Want to Mock Breast Cancer or Down Syndrome? There's an Etsy Card for That!

by Roxann MtJoy · 2010-12-24 13:30:00 UTC
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Update: Victory! Just under two months and 17,000 signatures after Change.org began covering the rape congratulations card for sale online at Etsy, the card (as well as ones mocking breast cancer and Down Syndrome) has finally been removed. Moreover, Etsy has changed its items policy, ensuring that similar products do not pop up on the site in the future.

Earlier this week, I told you about an unbelievably offensive card for sale online. A user on Etsy — an online marketplace for handmade and vintage items — operating under the name "youstupidbitch" is selling cards that read "Congratulations. You've been bad touched" that are marketed to survivors of sexual violence.  Yesterday, I learned the same user also sells cards that mock breast cancer and mothers of special needs children.

The card for breast cancer patients features a drawing of a woman getting a mammogram and is emblazoned with the words "Congratulations, You've Got Breast Cancer!" If possible, the cards (there are two) for mothers of children with Down Syndrome are even worse. The first one has a crudely drawn picture of a man with Down Syndrome saying "I can count to potato!" and the card reads "Congratulations, Your kid has Down Syndrome!" The second one, which you can see here, is even more foul.

There was a glimmer of hope yesterday when, after receiving hundreds of emails from Change.org members over the course of a day, Etsy took down these horrible cards. Within hours, however, the cards were all back up on the site. By allowing youstupidbitch to continue to peddle his horrible wares on their site, Etsy is saying that nothing is too low, too offensive for them. It is time to tell them that this is unacceptable. Please sign the petition asking Etsy to remove these offensive cards and then share the link with your friends and family. Post it on Facebook and Twitter. Let's get the word out that we won't stand for Etsy's permissiveness of woman-bashing.

Photo credit: audreyjm529

GOT A TIP FOR US? Is there a story or campaign in your area that we'd want to know about? E-mail us at womensrightstips@change.org. Please also follow Change.org's Women's Rights page on Facebook and Twitter.

Roxann MtJoy is a freelance writer who previously worked as a case manager at a domestic violence shelter. She is currently attending graduate school for theater in Mount Vernon, N.Y.
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