In the news and in my head

I'm intrigued by news from UBC researchers that "Women perform differently on math tests depending on whether they believe math-related gender differences are determined by genetic or social differences", partially in light of my feelings of imposter syndrome as I completed my undergrad degree, that continue to pop up in the workforce.

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An article on the "commercialization of breast cancer" describes what I've been sensing lately - that we are being overloaded with pink ribbons. It is PC for me to say that I'm absolutely sick of seeing them everywhere I turn, from gum to clothing to stuffed animals to boxes of cereal?

I get that breast cancer is an important cause, but shoving it in my face with all the commercially available products with a pink ribbon on the package, and constant stream of fund-raising/awareness events, has cheapened the cause to me.

For every Yoplait Source yogurt purchased by a consumer, Ultima Foods, which owns the licence to produce the yogurt in Canada, promised to donate 10 cents to the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation. But the offer runs for just eight weeks, ending Oct. 15, which means that a consumer would have had to buy and then consume the equivalent of three cartons of yogurt a day during that period to raise just $16.80 for the cause.

Of course it could be argued that as long as lots of people across the country are diligently buying their yogurts, it wouldn't matter if each individual raised only, say $5. But the donations are capped at $80,000. This means that if and when the maximum donation is reached, consumers are no longer contributing to the struggle against the disease with their purchases.

Similar events have been happening as of late with red products in support of HIV/AIDS, like ipods and credit cards. This scheme, as breast cancer above, are based on consumers purchasing products.

I know that I am probably more likely to purchase a product that donates part of the proceeds to charity than not, all other things being equal. After reading the news on red products, in my head I began to consider purchasing a red ipod. $10 to charity, and I get an ipod. Sounded like a good deal. My thoughts roamed to the colour - I'd prefer another, other than red. Then my thoughts randomly moved to just giving the $10 to the charity and buying the colour I want. Then I realized I had to take a step back.

I have vaguely thought about purchasing an ipod for a long time, but I can't justify it because the less expensive, non-ipod mp3 player I own works perfectly well. I have no reason to buy a new one. I have come to the conclusion that I still don't have a good reason. I can't buy something based on false justification to myself.

When I have hit what I consider to be financial stability (full-time, permanent work), I would like to research some charities that I would like to donate to on a regular basis. When it comes down to it, the good feeling you get from helping those that are less fortunate (be they animal, vegetable, or mineral) should be enough to encourage you to help out where you can.