Recently Susan G. Komen pulled its
grant funding towards Planned Parenthood. This action became a world wide
trending topic on Twitter. Some people supported it, most didn’t. The result of
this backlash was the breast cancer organization repealing its decision and
sending Planned Parenthood an apology not even a week later. The withdrawal of
the grant would prevent Planned Parenthood from giving out breast cancer
screenings to low-income women.
Komen pulled their grant because
Planned Parenthood was under investigation, and that went against the criteria
to receive a grant. Some of the public thought that the reason Komen pulled the
grant was because of political reasons. Komen said that it will change that
criteria “to make clear
that disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature and
not political,” according to an article by The Washington Post.
Social media, in my opinion, was gasoline to a flame in this
situation. Through Twitter hashtags users were able to express their feelings about
the decision in a manner that Komen couldn’t ignore (and if they did that would
be stupid on their part.) I do commend Komen on their rather swift response to
the public outcry. I just don’t think they thoroughly thought all the way
through what could happen if they severed ties with Planned Parenthood. Or, if
they did that it wouldn’t be as big as an issue as it was. I really don’t
understand who at that meeting would think that the public would be okay with
what they did. Maybe at the next meeting for a decision like this someone
should whip out a piece of paper and make a pro and cons list.
And, even after making that list if they chose to severe
ties they should have done a better job letting the public know why they did
it. Maybe even add a disclaimer saying that if and when the organization is
cleared that they will resume their previous relationship. Komen could have
also offered an alternative way for low-income women to get their screenings
during the investigation. Komen is too well-known of an organization to not
communicate with its public.
Regardless of social media or not the issue would still be
large, it would just take more time for the story to get out and the org anization to hear public opinions.
I’m not too sure if Komen can actually fully rectify the
damage that was done. The organization might be able to put a bandage over the
problem, but it’s still going to leave a scar. Giving out free breast cancer
screenings couldn’t hurt though.
If anything Komen should just take this as a lesson learned
too thoroughly think through, maybe even map out on a dry-erase board, every
single possible outcome when making a decision like this one.
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