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October 3, 2019 | Deeds Digest No. 150
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Hello #Changemakers,
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to raise awareness of breast cancer risks and promote the value of screenings, treatment, and early detection. Did you know that one in eight women will develop breast cancer at some point in her lifetime? That’s an alarming number. On average, every 2 minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer and an estimated 41,760 women will die from the disease in the United States this year.
But breast cancer only occurs in older women, right? I shouldn’t have to even think about it until I turn 40, right? Well, that’s not 100% true. Although breast cancer in young women is rare, more than 250,000 women living in the United States are diagnosed under the age of 40. In young women, breast cancer tends to be diagnosed in its later stages and be more aggressive. Also, breast cancer isn’t just a women’s issue, either — for men, the lifetime risk of getting breast cancer is about 1 in 833.
Research has also shown that young African-American women face even greater challenges when it comes to breast cancer. African-American women under the age of 35 have rates of breast cancer two times higher than Caucasian women under 35. Plus, African American women under the age of 35 also die from the disease three times as often as Caucasian women of the same age.
Even though there are many things that frustrate us about the Texas Legislature, in many ways, our state has done its part in promoting the value of breast cancer prevention. In 2011, the Texas Legislature (including my mother) passed House Bill 2102, informally known as Henda’s Law. Henda’s Law requires that mammography providers notify all women with dense breast tissue that the accuracy of their mammograms is less than that of women with lower breast density and that they may benefit from “supplemental screening” in addition to their annual mammogram.
Last legislative session, our young #Changemakers were vital in successfully passing House Bill 170. As of September 1, 2019, Texas became the eighth state in the country to require commercial insurers to cover the cost of 3-D mammograms. Sophie Jerwick, a student at The University of Texas who testified for the bill said: “preventative healthcare is low-cost healthcare. This bill might carry a price tag, but the dollars allotted to a one-time diagnostic mammogram are negligible compared to multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation with more expensive drugs, even more complex machinery, and long hospital stays.”
My mother recently went for her routine mammogram last month and the technician told her that she would be receiving a 3-D one at her insurer’s expense, thanks to the new Texas law. That’s what advocacy is all about, #Changemakers! And that’s where you come in. Come be a part of our work and make the world a better place for yourself, your sisters AND your brothers.
With Love,
–Amber Davis
Co-Executive Director
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We’re excited to welcome our new interns to Team Deeds! Throughout the semester, they’ll help uplift Deeds’ mission through policy, communications, graphic design, and more. Welcome to the team, Ana and Elisa!
Ana Ruiz, Policy & Comms Intern (she/her): I am from El Paso, Texas/Ciudad Juarez, Mexico: “ni de aqui ni de alla”. I received my BFA in Graphic Design from the University of Texas at El Paso and I am currently a candidate for a Masters in Public Policy from UT Austin. I have been listening to a few podcasts about Ruth Bader Ginsburg; she is my hero and feminist icon! My favorite book right now is The Power by Naomi Alderman. ⚡
Elisa Sofia Robles, Graphic Design Intern (she/her): I’m from the RGV. I was born in Monterrey, MX but I’ve lived in Texas border towns my whole life. I moved to Austin 3 years ago, where I went to school at St. Edward’s University. I graduated with a BFA in Graphic Design but I am a huge science nerd and want to study anthropology. I recently started as a Design Intern for Deeds and I am hoping to learn how to view Social Justice through a creative lens! My feminist icon is Frida Kahlo and my all-time favorite book is The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.
Cheers,
–Ana & Elisa
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In Juárez, A Migrant Shelter Offers Refuge For LGBTQ Asylum Seekers
In the thousands of miles that Central American migrants have to cover throughout their journeys, safe spaces are far and few in between. In between persecution by criminals and coercion by law enforcement officials, humanitarian shelters throughout Mexico are sacred spaces for tired and weary travelers.
But these shelters aren’t always safe spaces for LGBTQ+ migrants. Most shelters don’t provide special protections or separate spaces for LGBTQ+ migrants, some even actively discriminate against the group. This type of discrimination is prevalent in Mexico due to widespread stigma against different sexual orientations and/or gender identities.
Thankfully, LGBTQ migrants that reach Ciudad Juarez can find safety at Casa Respetttrans. Grecia, the founder of this pink beacon of hope, is a Mexican transgender woman herself who knows the strife that LGBTQ+ people can go through in the streets of Mexico. Allegra Love, an immigration attorney, visits the shelter and assists the migrants with their asylum cases. Together, Allegra and Grecia are helping the migrant LGBTQ+ community find safety on both sides of the border.
We applaud Allegra and Grecia for providing shelter and hope to a group of people that has been through so much. We hope that migrants at Casa Respetttrans and all LGBTQ migrants find their way to safety and acceptance. We see you, #Changemakers!
Here's more of what's inspiring us...
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Period Tracker Apps Used By Millions Of Women Are Sharing Incredibly Sensitive Data With Facebook
Imagine the most intimate details about your reproductive health — what kind of birth control you use, when you’re on your period, and yes, even when you have sex — all being sent to Facebook.
Well, that happens to be the case with period tracker apps MIA Fem and Maya. New research has found that the two apps sent women’s use of contraception, the timings of their monthly periods, symptoms like swelling and cramps, and more, directly to Facebook. Period-tracking apps have become increasingly popular over the years, making it easier for people with periods to track when they’re menstruating, ovulating, etc. But in this case, the information that you thought would be treated with care, could be shared with Facebook, where advertisers, for example, can use your mood during your period and target specific ads that could potentially profit off your emotions. Buzzfeed said apps’ behavior raises questions about how much users can knowingly consent to such private information being shared with outside companies like Facebook — especially when apps have lengthy terms of service that few users bother to read.
“It can be embarrassing or foster low-self esteem to be barraged with targeted ads for acne medication, but how is facebook letting advertisers target people based on what information those apps glean on their contraception?” said Lindsey Barrett, a staff attorney at Georgetown Law’s Intellectual Property Rights tech clinic. “Who else is Facebook sharing that information with? There's a dignity issue but there's also a discrimination issue, all of which come into play when we're talking about why individual privacy rights are important.”
The bottom line: Sharing private data about our reproductive health is extremely unsettling — but that data being sent to Facebook and other third parties to possibly make a profit off of our private health concerns is even worse.
Here's more of what has us fired up ...
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Your Breasts Are Your Friends: Get to Know Them!
Some might think that women under 50 don’t need to worry about breast-exams. We’re here to tell you that’s old news. While less common, breast cancer can strike at any age, particularly if there’s a history of breast cancer in your family. Early detection can be a literal lifesaver, so this month (and every month) follow these tips to take care of yourself.
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Breast Self-Exam: At least once a month, make a breast exam part of your self-care day. This site has instructions on how to get to get to know your breasts and they’ll even send you a free how-to pamphlet.
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Know the symptoms: Being able to notice changes in how your breasts feel or look can be a sign that something’s not right. Also, any discharge coming from your nipple is a clear sign that it’s time to go to the doctor.
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Live your best life: We know you might hear this all the time, but eating your vegetables and exercising can reduce your risk of breast cancer! Additionally, being smoke-free and going easy on the mimosas can be a big help.
- Get a well-woman exam: At your annual well-woman exams, your primary care provider or gynecologist can perform a breast exam, along with other routine services.
- Get routine mammograms: The American Cancer Society recommends women at average risk for breast cancer should get yearly mammograms starting at age 45. A mammogram can tell you if there are any abnormalities before you even feel them. Texans can access mammography services; just click here to find a clinic (mobile or otherwise) near you.
#Changemakers, October is the month to take care of your body and your loved ones’ bodies. We urge you to make a Breast Cancer Awareness date with yourself, your mom, your grandma, and all your friends-with-breasts!
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This Week's #Changemaker:
Tasnim Islam, UT-Austin Deeds Not Words
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This past weekend at one of two of Supermajority's presidential candidate forums, our #Changemaker Tasnim Islam of UT-Austin Deeds had the chance to ask candidate Beto O'Rourke about ensuring safe and legal abortion access for women, non-binary and transgender folx, and other marginalized communities in the wake of abortion bans happening across the country. Click here to watch Tasnim’s question.
Thank you for your hard work, for asking the important questions and speaking up for the marginalized, Tasnim!
Also, another special shoutout goes to our Movement Mujeres Fellows, Melissa Garcia and Stephanie Villanueva, who also asked questions about immigration and healthcare at the Beto O’Rouke forum and the Julian Castro forum! We see you, #Changemakers!
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Thanks for reading the latest edition of the Deeds Digest! Do you have any ideas for the next Deeds Digest? Want to share what's happening in your community? Feel free to reach out to sydney@deedsnotwords.com and let us know what's on your mind! Also, don't forget to "like" our Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to see the amazing things our #Changemakers are doing across the state.
In solidarity,
—Sydney Greene
Digital Coordinator
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