.
"While I think raising cancer awareness is important, I don't think 'boobies' is an appropriate word for school," wrote one mother.
"I am 100 percent fine with my child wearing clothing that says 'I Love Boobies'. I believe in the cause," wrote another mother.
The Fresno Unified School District does allow students to wear the bracelets. Susan Bedi, the district spokeswoman, told ABCNews.com that one principal initially confiscated about 30 of the bracelets. But after administrators learned more about them and what they represented, they decided to return them to the students and allow them to be worn. "They bring about awareness and donations to cancer research," Bedi said.
According to Keep A Breast, the bracelets sell for about $4 in stores and more than 2 million bracelets have been sold. The bracelets proclaiming love for breasts began five years ago and started becoming controversial in February as kids started wearing them to school. The buzz died down during the summer and picked back up when school started. Keep A Breast also said 100 percent of the money raised from the bracelet sales goes toward the organization's education and awareness programs.
"Schools banning it? That's crazy," says Julie Hubbell of Lewisville, Texas. Hubbell helped organize an auction and barbeque named "Boobie Q" to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Bracelet co-founder Shaney Jo Darden told The Argus Leader that the bracelets are meant to spark discussion among young people. "That's the whole idea," said Darden. "It's getting people to talk about breast cancer, it's getting people to share their feelings about how this disease has impacted their life."
Would you let your child wear a boobie bracelet?
Sources:
Associated Press, CNN, USA Today, ABC News, The Argus Leader
MC Ortega is the former publicist for the late Walter Payton, Coca-Cola and Dunkin’ Donuts. Ortega is a senior communications and messaging executive specializing in media relations, social media, program development and crisis communications. Also, Ortega is an avid traveler and international shopper. Ortega resides with her partner, Craig, dog, Fionne and extensive shoe collection. Ortega also enjoys jewelry design/production and flamenco dancing.