August 1, 2023 - 1:00pm
Cutting off a girl’s healthy breasts is an act of mutilation. Putting a cartoon version of the scars on the side of a van, to advertise a coffee chain, is a new low even for a movement that long ago lost touch with reality. Post-operative pain, rigid scarring, a profound sense of loss: none of these feature in the image of a “trans man” approved by Costa Coffee, which appears to treat the visible effects of surgery as a desirable fashion accessory.
The coffee chain is evidently keener to be seen as a “trans ally” than to think about customers who are post-operative women. Around 15,000 female patients have a mastectomy in this country each year, after being diagnosed with breast cancer. They do it to save their own lives, not in pursuit of realising their “gender identity”. Imagine their feelings on seeing their experience trivialised in this way, as though an operation most women dread is something to be thrilled about.
Challenged over the image on the side of a Costa Express van, however, the company displayed the sensitivity of a robot. “We want everyone that interacts with us to experience the inclusive environment that we create, to encourage people to feel welcomed, free and unashamedly proud to be themselves,” a spokesman intoned. “The mural, in its entirety, showcases and celebrates inclusivity.”
It’s been clear for a while that “inclusivity”, when used in this way, actually excludes large numbers of people. Not just breast cancer survivors — they’re mostly women, so obviously they don’t count — but all of us who are horrified by an ideology that promotes lies to vulnerable young people. Human beings cannot change sex and a girl who agrees to a double mastectomy is still a girl, albeit one who faces a lifetime of negative consequences.
It is heartrending to listen to detransitioners, young women who believed that having their breasts amputated would relieve hatred of their own bodies, only to discover that it is another cause of anguish. Last week, an American woman called Chloe Cole, who is now 19 and suing her doctors for malpractice, described how she was prescribed puberty blockers and had a double mastectomy at the age of 15. She has to wear bandages on her chest because her body has rejected skin grafts following surgical removal of her breasts.
None of this is evident from Costa’s cartoon figure, balancing on a surfboard and cheerfully brandishing a cup of coffee. Costa is not the only brand to use a post-op image: parents took to social media last week to complain about mastectomy scars on a customised pair of Dr Martens shoes which the company gave away as a promotional stunt. The brands appear to have learned nothing from the experience of Bud Light, whose sales tanked after it partnered with a trans influencer who promotes wildly outdated ideas about femininity.
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SubscribeI am one of legions of women who had to have a bilateral mastectomy as the result of cancer. This glib rendering of that procedure as a “fashion statement” trivializes what every one of us had to go through to save our lives. It’s abhorrent.
For sure.. and well done you for sharing..
I think the same thing every time I see a picture of some smiling child proudly displaying her scars. The insensitivity is simply astounding.
For sure.. and well done you for sharing..
I think the same thing every time I see a picture of some smiling child proudly displaying her scars. The insensitivity is simply astounding.
I am one of legions of women who had to have a bilateral mastectomy as the result of cancer. This glib rendering of that procedure as a “fashion statement” trivializes what every one of us had to go through to save our lives. It’s abhorrent.
I buy a Costa flat white every day. Or I did. Caffe Nero here I come … Until they do something equally dumb.
It’s the phoniness I can’t stand as much as the stupidity and misogyny.
A quick Google….and Nero seems normal. Well more normal than Costa. Happy to boycott….and I have a loyalty card. Had.
The coffee at Nero has always been better
Agreed – Nero is the best of all the chains IMO.
Indeed.
Much stronger, I think?
Agreed – Nero is the best of all the chains IMO.
Indeed.
Much stronger, I think?
The coffee at Nero has always been better
As Costa is a subsidiary of Coca-Cola it would probably be a good idea to boycott all of their products in favour of non-woke company products.
The trouble is that all these large brand are ultimately owned by a small group of corporations who all have shareholdings in each other
I tried boycotting Gillette only to find that they owned Wilkinson Sword and Harrys. I am now using Aldi own brand
Worth going to DE shaving: far, far cheaper and better results, with practice. Also easy to avoid Gillette if you want to…
Jeremy’s I think is a conservative brand
Worth going to DE shaving: far, far cheaper and better results, with practice. Also easy to avoid Gillette if you want to…
Jeremy’s I think is a conservative brand
Moreover, Coca Cola told its employees to be less White, which strengthens your point.
https://nypost.com/2021/02/23/coca-cola-diversity-training-urged-workers-to-be-less-white/
Yes
Costa was started by two brothers, I used to go to their first café near Victoria Station in London regularly in the early 80s and often chatted with Bruno Costa.
Now they are just another conglomerate brand, through Whitbread and now Coca-Cola have hitherto been efficient managers. But this is an own goal, yet another tone-deaf bit of pandering and sucking-up to a dangerous cult. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.
Disagree about Nero’s coffee being better, though.
The trouble is that all these large brand are ultimately owned by a small group of corporations who all have shareholdings in each other
I tried boycotting Gillette only to find that they owned Wilkinson Sword and Harrys. I am now using Aldi own brand
Moreover, Coca Cola told its employees to be less White, which strengthens your point.
https://nypost.com/2021/02/23/coca-cola-diversity-training-urged-workers-to-be-less-white/
Yes
Costa was started by two brothers, I used to go to their first café near Victoria Station in London regularly in the early 80s and often chatted with Bruno Costa.
Now they are just another conglomerate brand, through Whitbread and now Coca-Cola have hitherto been efficient managers. But this is an own goal, yet another tone-deaf bit of pandering and sucking-up to a dangerous cult. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.
Disagree about Nero’s coffee being better, though.
A quick Google….and Nero seems normal. Well more normal than Costa. Happy to boycott….and I have a loyalty card. Had.
As Costa is a subsidiary of Coca-Cola it would probably be a good idea to boycott all of their products in favour of non-woke company products.
I buy a Costa flat white every day. Or I did. Caffe Nero here I come … Until they do something equally dumb.
It’s the phoniness I can’t stand as much as the stupidity and misogyny.
Finally a company I can boycott for their trans nonsense.
I couldn’t boycott Bud Light, for obvious reasons, but I used to shop in Costa.
It could just as easily be a male who has undergone gynecomastia surgery.
Nice of Costa to recognize these people and be inclusive.
Come on, it’s got woke smurf hair.
It all fits. Too much female hormone causing both conditions.
And why does it half the girl hair? If the person wants to be boy? Nothing makes sense with them.
It all fits. Too much female hormone causing both conditions.
And why does it half the girl hair? If the person wants to be boy? Nothing makes sense with them.
Thanks for your contribution.. only for a nice new word though. I’d no idea coffee could be taken through the genitals! ..I did know coke can be taken through the nose however! Its getting harder for us crumblies to keep up!
Come on, it’s got woke smurf hair.
Thanks for your contribution.. only for a nice new word though. I’d no idea coffee could be taken through the genitals! ..I did know coke can be taken through the nose however! Its getting harder for us crumblies to keep up!
It could just as easily be a male who has undergone gynecomastia surgery.
Nice of Costa to recognize these people and be inclusive.
Finally a company I can boycott for their trans nonsense.
I couldn’t boycott Bud Light, for obvious reasons, but I used to shop in Costa.
I don’t think people understand the truly profound medical consequences of gender affirming surgery. People who undertake this extreme measure will suffer a lifetime of pain, medicalization and almost always follow-up surgery. That it would be performed on children is borderline deranged.
Mastectomies and breast augmentation are well known to surgeons. These would likely be the least consequential of the procedures, but even these carry tremendous risk.
Bottom surgery is almost an invitation to pain and suffering. I think the avg patient will have to get something like three follow-up surgeries to address issues caused by the initial intervention.
“That it would be performed on children is borderline deranged.”
I question your use of the word “borderline”.
I apologise in advance for this.
The most harrowing thing I have read about “bottom surgery” (I believe it was in an UnHerd article) was the account of a guy who had vaginoplasty yet still experienced twitching in the stump of what was left of his p***s.
It must be a living nightmare after having surgery that he thought would make him a woman, only to be reminded whenever he gets aroused that he’s just a mutilated man.
Surely that must be his new clit¤r¡s ‘acting up’?
Yup. A broken ‘bonus hole’.
Yup. A broken ‘bonus hole’.
Sex ed in schools should make reading a detransitioners accounts mandatory. Don’t forget the never ending dribble of urine or the fact that it takes him 10 minutes to have a piss because nothing down there works.
Surely that must be his new clit¤r¡s ‘acting up’?
Sex ed in schools should make reading a detransitioners accounts mandatory. Don’t forget the never ending dribble of urine or the fact that it takes him 10 minutes to have a piss because nothing down there works.
It is simply child abuse for profit (esp in USA medical circles) and for some bizarre form of gratification.
“That it would be performed on children is borderline deranged.”
I question your use of the word “borderline”.
I apologise in advance for this.
The most harrowing thing I have read about “bottom surgery” (I believe it was in an UnHerd article) was the account of a guy who had vaginoplasty yet still experienced twitching in the stump of what was left of his p***s.
It must be a living nightmare after having surgery that he thought would make him a woman, only to be reminded whenever he gets aroused that he’s just a mutilated man.
It is simply child abuse for profit (esp in USA medical circles) and for some bizarre form of gratification.
I don’t think people understand the truly profound medical consequences of gender affirming surgery. People who undertake this extreme measure will suffer a lifetime of pain, medicalization and almost always follow-up surgery. That it would be performed on children is borderline deranged.
Mastectomies and breast augmentation are well known to surgeons. These would likely be the least consequential of the procedures, but even these carry tremendous risk.
Bottom surgery is almost an invitation to pain and suffering. I think the avg patient will have to get something like three follow-up surgeries to address issues caused by the initial intervention.
Shameless misogyny, beautifully identified and bravely shared – thanks Joan, absolutely spot on. RIP, Costa!
Shameless misogyny, beautifully identified and bravely shared – thanks Joan, absolutely spot on. RIP, Costa!
When somebody proposes to carry out a double mastectomy on a girl, are we supposed to say ‘Maaate’ or are we supposed to say ‘Go on!, Get in there son!’
Great question, let’s ask Sadiq Khan.
Great question, let’s ask Sadiq Khan.
When somebody proposes to carry out a double mastectomy on a girl, are we supposed to say ‘Maaate’ or are we supposed to say ‘Go on!, Get in there son!’
Gender Ideology shows how Liberal doctrine is capable of brainwashing people into doing harm no less than the Stalinist and Fascist doctrines of old.
Woke is surely pseudo-liberal rather than liberal?
The Soviets had Lysenkoism, they killed scientists who argued against it, its no surprise that trannys are now killing people
Woke is surely pseudo-liberal rather than liberal?
The Soviets had Lysenkoism, they killed scientists who argued against it, its no surprise that trannys are now killing people
Gender Ideology shows how Liberal doctrine is capable of brainwashing people into doing harm no less than the Stalinist and Fascist doctrines of old.
This is unbelievable! How utterly insulting to women who have neededto go through this procedure for health reasons.
I will never drink a Costa coffee again, and will encourage anyone I meet to do likewise.
The fact that this is obviously accepted at the highest level makes you wonder if these people understand the purpose of business at all. The idiot who provided the company response is a disgrace to humanity.
Hopefully the company will sink without trace.
This is unbelievable! How utterly insulting to women who have neededto go through this procedure for health reasons.
I will never drink a Costa coffee again, and will encourage anyone I meet to do likewise.
The fact that this is obviously accepted at the highest level makes you wonder if these people understand the purpose of business at all. The idiot who provided the company response is a disgrace to humanity.
Hopefully the company will sink without trace.
Horrific image. Per Cass and study after study in country after country, most kids claiming dysphoria actually have depression, autism, or repressed homosexuality and with suitable care will get better without transitioning to a lifetime of sterility, loss of sexual function, and chronic ill-health.
But, to state the obvious, they obviously thought it would play well with their mostly younger metropolitan clientele.
They could actually be right about that.
The sheer brain dead moral degeneracy and degradation of so many of the self-identified progressive community is quite a thing. Nothing has changed since Orwell wrote about these types.
A comparison with Q Anon is instructive.
Q is a fantasy of democrat child abuse that enables its adherents to believe in their own virtue and licences violence on their behalf. That’s the point.
The ‘Let Trans kids be themselves’ narrative of Trans ideology does exactly the same for progressives. That’s the point.
In fairness to Q Anon the kids in that case don’t exist at all.
Here they do – the child abuse is real. Not even Q Anon go that far. But these people celebrate their depravity. Mutilated kids to make yourself feel virtuous and flog coffee. How sick can you be?
These progressives despise the tribal idiocy and amorality of the populist right. But honestly, they are worse. More stupid. More depraved.
But wasn’t Q Anon spot on?
Are not the Democrats championing child abuse that enables its adherents to believe in their own virtue and licences violence on their behalf
But wasn’t Q Anon spot on?
Are not the Democrats championing child abuse that enables its adherents to believe in their own virtue and licences violence on their behalf
Horrific image. Per Cass and study after study in country after country, most kids claiming dysphoria actually have depression, autism, or repressed homosexuality and with suitable care will get better without transitioning to a lifetime of sterility, loss of sexual function, and chronic ill-health.
But, to state the obvious, they obviously thought it would play well with their mostly younger metropolitan clientele.
They could actually be right about that.
The sheer brain dead moral degeneracy and degradation of so many of the self-identified progressive community is quite a thing. Nothing has changed since Orwell wrote about these types.
A comparison with Q Anon is instructive.
Q is a fantasy of democrat child abuse that enables its adherents to believe in their own virtue and licences violence on their behalf. That’s the point.
The ‘Let Trans kids be themselves’ narrative of Trans ideology does exactly the same for progressives. That’s the point.
In fairness to Q Anon the kids in that case don’t exist at all.
Here they do – the child abuse is real. Not even Q Anon go that far. But these people celebrate their depravity. Mutilated kids to make yourself feel virtuous and flog coffee. How sick can you be?
These progressives despise the tribal idiocy and amorality of the populist right. But honestly, they are worse. More stupid. More depraved.
Great article on a truly despicable piece of wokeist corporate madness.
Great article on a truly despicable piece of wokeist corporate madness.
Not many posters of men with genitals removed- wonder why ? Is the Costa Board all men ?
Nice one, Willie!
(so to speak)
Nice one, Willie!
(so to speak)
Not many posters of men with genitals removed- wonder why ? Is the Costa Board all men ?
The ‘born in the wrong body’ trope is specious. But what happens when an outward approximation of the desired body is embarked upon? Has anyone ever come across a trans man to woman who is in a regular hetero seeming relationship with a straight man? Or the converse. Is this really a recipe for a successful and fulfilled life for young people? Don’t most young healthy people want to have plenty of sex and some of them babies too? From what I have heard of many trans people their sexual function is seriously compromised by puberty blockers, meds and operations. They are the victims of Mengele type experimentation by weird and often perverted adults.
Hence the neologism “transmengele”
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=transmengele
Hence the neologism “transmengele”
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=transmengele
The ‘born in the wrong body’ trope is specious. But what happens when an outward approximation of the desired body is embarked upon? Has anyone ever come across a trans man to woman who is in a regular hetero seeming relationship with a straight man? Or the converse. Is this really a recipe for a successful and fulfilled life for young people? Don’t most young healthy people want to have plenty of sex and some of them babies too? From what I have heard of many trans people their sexual function is seriously compromised by puberty blockers, meds and operations. They are the victims of Mengele type experimentation by weird and often perverted adults.
Quite a number of companies are confident that they can abuse many of their customers and still remain viable. And it may be true. If so, then why? Do they switch to other ways of making money such as selling customer information or other such stuff to big data companies? Is their nominal product just a lure?
I can understand that companies that operate hand-in-glove with government, such as regulated industries or non-profits (Quangos to you British?) could do this: they are protected from competition in return for supporting the government or, dare I suggest it, slipping a little cash to the campaign funds of important politicians. But companies not entirely immune to market forces? How do they do it? What do they sell? Whom do they sell it to?
As I said in the my cancelled comment, I think this is a win win for them. Very few people will know what we are talking about or what the picture means (and won’t believe it when told), so they accrue #bekind points while advertising their brand at next to no cost to them.
There are many huge corporations who are willing to take a little dent in profits if they can be in a position to socially engineer the next generation of consumers. It’s a form of grooming.
As I said in the my cancelled comment, I think this is a win win for them. Very few people will know what we are talking about or what the picture means (and won’t believe it when told), so they accrue #bekind points while advertising their brand at next to no cost to them.
There are many huge corporations who are willing to take a little dent in profits if they can be in a position to socially engineer the next generation of consumers. It’s a form of grooming.
Quite a number of companies are confident that they can abuse many of their customers and still remain viable. And it may be true. If so, then why? Do they switch to other ways of making money such as selling customer information or other such stuff to big data companies? Is their nominal product just a lure?
I can understand that companies that operate hand-in-glove with government, such as regulated industries or non-profits (Quangos to you British?) could do this: they are protected from competition in return for supporting the government or, dare I suggest it, slipping a little cash to the campaign funds of important politicians. But companies not entirely immune to market forces? How do they do it? What do they sell? Whom do they sell it to?
Is anything known about the surgeons who carry out these mastectomies for transmen? Do other surgeons think they’re breaking the Hippocratic Oath? If so, we don’t hear from them.
There are surgeons in the USA who boast on social media of their “top” surgery and put up photos of them and their customers. They are customers as it is all private medicine. Never is it called double mastectomy because that is what happens when a woman (or a man) gets breast cancer. Instead it is the cutsie term top surgery like it is not a major procedure which could go very wrong to the point of being life threatening.
There are surgeons in the USA who boast on social media of their “top” surgery and put up photos of them and their customers. They are customers as it is all private medicine. Never is it called double mastectomy because that is what happens when a woman (or a man) gets breast cancer. Instead it is the cutsie term top surgery like it is not a major procedure which could go very wrong to the point of being life threatening.
Is anything known about the surgeons who carry out these mastectomies for transmen? Do other surgeons think they’re breaking the Hippocratic Oath? If so, we don’t hear from them.
This is pinch-yourself unbelievable. How in the name of sanity is self-harm being touted as fashion?
This is pinch-yourself unbelievable. How in the name of sanity is self-harm being touted as fashion?
“We want everyone that interacts with us to experience the inclusive environment that we create, to encourage people to feel welcomed, free and unashamedly proud to be themselves,”
Unless, of course, you are a white, Christian, European descended, conservative male!!
“We want everyone that interacts with us to experience the inclusive environment that we create, to encourage people to feel welcomed, free and unashamedly proud to be themselves,”
Unless, of course, you are a white, Christian, European descended, conservative male!!
At least 6 comments are missing, including 2 of mine.
I think that is because the comment with the downvotes has been taken down (why????) and that says nothing good about unHerd.
Now reappeared.
Now reappeared.
At least 6 comments are missing, including 2 of mine.
I think that is because the comment with the downvotes has been taken down (why????) and that says nothing good about unHerd.
Before a double mastectomy these children (not always children but often) have been binding their breasts for months or years causing permanent tissue damage, bruised and damaged ribs and localised chest pain. They then move onto the double mastectomy which is irreversible. To quote abigail shrier in her book Irreversible Damage : “according to Dr, Lappert, eliminating biological capacities merely for the sake of aesthetics is wrong and – in virtually all other areas of medicine – strictly verboten.” “There is no other cosmetic operation where it is considered morally acceptable to destroy a human function.” (Ie a young girl gives up the future possibility of breast feeding). I quote again from Abigail Shrier : “ the procedure comes with risk of infection, seroma, pain, bleeding, oozing, skin flaps, and nipples that resemble cooked hamburger meat.” There is also loss of sexual function.
Has Costa lost its mind? How is this advertising even remotely acceptable?
I always thought Bud Lite was swill and Costa coffee was simply not coffee but brown river mud – AFTER one of our charming water companies had opened the overflow gates.
Before a double mastectomy these children (not always children but often) have been binding their breasts for months or years causing permanent tissue damage, bruised and damaged ribs and localised chest pain. They then move onto the double mastectomy which is irreversible. To quote abigail shrier in her book Irreversible Damage : “according to Dr, Lappert, eliminating biological capacities merely for the sake of aesthetics is wrong and – in virtually all other areas of medicine – strictly verboten.” “There is no other cosmetic operation where it is considered morally acceptable to destroy a human function.” (Ie a young girl gives up the future possibility of breast feeding). I quote again from Abigail Shrier : “ the procedure comes with risk of infection, seroma, pain, bleeding, oozing, skin flaps, and nipples that resemble cooked hamburger meat.” There is also loss of sexual function.
Has Costa lost its mind? How is this advertising even remotely acceptable?
I always thought Bud Lite was swill and Costa coffee was simply not coffee but brown river mud – AFTER one of our charming water companies had opened the overflow gates.
Do these companies have a marketing strategy? Are there adults in the room when decisions are made? Did a straw poll of colleagues, family and friends and all they saw was a “celebration” of breast cancer on a man. Why would anyone want to give their hard earned cash to a company celebrating cancer? Their shareholders will be proud…
Which is worse: no senior manager signing it off, or a senior manager indeed signing it off?
Which is worse: no senior manager signing it off, or a senior manager indeed signing it off?
Do these companies have a marketing strategy? Are there adults in the room when decisions are made? Did a straw poll of colleagues, family and friends and all they saw was a “celebration” of breast cancer on a man. Why would anyone want to give their hard earned cash to a company celebrating cancer? Their shareholders will be proud…
Move your pension to a SIPP and take out everything that has any connection to DEI or ESG. You’ll wind up richer too.
Move your pension to a SIPP and take out everything that has any connection to DEI or ESG. You’ll wind up richer too.
The title says “…Insult to Women” – can we define “Women” even?
Yes. Adult human female.
Yes. Adult human female.
The title says “…Insult to Women” – can we define “Women” even?
Whenever I go into Costas or Starbucks, a quick count shows that women outnumber men by about 2 to 1.
So if this stuff is really insulting to women, a boycot for a week will result in a quick re-think.
But that won’t happen because the whole thing will be invisible to most people. Only thinkers, writers or women who have a lot of spare time will even notice the ad, let alone think about it. Are we being a little oversensitive here – perhaps looking for something to pick on?
I don’t know why you have received a lot of downvotes. My guess is that you are right and this protest will not take off the way the Bud Light protest did because the average Costa customer will not take on board the undesirability if promoting such mastectomies. Hopefully I am wrong and such hollow virtue signalling will be punished.
By the way I don’t think the writer is being over sensitive even if it is not picked up on in the way the Bud Lite advert was.
You’ve identified why the downvotes were received.
The issue is certainly with the last sentence “Are we being a little oversensitive here – perhaps looking for something to pick on?”
which is something to pick on indeed.
You’ve identified why the downvotes were received.
The issue is certainly with the last sentence “Are we being a little oversensitive here – perhaps looking for something to pick on?”
which is something to pick on indeed.
No Caradog – the add is disgusting.
“Are we being a little oversensitive here – perhaps looking for something to pick on?”
No.
I think you are right and that most people won’t pick on the real meaning of the cartoon, while the company can bathe in the soothing balm of “inclusivity”.
Still, one has to point out the absurdity.
Are you basically saying only women with too much time on their hands will have an opinion? How misogynistic can you be in one comment. I have an extremely busy life and most of that is advocating for equality and the human rights of vulnerable people. I see reading and commenting on these articles as an extension of my work. Get over yourself.
You are probably correct since this whole boycott biz didn’t take off until men got involved.
I don’t know why you have received a lot of downvotes. My guess is that you are right and this protest will not take off the way the Bud Light protest did because the average Costa customer will not take on board the undesirability if promoting such mastectomies. Hopefully I am wrong and such hollow virtue signalling will be punished.
By the way I don’t think the writer is being over sensitive even if it is not picked up on in the way the Bud Lite advert was.
No Caradog – the add is disgusting.
“Are we being a little oversensitive here – perhaps looking for something to pick on?”
No.
I think you are right and that most people won’t pick on the real meaning of the cartoon, while the company can bathe in the soothing balm of “inclusivity”.
Still, one has to point out the absurdity.
Are you basically saying only women with too much time on their hands will have an opinion? How misogynistic can you be in one comment. I have an extremely busy life and most of that is advocating for equality and the human rights of vulnerable people. I see reading and commenting on these articles as an extension of my work. Get over yourself.
You are probably correct since this whole boycott biz didn’t take off until men got involved.
Whenever I go into Costas or Starbucks, a quick count shows that women outnumber men by about 2 to 1.
So if this stuff is really insulting to women, a boycot for a week will result in a quick re-think.
But that won’t happen because the whole thing will be invisible to most people. Only thinkers, writers or women who have a lot of spare time will even notice the ad, let alone think about it. Are we being a little oversensitive here – perhaps looking for something to pick on?