“Lessons to Learn”: Constructions of Femininity in Popular Magazine Breast Health Narratives — Page 4:
16 The article “The Story Behind the Scar” is about how women adapt to their post-treatment bodies and includes women who made a variety of choices. For several women breast reconstruction was a vital part of the healing process. In speaking of her reconstruction, Beth Silverman states: “[…] the surgery gave me back a piece of my womanhood that cancer took away” (Mantica 169). Kathy Burgau “finally felt whole again” once she had completed her breast reconstruction (Mantica 166). However, for Melissa Pantel-Ku a double mastectomy without reconstruction was the right choice: “who would have imagined that I would feel more like a woman when I was stripped of my breasts” (Mantica 170). These narratives echo the complicated relationships most U.S. women have with breasts. By presenting a range of women who were satisfied with a variety of options this article works to potentially empower other women as they make choices about their breast-cancer treatment. The accompanying nude images present a range of post-treatment breasts and largely serve the purpose of exposing breast cancer.
17 “Daring to Date Again” is a brutally honest exploration of the challenges of dating and sex as a person living with breast cancer. Stephaine LaRue who was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic breast cancer at age 33 and given a year to live talks about how her sex drive went through the roof during her treatment. For LaRue “the sex was lifesaving; it helped take my mind off everything that was happening” (193). She is able to have satisfactory sexual relationships despite her illness. LaRue advocates for other breast cancer survivors particularly when it comes to talking honestly about sex: “[…] it is extremely important for oncologists to be open about sex with breast cancer survivors” (194). She believes that sex can be healing and sees orgasms as part of her therapy. Narratives such as LaRue’s are an important part of being honest about women’s lived experience with breast cancer.
18 In “Our Marriage Fell Apart When I got Breast Cancer,” Marie talks about the impact that her breast cancer treatment had on her sex life. “The treatments took a huge toll on my appearance, but worse they also caused our sex life to fizzle” (Hanson 198). Marie’s sex drive plummeted. Her husband mourned the loss of her breasts and told her he was no longer attracted to her and didn’t want to stay in a sexless marriage. Angry, Marie tells him to explain to everyone why he was leaving and then leave. But rather than breakup they decide to work with a therapist. The article includes analysis from the therapist who helped the couple work on their marriage by reconnecting as a couple and focusing on who they are today. This article acknowledges some of the challenges that breast cancer treatment poses to feeling confident and sexual. The treatment can have physical effects (scars, nausea, vaginal dryness, swelling, and body changes including loss of breasts and hair), which can impact sexuality. In addition, the emotional effects (fear, depression, and anxiety) can also impact sexual relationships. The inclusion of narratives about the intimate details of post-treatment sex can be helpful to women who are making treatment decisions as well as to women who may be suffering like Marie.
19 Personal narratives about breast health in mainstream magazines are overwhelmingly heterosexual. Only one article, a feature about Melissa Etheridge, mentions a lesbian relationship. The four issues of Curve magazine (a magazine aimed at lesbians) examined for this analysis did not contain any personal narratives. Lesbians have been medically underserved and are often marginalized in mainstream medical settings because of institutional homophobia. In addition, lesbians are less likely to have routine visits for birth control and prenatal care, where much of the standard screening is done. The lack of personal breast health narratives by or about lesbians is detrimental.
Beauty Ideals
20 In her 1980 publication The Cancer Journals, Audre Lorde argued that by erasing the visible effects of breast cancer we isolate women who might rally together to fight collectively. In the last three decades breast cancer has become more visible. With an organized movement, women and men have successfully fought to change the ways that breast cancer is understood and treated. Breast cancer activists have been successful in bringing a great deal of public attention to breast health. However, the images and narratives about breast health that appear in popular magazines often intentionally and unintentionally reinforce traditional beauty norms. The text and accompanying pictures place an emphasis on women’s looks. Granted, many of the articles come from women’s magazines with a decided focus on beauty; unfortunately the result is that women are encouraged to privilege looking good over being healthy.