Can you keep a secret? I haven’t
told anyone but a few weeks ago I let a complete stranger take a topless
photograph of me. No, I didn’t go to a Burlesque club (don’t think they have
much interest in women with one breast). And it wasn’t that one your surgeon
takes before breast surgery (where do all those photos go by the way?) No. I am
one of the women featuring in the photographer Laura Dodsworth’s collaboration
with Stella McCartney to raise awareness of breast cancer – ‘No Less a Woman.’
Scroll down to the link, get a box of tissues and read the stories of the first
four women. I’m too shy and scared to tell you which one is me.
I haven’t told my family, my
friends, my colleagues or my boss that my photo and interview is on the Stella
McCartney website. I did tell my partner. The irony of me being photographed
half naked for all to see when I hide my scars from him was not lost on either
of us. Nudity is such a massive thing in our culture. I won’t tell me family as
they would be upset. My friends, colleagues and boss would be shocked. I am
sure that there is very likely some clause in my job description that refers to
not bringing my profession into disrepute, and anyway it’s not the first thing
I want to tell my new boss (picture the scene!).
I would never been photographed
topless before breast cancer. So why did I do it? The truth is that I don’t
really know. Most of the stories that are used to raise awareness for breast
cancer focus on what I call ‘silver linings;’ our bravery, our ability to
inspire, to ‘still’ be sexy and beautiful despite breast cancer – of course we
are! But what is less talked about is our pain, our loss and the fact that too
many women still die too soon. Having bought Laura’s book, I liked that she
wanted to celebrate this aspect of womanhood, to share our different stories
about our bodies, our breasts. I felt like I became mute when I went through
treatment for cancer but that I have found my voice again. And now that I have
found it I want to shout from the rooftops. And I trusted Laura with the story
of my body despite my fears.
On Monday the first stories will
come down and four more women take the centre stage. My story will go off into
the ether and that’s exactly how it should be. I am just one voice, one story.
I am not special. We all know that there are far too many women like me, like
us. Please share, but keep my secret safe.
No comments:
Post a Comment