Making Amends
- A few women have come forward saying that imagery of their bodies and faces were used for a body-positive beach ad in Spain without their consentincluding a survivor shown topless post-single mastectomy.
- Now, the campaign creator has apologized and is trying to make amends by divvying up any money made between the women equally.
- The message behind the ad was wonderful, showing that women of all shapes, sizes and colorsalong with cancer survivorscan be beautiful and proud of their bodies out in public. The featured women approve of the sentimentthey just wished they were asked first.
- Beauty can be found in all forms. No one is perfect, and we need to learn to be proud of our battle wounds. Especially after beating a disease that is trying to take us down.
British cancer survivor Juliet FitzPatrick, 60, says that the woman could have been “based on her,” but it wasn’t her body, as Juliet has had both breasts removed, not just one. However, her face looked very similar, therefore she thinks one of her photos inspired that specific woman in the poster art.
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British models Sian Green-Lord and Nyome Nicholas-Williams said that their images were used as well. Another woman even said her prosthetic leg “had been edited out” of the picture they used of her.
Arte Mapache, the campaign’s creator, indeed admitted and apologized for using the women’s images without their permission.
Related: Mastectomy Network Founder Calls Out Facebook for Sexist Image Policing
“Given the – justified – controversy over the image rights in the illustration, I have decided that the best way to make amends for the damages that may have resulted from my actions is to share out the money I received for the work and give equal parts to the people in the poster,” the female artist said.
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“I hope to be able to solve all this as soon as possible, I accept my mistakes and that is why I am now trying to repair the damage caused,” she added.
Spain’s Women’s Institute praised the campaign, which targeted “fatphobia, hatred and the questioning of non-normative bodies – particularly those of women, something that’s most prevalent in the summertime.”
Although the women approve of the sentiment behind the mission, they just wish they would have been contacted from the start. Hopefully now they at least make some money to make up for any damage caused. Win win!
Body Positivity After Cancer
There has been a major movement the last couple of years praising all shapes, colors, and sizes of women’s bodies. This is particularly important for cancer survivors as well, especially breast cancer survivors who have had one or both of their breasts removed.
SurvivorNetTV Presents 'SN & You Body Image Embracing Your Body'
Cancer can be brutal to the human body. Along with dealing with the physical side effects of chemotherapy and other treatments, there are also the emotional blows that womenand mensuffer from losing their hair, organs and other body parts, along with the scarring that comes with it.
My Confidence Was Destroyed: Dealing With Body Image During Cancer Treatment
Beauty can be found in all forms. No one is perfect, and we need to learn to be proud of our battle wounds. Especially after beating a disease that is trying to take us down.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.