Photography by misterhonk_de, via Flickr (CC)

You’ve heard of “Movember,” that month-long event where men grow wild, fun facial hair in an effort to raise awareness about prostate cancer? Well, now there’s a new awareness campaign on the block. But this time, it’s all about the ladies. Founded by a group of Toronto women and backed by the Canadian Cancer Society, the month of July will now be known as “Julyna,” in an attempt to raise awareness about cervical cancer and HPV.

Women can’t quite grow mustaches to the same degree as their male counterparts, of course, so Julyna offers a different take on body hair grooming: women are challenged to shape their pubic hair into wild, creative patterns to raise awareness and support for the cause. Perhaps you’d like The Barbara Bush, or maybe even The David Suzuki. The options are (almost) endless.

It’s already creating quite a bit of buzz on the web, but I have to admit that I am not totally sold on the idea of Julyna. On the one hand, I sincerely applaud Vanessa Willson and her team on their efforts to raise awareness and money for such an important cause—like these women, I also know someone who has experienced cervical cancer, so it is a topic that hits close to home. I strongly believe that the fight against women’s cancers does not and should not begin and end with one month of pink-coloured appliances, toilet paper and candy. But on the other hand, I can’t help but think that there must be a better way. One that doesn’t smack of cheesy lady-razor commercials that transform garden plants into carefully landscaped triangles and hearts. One that doesn’t use terminology like “the hair down there.” I mean, if you can’t bring yourself to use the words “pubic hair,” then how can you begin to have a frank discussion about sexual and reproductive health?

Correct me if I’m wrong here, but it’s my understanding that the purpose of this awareness campaign is to take a very personal topic and make it easier to talk about in a public forum. The goal is to do for cervical cancer what Movember does for prostate cancer. But in terms of spreading awareness, it’s a little more clear-cut with Movember; men grow crazy mustaches, people ask why they suddenly look like Tom Selleck, they explain, and the purpose is fulfilled. But Julyna? What gets the ball rolling, here? I have to tell you, I’m about as likely to strike up a conversation about my pubic hair grooming habits with friends, strangers and co-workers as I am to post updates about the state of my cervix (or ovaries, or uterus) on Twitter.

Maybe I’m taking this all too seriously—after all, no one ever said that this campaign was meant to be more than a bit of cheeky fun for a good cause. And I must concede that any effort to raise money and awareness for cervical cancer—the second most common cancer in women in this country after breast cancer—is absolutely better than no effort at all. But I just can’t help but wonder: is this really the best we can do?

What do you think? Is this campaign totally brilliant, or is there a better way to get women talking about cervical cancer?

—Alicia, Associate Editor of CF.ca