Event Two

For my second event, I attended the “Chemical Entanglements: Gender and Exposure” Symposium. I stayed two hours to hear a welcome by Laura E. Gómez, a short speech from Rachel C. Lee and a lecture by Florence Williams. Florence Williams was the keynote speaker who addressed the “burden of breasts”. Going into the Symposium, I was not sure what to expect. I had thoughts of “oh they’re going to tell me boring facts about chemicals in the environment and how we need to stop killing earth”. This was quite the opposite; Florence Williams spoke about how gender acted as a lens for chemical exposure. For the entirety of her lecture, she focused on breasts (their history, use, and the burden of having them).

Florence William Speaking

The first part of her lecture focused on her book and the findings from that book. She started off with explaining the history of breasts and the mammary gland. Humans evolved breasts on accident and mammary glands were originally developed for immune support. The mammary glands convert blood into milk and never learned how to filter out what should not be there, this would create an issue after the introduction of industrial chemicals. Williams went on to explain she sent a sample of her breast milk to be tested for chemicals. From that sample, she shared that the chemicals most present were Percolate (Jet Fuel), Flame Retardant, and DDT (Pesticide). These chemicals are present in almost all women over the world in varying amounts. These chemicals have been linked to a variety of diseases such as breast cancer. These chemicals have also created an epidemic of early onset puberty in girls. Studies have shown that breast development is beginning at the age of 8 and breast size is increasing greatly.

Florence William's New Book She Was Speaking On

For the second part of her lecture, she talked more about the medical practices that cause breasts issues and continued to speak about more harmful chemicals. She also emphasized how we can change the stigma of breasts. We learned that breast implants are the number one cosmetic surgery among women, girls who were exposed to X-Rays early on in life were more likely to get breast cancer, and that mammograms are a factor in causing breast cancer as well. Williams went on to explain BPA and how it changed mammary glands and genes. Florence Williams ended her lecture with how the government has begun to just take in this information and implement new regulations and procedures to help protect the health of women. She urged the women in the room to stay away from certain plastics and materials. She also gave us an end remark which asked us to tell our narrative and empower the rest of women to stand up and fight for their right to a healthy life.

Selfie of Me with the Symposium Pamphlet

Now, going into this I was extremely unsure of how I would feel about sitting for two hours hearing about such a private part on a woman’s body. I was very uncomfortable for the first 10 minutes hearing about a lady speak about getting her breast milk tested for chemicals. After settling down into the lecture and taking in what she was saying, it helped me realize the severity of it all. I mean, I did not even connect that I was also exposed to these chemicals and that I was carrying around similar results to hers. I was more susceptible to cancer and it kind of freaked me out knowing I have a higher chance of getting cancer just because of the chemicals I am exposed to daily. I was also shocked to hear that medical testing could also be a factor in cancer, I am also scared because I was/am constantly exposed to X-Rays. Her lecture opened my eyes to the dangers of everyday life and how everything we create and expose ourselves to has consequences beyond just the immediate ones. It comforting to hear that society is trying things to create a healthier environment for everyone. It is very disheartening as a female to see these things that could potentially cause cancer or harm to me or my loved ones. It made me feel sort of empowered to have breasts and how they can contribute so much to science and help to potentially create a social change. After being so oppressed and underappreciated for so long, I think the usefulness of women in science is being tapped into again. Overall, I enjoyed the lecture and it opened my eyes to the dangers behind chemicals and the ability of breasts to alert us to the dangers ahead. I would recommend this lecture to those unsure about chemical harm in women and those who are activists of women’s rights and activists in repairing our earth from chemical damage. It shed light on breasts and taught me a lot about myself and other women.

Proof of Actually Going to the Event (2nd from the Right, in Harambe Christmas Sweater)

In relation to our class, this reminded me of Week One, where we studied two cultures. Florence Williams could successfully create a book and a lecture based on science of breasts and her findings in her research. Professor Vesna touched on the ability to combine the two cultures through technology (Vesna P.121-125) and Williams did so to help spread the word about breasts. Florence utilized her science and her ability to write to create a book and used this book as a vessel to speak at a symposium that broadcasted her lecture to hundreds who were not able to attend in person. This also reminds me of this week’s lecture on Biotechnology and art. People take tissues and cells from the human body and create art with it. Artists manipulate science to fit their creative idea and spread awareness about certain things at the same time. Eduardo Kac’s glowing bunny did similar things as Florence Williams “Burden of Breast” lecture. The glowing bunny demonstrated the in-humaneness behind genetic modifications via in-vitro and help to try to put a stop to this scientific testing. (Vesna Week 6 Lecture 1). While Florence William was shining light on the chemical industry and the in-humaneness of chemicals on women. Williams took modern biology of the female body and applied it to her lecture and spread awareness about puberty and the dangers of why going through it early was bad. Her art is in the form of literature and is not physical art which makes it harder for people to see how it is considered an art form. Florence Williams successfully brought biology, technology, art and science together to create a book and lecture that preaches about the chemical harm to the female body (more specifically the breasts). 

Works Cited

Skibitzki, Madeline. Chemical Entanglement: Gender and Exposure, Los Angeles. Personal photograph by author. 2017.

Vesna, Victoria, narr. “BioTech Art Lectures I-V.” N.p., . web. 5 Nov 2012.

Vesna, Victoria. "Toward a Third Culture: Being In Between." Leonardo. 34 (2001): 121-125. Print.

Williams, Florence. "Breasts." Florence Williams. N.p., 2016. Web. 09 May 2017. <http://www.florencewilliams.com/breasts-a-natural-and-unnatural-history/>.

Williams, Florence. "Burden of Breasts." Chemical Entanglement: Gender and Exposure. Los Angeles. 4 May 2017. Lecture.