[PHOTOS] A Heartwrenching Glimpse Into The Reality That Will Change The Way You View Scars
A visual world few have seen where grace, guts, pain, and femininity all cross paths to expose a deeply moving side of humanity.
By Sadho Ram — 03 Feb 2014, 05:02 PM — Updated over 10 years ago
Why breast cancer is NOT a pink ribbon
Sure, that pink ribbon is universally recognized as a symbol for breast cancer awareness, and millions of people display it proudly to show their support and encourage greater attention to the cause.
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But to a woman fighting the disease, and to the people who love her, that small pink accessory doesn’t begin to represent the experience. And how could it? What image could ever capture the tragedy of cancer, but also the hope needed to fight it?
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The ugliness of the disease, but the beauty, grace, and triumph of the woman who is enduring it? The physical pain, the emotional agony, the reality of breast cancer—not merely the cute pink face we give it during the month of October every year?
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The SCAR Project is a series of large-scale portrait endeavor featuring the faces and bodies of over 100 women who have battled and bested early-onset cancer
"In our society, breast cancer is hidden behind a small pink bow. The public needs to be educated." This is the message behind The Scar Project by fashion photographer David Jay, a photography series dedicated to young breast cancer survivors.
As the project's name suggests, the photographs showcase the many scars of women age 18 to 35 who have undergone mastectomies as a result of a breast cancer diagnosis.
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"Breast cancer is not a pink ribbon" is a frequent message throughout The SCAR Project
Jay states that "in our society, breast cancer is hidden behind a little pink ribbon that (unintentionally) diminishes something that is terrifying, disfiguring, deadly." Jay hopes that The Scar Project "presents an opportunity to open a dialogue about issues we are not necessarily comfortable with."
Jay's photographs aim to raise awareness as well as provide a platform for survivors to confront their harrowing experiences
“For these young women, having their portrait taken seems to represent their personal victory over this terrifying disease," Jay explains on The Scar Project website.
"It helps them reclaim their femininity, their sexuality, identity and power after having been robbed of such an important part of it."
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Jay began the project after his 29-year-old friend, Paulina, was diagnosed with breast cancer and subsequently decided to have a mastectomy
He asked if he could photograph her after the surgery, and from there, the project mushroomed, leading to over 100 portraits of various woman and a Facebook page supported by over 40,000 fans.
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"Through these simple pictures, [the women] seem to gain some acceptance of what has happened to them and the strength to move forward with pride," Jay explained to The Huffington Post.
go.comScroll through a preview of "The Scar Project" below and let us know your thoughts on Jay's striking portraits in the comments
