'I (Heart) Boobies' Bracelet to the Supreme Court
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| Kayla Martinez (left) and Brianna Hawk (right) (credit: articles.mcall.com) |
Raising breast cancer awareness in
young generations is very important because they are our future. In order to make
a better society, the younger generations must be educated. You may have seen
teenagers wearing ‘I (Heart) Boobies’ rubber wristbands. Teenagers are usually
into fashions and accessories; this is the perfect way to reach the targets in
this group. In 2010, two girls, Brianna Hawk and Kayla Martinez, were suspended
for wearing ‘I (Heart) Boobies’ bracelets to their middle school in Pennsylvania
(Burdo & Stamm, 2014). According to Morran (2014), the school’s principle
states that the message on the bracelet is “sexual double entendre which is
prohibited by the School District-wide dress code policy”. The parents of the
two girls sued the school district in federal court; the judge stated that
there was nothing lewd about the message on the wristband and that the school
was “overreached in enacting the ban” (Morran, 2014). In August 2013, the school
district appealed the case to the third Circuit Court; the court’s decision was
that the “speech plausibly containing “social or political commentary may not be
banned, unless the speech is plainly lewd” (Morran, 2014). The school district
seems to be in court’s favor since the bracelet contains the word “boobies”
with no other words that are related to breast cancer awareness; however, the students
were in favor again with nine judges (out of 14 judges) sided with the students
(Bomboy, 2014). After that, the case was appealed to the Supreme Court with the
school district’s explanation stating that “student speech full of sexual
innuendo or scatological implications must be tolerated by the Constitution
just because an argument can be made to connect them with some political or
social cause”, but the Supreme Court denied to hear the case with no
explanation (Morran, 2014).
To many other students, the ‘I
(Heart) Boobies bracelet may be childish, funny, or sexual if they do not fully
understand the meaning of the message. I understand that Kayla Martinez and
Brianna Hawk are just trying to express themselves since they have the right to
do it. On the other hand, the school just wants to protect and keep the school’s
environment clean and safe for other students as well. I believed that Brianna Hawk and Kayla
Martinez has learned an important lesson to never give up and stand up and fight
for what they believed is right.
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| (credit: keepabreastshop.com) |
What are your thoughts on this “Boobies”
case?
Do you agree or disagree with the courts’
decisions?
Have you ever owned “I (Heart)
Boobies” bracelet?
References
Bomboy, S. (2014, March 10). Update:
How the “Boobies” case almost made it to the Supreme Court. The National
Constitution Center. Retrieved from http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/2014/03/supreme-court-could-reject-or-accept-boobies-case-on-monday/
Burdo, A. &
Stamm, D. (2014, March 10). U.S. Supreme Court Rejects “I (Heart) Boobies”
Case.
NBC10. Retrieved from http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/politics/Supreme-Court-Rejects-I-Heart-Boobies-Case-249276501.html
Morran, C. (2014, March 10). Supreme Court Won’t Hear “I Heart Boobies” Bracelet Case. Consumerist. Retrieved from http://consumerist.com/2014/03/10/supreme-court-wont-hear-i-heart-boobies-bracelet-case/
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI have actually seen the bracelets mentioned in this article. At first glance, I thought they were inappropriate since boys were mainly seen wearing them. Only later did i realize that they were supporting breast cancer. I was part of relay for life and a sorority that raised money for breast cancer patients and survivors. I agree with the courts decision but I hope that this does not make students think they can wear other inappropriate items to school and get away with it. I find the bracelets to be a bit suggestive but there are other campaigns that have "save the ta tas" shirts and other merchandise. I know that these slogans can get peoples attention, I just hope it is geared towards disease awareness and prevention.
I personally believe that the entire "I <3 Boobies" or "Save the Ta-Tas" or, worse "Save Second Base" movements are sexually objectifying and degrading. While it's true that this kind of “shock marketing” may make sales, and therefore raise money, it contributes to an overall issue of sexism in society. It implies that the women who have breast cancer are no more than a walking pair of breasts which exist solely for aesthetics. By this token, mastectomies, a helpful and life-saving procedure for many with breast cancer, would be unacceptable because the breasts themselves are not saved, only the human attached to them.
ReplyDeleteI don't really have an opinion on the case itself, but the entire marketing ploy is tasteless.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI agree with the cause I think it is good to raise the awareness in youth as they are the ones who will be adults tomorrow and breast cancer does not see anyone’s age. The awareness is good but can be done with little bit of different choice of words. It definitely has a deep message but first look at it mainly focuses just only on “boobies” however, breast cancer is much beyond that. It can affect men as well. Along with raising the awareness we should be sensitive to those who suffer from them and have mastectomies. I agree with you that those two girls learned an important lesson to stand for their point, but I think there are other ways to convey the message
Hey!
ReplyDeleteI disagree with the bracelets completely - I understand that people want to support breast cancer but there are thousands of other ways to do it. I think that it's disgusting that men wear it, and it's honestly mostly men that do. I firmly believe that the court's decision was wrong because it does promote things that should not be promoted in school. Kelsey's answer is spot on - I feel like it degrades a woman's status and makes it seem like it's all everyone cares about rather than the actual woman herself. So personally, I hate them with a passion as you can probably tell :)