Biocitizen response post- sorry the blog won't let me post comments again.

Hi all, the blog won't let me post comments again so I have included my post here in response to Brandon's question. I will try to post this under comments from another computer later today.

Brandon asks, “How do you see yourself in terms of Biological Citizenship (language, activities, knowledge, regulations, communities?”

As Rose asserts, “Activism and responsibility have now become not only desirable but virtually obligatory – part of the obligation of the active biological citizen, to liver his or her life through acts of calculation and choice” (p. 147). I believe that an ongoing and recent example that we have previously briefly discussed in class is breast cancer awareness. Last month was the annual breast cancer awareness month and to my surprise this awareness is becoming more ingrained in citizenship, even in the forms of sports. I was very surprised to see NFL football players wearing pink bands on their bodies displaying their awareness of breast cancer. This obligation is also surpassing gender barriers of promoting awareness of female breast cancer by both men and women more readily.

Another sport-like example that comes to mind is the philanthropy of sororities for breast cancer. For example, every October, sororities from my undergraduate alma mater, Youngstown State University, hold a well-attended cheer a-thon event in which area high school cheerleading teams compete and raise money for breast cancer awareness. The event is very profitable and proceeds benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

What I find it ironic that in these two events it is the participants themselves, the football players and the cheerleaders, that are most likely have healthy-abled bodies supporting and promoting others being aware of breast cancer. More so, as we have briefly discussed before in class, what does this awareness do? For the average boy or girl watching the football game or the cheerleading competition, other than associating pink with breast cancer and obtaining a general understanding that some serious illness such as breast cancer exists, a child or teen may be more influenced to exercise and possibly adopt a healthier lifestyle – thus fulfilling the role of a responsible biocitizen. That may just simply be the overall objective of sports promoting disease and cancer awareness. – STAY IN SHAPE; FIGHT OFF ILLNESSES; PROMOTE THE SALE OF PINK PRODUCTS!!! I know this may seem a bit cynical, but Rose states that there is an essential political economy aspect of responsible biocitizens “who must engage in a constant work of self-evaluation and the modulation of conduct, diet, lifestyle, and drug regime, in response to the changing requirements of the susceptible body” (p. 154).

Lastly, the countless amount of breast cancer and other diseases/conditions/illness walks illustrate the importance of continuously managing and taking preventative health measures for both prepatients and postpatients of such illnesses. Regardless of one’s risk, fitness is IN and it is the “new” way to promote awareness of illnesses, raise money for such foundations, and act responsibily as a citizen.