So far this semester, we have discussed the problem of silence several times and how it affects society's understanding of certain medical issues. I found that Lordes' approach to the problem of silence surrounding breast cancer fascinating, in that it has a profound effect both on women living with cancer, and also on access to information about cancer treatment. The emphasis upon the need for prosthesis that Lordes describes becomes an emphasis on silencing the reality that women whose lives are in danger because of cancer must have their breast(s) removed. Society tries to persuade cancer victims, in an attempt to maintain optimism, that they can be the same person after their mastectomy. However, this creates an understanding that women without prostheses are anomalous. Lordes example of how the Israeli politician with his eye patch is considered a warrior, but one-breasted women are made to feel abnormal.
This type of silence forces cancer victims to aim towards a sense of invisibility - they can be the same with cancer as they were without. Even more atrocious is the attitude of the American Cancer Society toward holistic treatments. The silencing of all information that deviates from the western medical bias is tragic, for cancer patients lose control over the spectrum of treatments that might help them conquer their disease. Lordes expresses the importance of overcoming both aspects of this silence: "we must pierce this silence ourselves and aggressively seek answers to these questions about new therapies" (75).
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I think you bring up a good point with the issue of silence. Lorde explicitly states that silence creates an unvoiced minority. She is certainly doing her part to give voice to her experience as an African American, lesbian woman. And she definitely did face prejudices at the doctor’s office. One example that sticks out is the liver consultant’s belittling comment of her being an “intelligent girl.” This stereotyping runs deeper than just issues of the individual. Lorde illuminates the tie of being a “whole” woman with two breasts with femininity. One doctor even laments the ultimatum of the possibility of cancer with the loss of femininity. First of all, why is physical appearance valued on par with life? Second, why is a woman’s femininity based on her breasts?
This article ties in a lot of other questions of society that women are challenging. There is currently a backlash against the notion of physical beauty as portrayed in the media. No longer do many women accept the 110 lb. model as the “normal” woman. Instead, there have been many efforts to eradicate this way of thinking. Consider the Dove, Real Women campaign which showcases women that you would be more likely to see walking down the street and not the catwalk. Lorde wrote her first article in the 1970s; encouragingly, this current backlash would call into question many of the notions that society accepted as “normal” thirty years ago. However, this is not to say that today’s society is not centered on this ideal of beauty and femininity, rather there is a forward movement against these notions.
With both the issues of normal body and treating a body that is ill or had a condition, there needs to be a greater sense of self ownership. At times patients who are sick are scared, pressured, or led to a state of confusion which makes them treat their body like a messed up car that has been dropped of at the mechanic's shop to be fixed. That sense of checking out can explain the reason diet books and programs are so successful. “Don't like your body, well read this book and do this exercise program and it will fix that problem.” More often than not, our bodies are viewed as something that can be fixed by others and not as something we must first embrace and accept as it is. Lorde fights to embrace her body and how breast cancer has affected it.
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