You Are Not The Keeper of
My Medical Mastectomy & Artistic Expression Sharing Rights
My Medical Mastectomy & Artistic Expression Sharing Rights
Do not stop...
Do not report...
Do not comment...
...on things that you have no interest in supporting.
SIGN HERE
Images like these of post mastectomy bodies have long caused squinting and wincing but we are firmly in a period of time both socially and culturally where these images are more than ever important (dare I say critical) to have access to in order to diminish both the mystery and secrecy of breast cancer's physical and psychological toll. It's time to permanently lift the veil and shine the light on what is one of the most devastating surgical procedures for women.
In 2013 Facebook and Instagram (owned by Facebook since April 9, 2012) both chose to support the public sharing of these images in light of their educational and experiential value. After all, breast cancer is a disease that is impacting over 290,000 newly diagnosed patients every year in the United States (source). A disease that is taking the lives of over 40,000 Americans annually (source).
Despite their policy changes allowing mastectomy photos, both companies continue to censor these images by taking them down, discriminate against those sharing these images by locking out account holders for periods of time and even deleting their accounts entirely. To put it bluntly, they are flat out ignoring and overriding their own policy revisions. They continuously allow what appears to be an influx of CYBER TARGETING & ANONYMOUS ASSAULTS on account holders that have done nothing wrong.
For years individuals and groups have been responding with outrage over the removal and banning of mastectomy images from both Facebook and Instagram. Prejudice and censorship of images that help disperse the realities of breast cancer and the choices patients have after they undergo scarring and body altering procedures continues to be pervasive and without any real recourse on behalf of the "offender" i.e. the account holder, photo sharer.
We are not okay with this disregard of policy. We are not okay with the continued censorship of REAL LIFE. We are not okay with the ability of anonymous reporters to inflict damage and disrupt the course of social communication of account holders and businesses trying to change the world in beautiful and important ways.
Join us in our outrage.
Sign the latest PETITION to end this censorship and to rectify a broken Facebook and Instagram policy and SOP (standard operating procedure) for determining what is and what isn't pornographic/violent material.
Sign the latest PETITION to end this censorship and to rectify a broken Facebook and Instagram policy and SOP (standard operating procedure) for determining what is and what isn't pornographic/violent material.
xo Melissa
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Just for posterity...here are some stand out events that have occurred regarding post mastectomy images in the public eye.
August 15, 1993
The New York Times - You Can't Look Away Anymore (Article and Photograph of Matuschka)
The New York Times - You Can't Look Away Anymore (Article and Photograph of Matuschka)
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1993 Matuschka - The New York Times Magazine
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2003
LIFE Magazine - features Matuschka's famous photo as one of the 100 photographs that changed the world.
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Matuschka
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April 9, 2012
May 2012
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Joanne Jackson
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TIME Magazine - The Angelina Effect (article). Genetic Testing for the breast cancer genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2 sky rockets as a result of Angelina's story.
The SCAR Project
David Jay (The SCAR Project) is inspired to re-share his images of women who have undergone surgical procedures as a result of breast cancer to raise public awareness. Facebook later pulls the images from the projects Facebook account due to nudity concerns since (at the time) guidelines enforced a strict ban on nudity (cough cough - nudity is not monitored closely on Facebook...just take a look around...you'll see) and could remove photos of exposed breasts.
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Copyright 2011 © David Jay Photography |
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Copyright 2011 © David Jay Photography |
Facebook bans David Jay's account for 30 days.
Stupid Dumb Breast Cancer
Facebook outright asks Ann Marie Giannino-Otis of Stupid Dumb Breast Cancer to remove post mastectomy images from her Facebook account.
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| Ann Marie Giannino-Otis of Stupid Dumb Breast Cancer |
Change.org
These actions incite the first Change.org petition of it's kind.
The petition (written by Scorchy Barrington) asked Facebook to change their policy so that mastectomy images were no longer treated as pornographic.
Facebook responded indicating they had always allowed such images however they admitted mistakes had been made and that the policy was never implemented properly (article).
Shortly after launching the campaign Barrington's petition had garnered the 20,000 signatures necessary to get Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg's (i.e. Facebook's) attention.
Barrington proclaims "Victory!" Facebook's policy team tells Barrington they are committed to clearing up any internal or external confusion regarding images of mastectomy and clarified their policy (article) (article).
May 2014
CBS NEWS - Ann Marie Giannino-Otis of SDBC story is featured on local CBS affiliate.
*The facts reported in this video regarding survival rates / death rates are skewed and do not accurately reflect the true state of breast cancer today in 2016.
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| The Grace Project travels over the US educating through beautiful photographs by Isis |
Charise Isis Grace & Sarah Friend Amento
February 2015
Little shout out to my friend Jen from the Grace photo shoot in DC last night. Proving once again, that all roads lead to Jen...my new friend Melissa walked in the door for her photo shoot with Grace photographer Isis Charise...and first thing out of her mouth was how freaking cool is it and how small the world is...cuz she is an uber big fan of Jen's...and so we have both Grace AND Jen in common. Which sealed the deal. #fastfriendsAlso she had a super important PSA regarding the flagging of mastectomy photos on FB: #DBAA
Posted by Joules Evans on Thursday, February 26, 2015
March 2015
Jennifer Pastiloff aslo makes a video denouncing the reporting and flagging of mastectomy photos.
September 2015
Glamour Magazine - features "What Breast Cancer Really Looks Like" (article)
Beth Fairchild and Emily Jenseon are two of the women featured in an attempt to bring to light the the complex and nondiscriminatory disease that is breast cancer. These photos also shed light on the different choices each woman has made regarding her individual diagnosis.
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| From left: Fairchild; Pleva-Nickerson with twins Graceanne (at left) and Teresa; Salazar with daughters Cara (at left) and Lexi; Jensen; De Vose. |
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| Beth Fairchild Beth is a tattoo artist, wife, mom, activist, advocate and a Stage IV breast cancer patient. |
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| Emily Jensen Emily is an activist and advocate for breast cancer patients everywhere and helps bring to light the option of no reconstruction. |
"I have no breasts. And my body is gorgeous. That's all there is to it." - Emily Jensen, 34, Seattle, diagnosed three years ago (Glamour)
October 2015
Pink Ink Fund - Amy Black (Tattoo Artist) receives notice that her images on her (non-profit) Instagram account, Pink Ink Fund, has been reported and her account is completely DELETED despite their own policy that allows such photos.  |
| Amy Black |
Watch this incredible video of Amy as she presents at TedX Richmond, Virginia on the topic of the nipple and how she started providing this service to women so desperate for something they've lost.
Note: again, Instagram is owned by Facebook and their policy is verbatim the same.
Outrage from supporters ensues and the media picks up the story.
Instagram Re-Activates Pink Ink Fund's account.
- Medical Daily Article
Instagram Apologizes for deleting Pink Ink Fund's account.
- Style Weekly Article
November and December 2015
These months see an huge increase in the reporting of private and public accounts who share images of women post mastectomy, revealing scars, reconstruction and no reconstruction, decorative tattoos, nipple areola tattoos, all of which adhere to the policy of both Facebook and Instagram.
Despite following the policies and guidelines, anonymous reporters continue to be allowed to CYBER BULLY & STALK those who support showing post mastectomy photos in an effort to educate and unite the community of those impacted by breast cancer and those at risk.
Accounts that experience ongoing harassment that I know personally include but are not limited to:
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| Emily Jensen of Flattopper Pride |
Beth's work clearly states the photo is of a tattooed areola on a breast cancer survivor and is not real, but rather a 3D tattoo (although entirely realistic...which is the point!), yet Facebook still decides to remove the image and lock Beth out of her account once again. Beth faces repeated attacks and unfair, targeted reporting on a regular basis and as a result faces more often than not, a great deal of interference with her ability to conduct her tattoo and advocacy work. These are the sort of actions we demand Facebook monitor and pay attention to.
Kelli Parker is a huge advocate for breast cancer patients everywhere, bringing light to some of the most hidden and hushed conversations about metastatic breast cancer through her personal page and her I Am Susan page. This photo on the left with a prosthetic nipple on her forehead was a joke (regarding the repeated reporting of her friend, Beth Fairchild's photos) but it too came under fire. As ridiculous as that seems, it caused quite the uproar and simply proved the point the Facebook was paying no attention to what was being reported.
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We've Gained Huge Support... from within AND out of the breast cancer community.
MOST people want to be able to see what their options are and what outcomes can look like under different circumstances.
MOST people want this formerly closeted topic to remain out in the open and under a bright light.
MOST people understand the real and beneficial impact these images are having for women who already face an uphill battle in a society that constantly critiques, judges, shames, exploits and objectifies us.
The Fight Continues... and it will go on until these photos can no longer be the targets of oppressive, small minded people who want the real image of breast cancer to remain hidden in the shadows. Until my (our) right to show my (our) story is protected more than your right to be offended.
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So...
How many Open Letters do we need to write?
How many Open Letters do we need to write?
The Muse 2013
Sara Bartosiewicz-Hamilton of Flat and Fabulous writes...in response to The SCAR Project's photo removals by Facebook.
December 20, 2015
Cult of Perfect Motherhood Open Letter (also picked up by The Huffington Post here)
December 20,2015
I would be remiss if I left this lovely Open Letter out of this blog. This was a publicly shared plea for Mark Zuckerberg to continue the removal of mastectomy images and the discrimination against people who share post mastectomy images. This is the very sort and type of person who finds it too difficult to just scroll on by and block or hide what offends her. This is the very sort of person who hopes to see the truth of breast cancer shoved back into the dark corners of medicine. This person has also made it her mission to continuously report photos and make a mockery of the system which is meant to protect people from true forms of pornography and violent content.
December 27, 2015
METAvivor Open Letter
How Many Petitions Will It Take?
Scorchy Barrington petition
The Breast Cancer Site petition
Flattopper Pride and Flat & Fabulous petition
~ Melissa McAllister
