Komen Kan Kiss My Mammogram

by on February 2, 2012 in Uncategorized

When news broke late Monday that Susan G. Komen defunded breast exams by Planned Parenthood affiliates I was stunned. Here is a good news story about what happened.

What? Is it possible that the two titans of women’s health were now at odds with one another.

My reaction was to start a conversation among friends like Amy Sample Ward, Tom Watson and Beth about what we could do to support Planned Parenthood. It’s a great thread that keeps growing. A theme developed that the best way to send a loud message to Komen about how displeased we are with their decision was to fund Planned Parenthood. I set up a Cause on Facebook called: Komen Kan Kiss My Mammogram. Of course, people can give directly to Planned Parenthood, (my mother did yesterday) the Cause allows folks to see it in action, it becomes more social, and hopefully we’ll help identify new, younger donors to Planned Parenthood.

And then the real fun began, with friends sharing with friends on Twitter and Facebook. What could be more fun than when a friend like Lisa Colton writes on my wall, “Thanks for being the glue turning energy into a social movement. Who better to start a “kiss my mammogram” campaign??!!” A few hours after the Cause was up hundreds of people had already given several thousand dollars to Planned Parenthood!

Beth, always leading the way, created a Pinterest site to share pictures, all of which link back to the Cause.  Here’s one of the pictures:

Credo Action

Credo Action

5 likes  1 comment  7 repins

Deanna Zandt set up this terrific Tumblr blog of women telling their personal stories of the ways that Planned Parenthood has helped them over the years. Here’s my favorite:

I owe my life to Planned Parenthood

A former stay-at-home wife, I was recently divorced, returning to college, and without health insurance or a job. Planned Parenthood was my only healthcare option, and I owe my life to them. During their care, they detected an agressive strain of quickly spreading cancer. After I underwent treatment my doctor confessed to me that she was scared at how close I came to losing my life. (So glad she decided to tell me that bit after it was all over :) . I owe my life to you, Planned Parenthood.

Kivi Leroux Miller has a terrific analysis of Komen’s disastrous communications effort – or, at first, their non effort.

All of these efforts are sharable and social, we are including new people in the conversation and giving people who are outraged about Komen an opportunity to express themselves and be heard.

This is just the first chapter, this effort will continue to grow and change this week. It’s easy to imagine a Valentines Day effort asking men to give to Planned Parenthood to say they love their girlfriends/wives/lovers/mothers, can’t you?

More on the way soon!

 

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  • http://amysampleward.org Amy Sample Ward

    Allison – thank you for starting this thread and keeping it moving forward!

    This has truly been a case study in action, a really incredible example of what happens when you build up a community of connected, passionate supporters and then fail to consistently engage them when your actions/programs/decisions change. People like you, me, and everyone else that’s taken action or started individual threads that have turned into building blocks for larger participation (like Deanna’s tumblr, Beth’s pinterest board, Tom’s hashtag jumping, and all the rest) are people that knew how to use these tools because we had done so in support of Komen in the past. But, we can use them just as quickly, nimbly, and successfully when our message isn’t supportive. It will certainly all be going in the book Allyson Kapin and I are writing!

    • http://allisonfine.com Allison Fine

      Hi, Amy, apologies for the late reply to your thoughtful comment. The ability of supporters to turn on a dime and become critics, loud, vocal critics, is an integral part of social media activism. And whoa unto the Fortress’ that aren’t paying attention. Can’t wait for your book! Thanks for jumping in the sandbox and playing!

  • Cindy Rizzo

    You can let people know that they can go to the Komen site at http://ww5.komen.org/Contact.aspx and use the scroll down menu to select Report Improper Conduct, then send an email (with name included or anonymously) to protect the defunding of Planned Parenthood.

    • Cindy Rizzo

      I meant PROTEST!

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