Images, femininity and cancer: an analysis of an international patient education programme.
This article is an analysis of a cancer patient education programme run by cosmetic companies. I focus on an analysis of imagery, arguing that there are particular discursive elements that the cosmetic companies use in order to make productive the relationship between femininity and cancer. I contextualize this education programme by presenting the controversies regarding cosmetics as they relate to the growth of breast tumours. In doing so, I conclude that conversations and questions about a link between chemicals and cancer are subverted by both ;horror' narratives of cancer and the provocative use of standards of beauty. Such discursive dominance in patient education programmes makes it difficult to engage in a more public understanding of cancer growth as affected by cosmetic chemicals.
Phillips
Catherine
C
University of Plymouth, UK. catherine.phillips@plymouth.ac.uk
D001505:Beauty Culture / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000600:supply & distribution / Q000633:toxicity; D003469:Culture; D004954:Esthetics / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D019513:Feminism; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000633:toxicity; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D040541:Marketing / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D010226:Parabens / Q000633:toxicity; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D010565:Persuasive Communication; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012649:Self Concept; D013664:Teaching Materials
D003358:Cosmetics; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D010226:Parabens