I Heart Boobies

My mom is going through chemo right now for Breast Cancer...honestly I don't think I would want my 11 year old cousin wearing a I heart Boobies bracelet, boy or girl.

My aunt went out and bought a bunch of the rubber bracelets for the whole family. There are a lot more appropriate ones for kids

As a side note, I have friend that is promoting testicular cancer awareness. He has a shirt of his website that says, I heart boobies too, but I need my balls. Also not 11 year old appropriate, but still funny.

No. You know why - not for the "boobies" statement but becuse there was a huge story done on this particular bracelet and almost none of the $$ raised went to BC research or supporting BC patients. WTH?! (see below and link)

Many are under the impression that much of the profits go directly to breast cancer research. But the California-based Keep A Breast Foundation says that it mission is to simply promote awareness and education to about breast cancer.

NBC reports that after taking in millions of dollars in 2010, the group has only given out 100,000 in breast-cancer related grants, and much of its profits is sitting in a bank account, unspent.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/17/i-love-boobies-c...

I think it is provacative and more sexually suggestive then something straightforward. I don't think it's appropriate at any age and think it's plain dumb. I actually think it comes across as mocking than it's true intention. Seriously there are more tasteful approaches than this.

It is a great marketing tool to get people to donate to a wonderful cause...but I think it is over the top.

What is next?? I heart scrotums?? I heart balls?? I heart dicks?? I heart anuses?? I heart asses?? There are many horrible diseases out there...let's not make it sexual or cutsie it up.

I see it more as sensationalized sexual innuendo. Boys your son's age can work to earn money to donate to those whose breasts have been ravaged by the disease. That would do more for understanding and empathy than a pink bracelet that uses a slang term.

I love breasts..I love my breasts..I think breast are beautiful..my husband loves my breasts...my 3 babies were fed for a year at a time from my breasts.

I think this "marketing tool" is just that...and not meant to go on the wrists of young boys.

I think the bracelets are more of a joke to kids then what is intended for. Kind of reminds me of the colored jelly bracelets I used to wear in elementary school. They were fun,colorful and very 80's. Now those same jelly bracelets are being worn by girls to show what sexual acts they have done or will do to boys. No...the I heart boobies bracelets are not going to be used for that same disgusting and immature purpose. But...just an example of how something so innocent can get in the wrong hands..or wrist..and be twisted into something it is not. It is really silly to most youth..they are not wearing these bracelets with pride, understanding of the disease or respect for anyone loved on with the disease. At least the boys I have been around. They are simply wearing them because it is "acceptable" because it is a cancer awareness phrase.

Just my two cents!!

Good luck and best wishes!!

its a gimmick. Its not showing support for anything IMO. Support is in your heart, not on your wrist. Its a slang term, that can be seen and viewed in too many different ways, and frankly, not good ways.
What is wrong with wearing a pink breast cancer pin? Everyone knows what it means, it has no double meaning or sexual connotation.
Its FINE for an 11 year old boy to wear a braclet, but not if it is obviously going to cause a issue. Then dont do it, Breast Cancer isnt a subject for ridicule, anger, mis-understanding, or what have ya. Too controversial.

My mother died of liver cancer complications, my grandma: lung cancer (she never smoked anything a day in her life), my Aunt: colon cancer, and another Aunt to uterine cancer. So nobody has I heart Livers, Butts, Lungs, or Wombs braclets that I know of.

Inappropriate. Can I also add that I am so sick of professional athletes wearing pink socks or whatever during games and probably going out and cheating on their wives who have perfectly good boobies. The breast cancer awareness campaign has gotten out of control and has been taken over by companies who want to market the pink to make a profit.

J.,
As a man, don't you know the answer to this question? It is provocative, and not at all appropriate for an 11 year old boy (or girl!). What benefit does it actually give to those suffering with breast cancer (or who will suffer at some future date)? Seriously. Our culture is so sexualized. Why on earth would any parent allow their children be immersed in such things? Both on the side of cancer and sexualization. Let him be a child. If he is already so far gone that he wants to wear one of these, I think you have some serious work to do to protect him and bring him back to childhood.

I would not permit that for my sons, no matter how well-intended.

There are more appropriate ways to show support.

JMO.

My best friends son is 16 and wears one. He lost his grandmother on his father's side to breast cancer. The last time he saw her alive, one of the hospital staff had given him the bracelet... at first he thought it was girlie, then he associated it with his grandmothers boobs and was grossed out... but then he 'grew up' a bit and now wears it proudly every day, in his grandmother's memory. At first, one of his teacher's caused a big stink over the word 'boobies', but then he, very maturely, explained what it meant to him, he was allowed to continue to wear it.

Really? Boobies? It's immature to think of it as inappropriate considering what those bracelets stand for. Yes, I'd let any one of my kids wear one, and they're 2, 6, and 8. No big deal.

On the flip side, one of my girl friends has been battling breast cancer. She had a double mastectomy. You know what she did? She had a bra-ban party after her surgery, to celebrate the freedom, LOL!! Great sense of humor ;) She hung all her old bra's all over the trees outside her house, and we had a barbecue. Afterwards, we gathered up all the bras and donated them to the women's shelter. I'm quite positive passerby's thought we were insane, but really, it was all for a good cause, she just thought up a weird way to show it!

LOL... Reminds me of the shirts we used to wear during the drought:

"Save Water; Shower With A Friend"

As preteens/teens we looooooved those types of things because

1) It let us get away with 'dancing the line' inappropriate while
2) Being "unassailable"

AKA it was a win/win situation for us. We were VERY aware of the underlying cause... and any adult (while we KNEW they were objecting to the quasi-sexual nature of it) we could feel morally outraged that they didn't support saving water during the drought/ breast cancer/ etc.

VERY few teachers let us wear them. The ones that did, I think were quite clever about it, and they were usually the AP or Gifted teachers. They LIKED the conversations that got spurred because of the shirts. The debates. The standing up for a cause. We started the whole thing off because of the sexual/funny nature... but we ended up arguing for the cause that the shirts supported. We had to.

If we could articulate the "reason" we were wearing them... we got to keep them on.

I'd permit it now, at age 9, IF he could argue for it.

J.,
There are other breast cancer awareness bracelets besides that particular bracelet. I think its important to show support and teach our children to show support for causes they actually believe in.
I personally think its an unfortunate approach to the situation, and I would consider it inappropriate for anyone any age to wear those.

Again, there are other ways to show support like a pink ribbon, another type of bracelet, bumper stickers, whatever as long as it does not have a "hidden meaning" (for lack of a better word), that is not potentially offensive to others.

It depends on the boy. If he has a family history of breast cancer and is actually wearing it because he supports breast cancer awareness and searching for a cure, fine. If he is wearing it because he is a boy and thinks the word boobies is funny, he shouldn't wear it.

It's for a good cause! I say all ages are fine!

My grandmother had breast cancer. My 7 y/o son is fully aware of what she went through and what a horrible disease cancer is. I would absolutely let him wear one in support of her even at his age.
My son already wears one for brain tumor awareness (to show his support to his father) and a SIDS one (to show support to our friends who lost their baby girl) which he received at walks/fund raisers for both.

I think the vast majority of those boys wear those bracelets for the saying and giggles, not for what 'the message'.... I know several who wear them and they don't know a single person who is going through breast cancer, who care much about it really. They don't wear other bracelets to spread awareness for other diseases or cancers, so it's not like they are that passionate about what breast cancer people are going through.. I think it is totally inappropriate, and most people that think the kids are doing it for anything other than attention and to be a bit naughty is fooling themselves. I was a kid whose parent was battling terminal cancer and knew even then how to support and spread awareness in other ways. They can wear the pin, a ribbon, a tshirt, another bracelet, donate money, go on a run... but no, they just like the boobies slang. I have nothing against breast cancer support and sympathy for those dealing with it, but there are so many other cancers out there that get absolutely no recognition and support at all, it kind of makes me upset.... obviously boys would choose breast cancer as the one to stand behind.

J., I appreciate the question, especially since you as a dad are asking it.

I would not let my sons wear that bracelet, even if they were 17. Period. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I know what that looks like when a guy wears it. There are plenty of ways to show support for breast cancer that don't involved other boys yucking it up and making boob jokes when they see the bracelet being worn.

I hope that you won't allow it for your son. Just my two cents, J..

Dawn

As a high school teacher, I made my students turn the bracelets inside out while in my classroom. Many of the boys giggled when asked and said, "What, Miss? It's for breast cancer." I knew better with some of them.

I woudn't let my kids wear it at all. Just cause something is written for cancer doesn't mean it is appropriate. Its for making money. But who does the money reallly go to?

Yea I agree..too young...I know children have shaved their heads when family members are going thru chemo...but the boobies thing should not be a word in their vocabulary.

While I completely understand that the purpose of these bracelets are to raise awareness and show support, I think age 11 is too young. I would not allow my son to wear one. Our school recently banned them for different reasons, one being because of the inappropriate conversations that have opened up from the word "Boobies" making some people feel uncomfortable. I completely agree with the schools here, it just isn't in line with their dress code and causes more problems with discipline which becomes a distraction. I think there are more appropriate ways to show support, such as the pink ribbon or wearing pink or actually volunteering time to raise money or participate in a walk/fun run for breast cancer.

ooh J.!!! I am laughing soo hard right now!!!

Personally - if I was a breast cancer survivor or going through breast cancer treatment - i know my boys would know what it represented...

otherwise...I'd hope they were older....maybe 17 or 18...

I'm thinking that no matter what age you are, it seems immature. There was a 28 year old married man sitting next to me in church the other day and he was wearing one...it made me feel uncomfortable. When I noticed my 13 year old nephew wearing one recently, I didn't like it either, I thought it was kinda weird.
I understand the reason behind the bracelets but I think there are more appropriate ways to show support. Maybe I'm just a big prude!

Normally I would say it were inappropriate. After working the Susan G Komen - Race for the Cure Southern Nevada for the last 7 (or so) years, I am okay with it. People of all ages can get breast cancer, male & female. Granted, it is more prominent in adult women, anyone can get it.

I see it all! I am able to identify survivor's by their pink shirts. I have seen men wearing them, many grandma's, mom's of brand new babies, and young, young, girls. I can identify those celebrating survival and those memorializing by the signs they hold and wear. It is one of my most painful days of the year and nothing hurts my heart more than to see a stroller go by with a sign that says, "In memory of Mom", with Dad pushing it alone.

I have had the hair on the back of my neck stand up during the race, as their is so much energy surrounding us. I have touched survivor's to ask if it is okay to take their picture and have them turn to me with their eye's loaded with tears and reach out for a hug, as they realize how close to death they may have come.

They have come up with all kinds of creative slogans because the boobs are rather endangered. In fact, you would be surprised at the amount of people who surround you have/had breast cancer and no longer have their breasts and/or nipples. Yep that's right, the nipples are a source of cancer too and sometimes they have to be removed. So you never know why any child is wearing such an advertisement and if it is just for fun, I see it as a donation toward a good cause and good awareness.

Please open your mind to this and don't look down on anyone wearing these bracelets. It maybe their constant reminder of their mother or other loved one.

(By the way, our time is volunteered)

*Edit
After reading the other responses that say they should be aware of what they are wearing, what an awful thing to be questioned about. I hope no one asks a young man why he is wearing a bracelet...to find he lost his mother after 5+ years of battle with treatment. What a sore spot with me!

As long as he has a full understanding of the significance of the bracelet, and can explain it well enough to a nosy adult, I see no problem.

The bracelets are to raise awareness. Who better to spread that awareness than a tween boy?

Ummmmm....no.

MAYBE, after the age of 18.

There are more appropriate ways for boys to show support for breast cancer, IMO.

LOL, J.!
Well, I was not aware of bracelets with that logo on them, but your title gave me a much needed laugh, so thanks for that!

Well, I would assume that this 11 yr old (unfortunately) has a reason to be supporting breast cancer specifically. Meaning someone close to him is battling or has battled breast cancer. If this is the case then I would say that its fine for him to wear it because he would be wearing it for the right reasons and not just because an 11 year old would find that sort of thing comical. Also if he was to wear one out in public and someone actually made a comment he would be able to explain exactly why he is wearing it and thus spreading the word even further
So like I said if its for the right reasons I dont see anything wrong with it

I agree w/ everyone who said it's ok, as long as they understand what the bracelet is REALLY for!! My son (who is also 11) says a lot of his friends wear them & while our district does have a dress code, these are allowed.

But J., lets face it...boys really want to wear them because they say BOOBIES! It's a funny word & they feel a little naughty "getting away" with saying/wearing it! LOL!

I say go for it!

I realize this has already been stated, but just to let you know, our middle school has banned them. The students are not even supposed to wear it inside out. (I believe this decision is made at each school, rather than at the district level.)

I realize it is to show support for breast cancer research, but there are also other ways to do that, without making the crude reference.

There are a couple of other bracelets of that type.... one says "Save the TaTas", and the other one says "Boobs are cool".

I also had one mother (I work with her) tell me that her daughter was getting offended by a couple of high school boys that, once they got on the bus, would raise their fists in the air, showing off the boobie bands, and yell... "Titties!"

Frankly, most of the kids want to wear it because it says "Boobies" ..... I do realize that some may in fact be wearing it to show support for a family member with breast cancer, and I do respect that, but there are other ways to do it.

As long as they know what it is for, I don't have a problem with it. That being said, the high school I teach at allows them for the students, but the middle schools that feed into our school has banned them on school property.

I work at a Jr. High. The 12-13 year old boys LOVE those bracelets.

You can't exactly question them or tell them they can't wear it because it is a legit bracelet for a legit cause. And we DO have boys whose mom is a breast cancer survivor and have done the walks and stuff.

That's my Jr. High staff perspective though. As a parent, I would not have my son wear the bracelet at that age.

But, I'm not sure what age it would be appropriate. High School? College? Would I want my husband wearing this (no) so, it really kind of makes sense for the teenage sense of humor when you think about it. I think if they've backed it up with a donation or some sort of action (participation in a walk or fundraising) it might not matter the age.

It is hard enough being a boy trying to become a man. I just wouldn't saddle my boys with anything pink when they were that young.

Now I have older boys (my youngest is 15) that can handle the bias and prejudice that comes with certain colors and some choose to wear pink shirts with their grandmother's image on it because she died from the complications of breast cancer just this past June.

I'm proud of the decision they have made and that they took the initiative to have the shirts made in rememberance of her. My 19 year old neice designed the shirts. It is beautiful to see my mother's 15 grandchildren in the shirts.

all of the ones I have seen are black with pink writing and a pink ribbon on it.

I don't think they are appropriate for kids unless they have a direct link to someone with breast cancer.

Thankfully our school doesn't allow them. Although they have made a few exceptions to kids who has family ( mom, grandma, aunt) who is/ has dealt with it.

I think more kids are wearing them just for the saying not the meaning... to me that is demeaning. My son ( 15) brought it up one time and I told him that if he wanted to support the cause then we would donate directly to the Breast Cancer Foundation. After talking to him and explaining my side thankfully he agreed not to get the bracelet.

My older sister is 5 years clear from breast cancer and I wouldn't wear them. I guess they're trying to be funny and cool with the fundraising, but it just seems childish. I'd rather do something more respectful.

My son is 11 and wants one but I won't allow it. I haven't thought down the road on this subject but I can't see ever allowing it....

I don't! I saw a boy 8 yrs old wearing one and was offended. He knew it was for cancer but the smerk on his face told me it did not matter. He enjoyed wearing a bracelet that said something about boobies!

I think its up to the child and parent to decide if they could be mature enough to handle the tacky slogan.

They were banned at our school due to the one word. A parent saw a student with one on and made a fuss.