"I love boobies" bracelet

Have you ever seen one of these? 

Yea that's right, it's a bracelet, that says "I love boobies." Kinda like those ones we wore when we were little, that said "W.W.J.D" "What would Jesus do?"

"WWJD": appropriate for hospital employees.

"LIVESTRONG": appropriate for hospital employees. 

"I love boobies" NOT appropriate for hospital employees. 

Well when I did this to my leg on Saturday playing soccer, I had to go to the Insta-care at the Provo Hospital to make sure it wasn't infected. I was comfortably getting my vitals taken by a male nurse, when all of a sudden I glanced down and saw a bracelet saying "I [heart] boobies" on it. All of a sudden I felt totally weird that a man who publicly expressed his love for the female anatomy, so boldly as to wear a bracelet, was taking my blood pressure, and my temperature. I'm sure those stats that he took were way off! I think any woman in my position would have felt similar, if she weren't aware of the real purpose of the bracelets.

That same afternoon, I was telling someone about what had happened (how awkward I felt etc..). My room-mates 17 year old brother from Austin Texas told me that at his school, several kids had been suspended for wearing the bracelets, but that that the bracelets are actually a campaign to raise awareness for Breast Cancer. Well that made more sense! Kinda...The "I love boobies" bracelet is the breast cancer awareness campaign from the Keep-A-Breast Foundation, a non-profit group based out of Carlsbad, Calif. that wanted to increase breast cancer awareness among teens. These rubber bracelets retail for $3.99 and come in different colors with the words "I love boobies (Keep a Breast)" imprinted on them. OK, so here's my deal. I'm all for raising awareness for breast cancer, but I also believe it can be done tastefully. 

After doing a little talking and researching, I came to see that I wasn't the only one who found this a strange/inappropriate way to "raise awareness." In TONS of schools they have been coming up with specific regulations AGAINST the bracelets, saying they are derogatory and inappropriate to be worn at school. I think if I were a mom involved in P.T.O. at my kids High school/Middle school (which I totally WILL be..) I would step forward too! Not too be abnormally conservative would I do this, but simply to keep a certain level of class, in the way we get kids talking about serious issues, like Breast Cancer.

I thought this was interesting. I found a statement from the Keep-A-Breast foundation. Check it out: 

Keep-A-Breast, says that their campaign "develops a new approach and positive style of communication about breast cancer.

"The campaign is meant to encourage young people to target their breast health.

"The T-shirts and bracelets act as an awareness-raising tool, allowing young people to engage and start talking about a subject that is scary and taboo and making it positive and upbeat."

However, the group does also realize that the "I (heart) boobies" slogan might not be everyone's cup of tea.

"We fully understand that the "I (heart) boobies" campaign is not for everyone," the statement continues, "which is why we provide several other graphics for people to proudly wear, including ones that read Check Your Self, Art Education Awareness Action, Non Toxic Revolution and LOVE.

"Although some people might find the "I (heart) boobies" campaign offensive, many others find it refreshing in a sea of pink ribbons to see people taking a positive approach.

"Boobies is not a four-letter word."


I think I probably missed this whole controversy when I was in Italy last year, so if this is old news to everyone, sorry. But what are your guys feelings on the these bracelets? I'm interested to hear what others have to think about it. Am I weird to think that a male medical "professional" examining my body should be prohibited to wear an "I love boobies" bracelet?? Call me crazy, but to me that seems a bit UN-professional. 

what the NY times said here.

For some STRANGE reason,  I find the pink ribbon slightly more respectful and refined...