pinkwashing

American  

[pingk-wosh-ing, -waw-shing] / ˈpɪŋkˌwɒʃ ɪŋ, -ˌwɔ ʃɪŋ /

noun

1. an instance or practice of acknowledging and promoting the civil liberties of the LGBTQ+ community, but superficially, as a ploy to divert attention from allegiances and activities that are in fact hostile to such liberties.

   Posturing has always been this mayor’s stock in trade, so it’s no surprise he’s adopted pinkwashing as his latest bogus appeasement of constituents he neither understands nor cares about.

2. the business practice of promoting breast-cancer awareness and research while in fact profiting from the manufacture and/or marketing of carcinogenic or other socially irresponsible products.

   It takes a little investigation, but it is possible to find companies chipping in to eradicate breast cancer without the pinkwashing.

3. the use, provision, or sale of pink ribbons, pink-ribbon logos, articles of pink clothing or sports equipment, etc., for promoting awareness of breast cancer and raising funds to support research and treatment.

   Every year, the garden center sponsors a day of “Petunia Pinkwashing,” during which all the profits from the sale of pink flowers go to cancer research.

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Etymology

Origin of pinkwashing

First recorded in 1810–20, in a literal sense; 2010–15 pinkwashing for def. 1; 2005–10 pinkwashing for def. 2; pink ¹ ( def. ) + (white)washing ( def. )

Example Sentences

They also believe that pink-ribbon campaigns focus too much on breasts and selling products and services, a practice known as "pinkwashing."

From Salon

The 2010s brought "pinkwashing," when some of the companies slapping pink ribbons on everything for breast cancer awareness were selling products linked to breast cancer.

From Salon

Only the entertainment industry comes under sustained attack this time around, courtesy of a pinkwashing subplot centered on the production of a Justice League knockoff called Rise of the Seven.

From Slate

For our purposes, we defined "pinkwashing" as capital funds targeted at women solely for marketing purposes.

From Salon

Pinkwashing is most likely the result of creating women-focused funds as an add-on to mainstream finance services, rather than as a central element of the organization's mission to support women.

From Salon