Breast cancer activism beyond pink positivity

Plus: The problem with seeing patterns in things Today in [Aeon]( [Psyche]( Tuesday 19 September 2023 In this moving and urgent [Essay]( the late Philippa Hetherington writes about living with secondary breast cancer and the pink-ribbon culture that she came to know all too well. That culture is relentlessly positive and feminine – and built upon the exclusion of those who don’t fit its heteronormative outlook. This is a necessary Essay that I truly hope you’ll read. – Sam Dresser, Deputy Editor Illness and disease Essay [More than pink]( [The culture around breast cancer is full of positivity and femininity. But it comes at the expense of the marginalised]( by Philippa Hetherington If you’ve ever seen a farm animal in the clouds, a face in your electrical outlet, or a pattern in random numbers or words, you’ve demonstrated apophenia. In a new [Idea]( Psyche’s staff writer examines both the positive and negative sides of this widespread cognitive tendency. – Matt Huston, Commissioning Editor, Psyche Thinking and intelligence Idea [When the human tendency to detect patterns goes too far]( by Shayla Love [Failures of Forgiveness]( [Myisha Cherry]( ‘[Cherry] . . . brilliantly explores how we should change our thinking about forgiveness.’ — Jason Reynolds, #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of Stamped [Share this newsletter with a friend]( [Facebook icon]( [Instagram icon]( [Twitter icon]( You have received this email because you signed up to the Aeon+Psyche Newsletter list. © Aeon Media Group Ltd 2023. Level 5, 100 Flinders Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Australia. [PRIVACY POLICY](  |  [CONTACT US](  |  [PREFERENCES](  |  [UNSUBSCRIBE](