Last year, I penned an article highlighting the ludicrousness of social media censorship regarding breastfeeding images. It detailed how a paid ad featuring a mother nursing her child was flagged as inappropriate, while celebrity images flaunting nudity seemed to pass without issue. I was taken aback that a natural act, like breastfeeding, was deemed unfit for platforms like Facebook, yet the internet could easily handle more provocative content.
Fast forward to today, and we have a new example of this absurdity. To circumvent the censorship of women’s breasts on social media, a non-profit organization in Argentina, known as MACMA, has opted to feature a male model in a breast self-exam tutorial video. The creative minds behind this campaign, Lucas and Sofia from a Buenos Aires ad agency, recognized that getting women over 25 to regularly examine their breasts is a challenge. But they also realized that these same women check their phones constantly, leading to their unconventional solution.
So, because female nipples are censored while male nipples are not, we now have instructional videos showcasing man-boobs (or “moobs”) instead of women’s breasts. Strangely enough, this bizarre switch is being praised for its creativity. While I appreciate that this video may help raise awareness and equip women with cancer detection tools, I can’t help but feel uneasy about what this trend signifies regarding online censorship.
As a father of two daughters, it concerns me greatly that they might learn about breast cancer detection through the lens of male anatomy rather than relatable female figures—just because social media can’t handle images of women’s bodies, even when it could potentially save lives.
The reality is that breasts serve numerous functions online, and unfortunately, the majority of them are commercial. However, when it comes to their essential role in breastfeeding or teaching self-exams for cancer prevention, society seems to shy away. It’s disheartening that we live in a world where breasts are readily used to sell products but their true purpose is relegated to the shadows. We force mothers to breastfeed in private and conceal their bodies while simultaneously using male bodies to discuss an issue that fundamentally belongs to women.
What are we actually safeguarding here? Are we protecting sensibilities? This issue is far more serious than that. Are we worried about men being aroused? If your online experience leads you to breast self-exam videos to seek out women’s breasts, then you might need to rethink how you navigate the internet.
Are we shielding children? Definitely not. Instead, we are limiting access to critical breast awareness tools and perpetuating the damaging idea that breasts are solely for sexualization and marketing. As a father, I find this narrative troubling, and I hope you do too. What this organization is attempting to do by prioritizing breast cancer awareness on social media is commendable, but they shouldn’t have had to resort to this peculiar measure. The focus on breast cancer awareness should have always been prominent on these platforms, without the need to introduce moobs into the conversation.
And if you disagree with my perspective, go ahead and share this piece. Someone in your circle has likely been affected by breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, there are about 2.8 million women in the U.S. with a history of breast cancer, including those currently undergoing treatment and those who have completed it. Moreover, an estimated 246,660 new invasive breast cancer cases will be diagnosed in women this year alone. If that doesn’t give you pause, I encourage you to seek out more statistics.
This video and the surrounding debate reveal a troubling aspect of social media censorship that may have life-altering consequences. It’s time we shift the conversation away from the censorship of women’s bodies and encourage early breast cancer detection through real education that includes real women. This could genuinely save lives.
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In summary, while the effort to raise breast cancer awareness is crucial, resorting to male representations due to social media censorship raises important questions about our society’s views on women’s bodies and their functions. It’s imperative we advocate for a more open and educational approach to these vital health issues.
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