Post for Week of September 9th & 11th

The McGee article discusses a group of people being able to get a cause labeled as a movement, which will enable that cause to get recognition and to be more successful. A group has to create linkages in the public mind to get them to relate in some way/understand the importance of the cause. This recognition of importance differentiates “our cause” versus “their cause” and makes it a force to be reckoned with. Once this acknowledgement of the cause exists then the movement can gain momentum and power.
This article made me think of the Breast Cancer Movement that has swept across America and has become an extremely powerful movement the past five years. Even though you may not know someone with Breast Cancer, you most likely know someone who has had some form of cancer and are willing to donate time and/or money to help out the cause. This movement has become such a strong force that there are mini-movements that have been created under the general Breast Cancer movement—such as “Save the Ta-Tas,” Biden Breast Health Initiative, and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
The Breast Cancer Movement has done exactly what the McGee article addresses. The overall movement has made linkages to the general public, which was relatively easier to do than other causes because cancer has become so common place in our society. They used this common place factor to differentiate this movement from others. Cancer can almost be seen as an epidemic which allowed the movement to be put to the forefront of the social priority list and draws attention to it. I believe the Breast Cancer Movement is at the height of its power and with the amount of awareness and money that has been raised, they have already made significant progress in even the diagnosing of breast cancer and hopefully this change will continue.