Angelina Jolie: A brave decision from a brave woman.

The news hit yesterday that Hollywood titan Angelina Jolie had undergone a double mastectomy in order to prevent cancer she had discovered she was at high risk of developing. It is something that many women choose to do in order to eliminate such a horrible ailment. Many people, women in particular, have taken a moment to applaud Jolie for her brave decision. However there were many people who just didn't seem to get the point.

Of course this was something where a woman's body was the centre of attention. In response to this courageous act there were tweets saying:

• "Well...Brad Pitt is gunna be fucking the nanny"
• "I can't believe Angelina Jolie got her boobies removed. She must have some bomb ass pussy for Brad to say with her"
• "Angelina Jolie got her boobies cut off cuz she thought she was at "risk" for breast cancer . She didn't have boobs anyway."
• "Angelina Jolie cut both her titties off because she's scared of cancer. But I'm not sure why that seemed smart"
• "I am deeply saddened by the loss of such amazing breasts. Rest in peace, Angelina Jolie's boobies. :("
• "So Angelina Jolie got fake titties & wants me to call her a hero? No way! Wait....let me see em before I decide! #thanks"
• "what a waste of a banging set of boobies"
• "#RIP Angelina Jolie's rack. Sad day for tit fans"
• "with or without titties, she'd still get the D."
• "Angelina jolie dah free from boobies! I wonder what brad pitt can stroke and stare from now on"
• "Im tired of hearing about Angelina Jolie. Okay, she cut her boobies off to avoid cancer... NEXT."
• "This will make me sound like an asshole but I think Angelina Jolie cut her breasts off because she wasn't getting enough media attention"

Oh, good sir in that last tweet, you're not the only one who sounds like an asshole. What these people are missing is the chance to applaud a woman, and women like her, for her bravery. Some tweets suggest that her husband shall lose all sexual interest in her as a result. Jolie has made a bold step, possibly inspiring and saving the lives of countless women across the word, and all people can focus on is the loss of 'titties'. Breasts have been so highly fetishised and sexualised to obscene levels that people only see the loss of something sexual. What they are not seeing is the bravery that goes into this decision and process. Jolie has done this ahead of time so that she will not have to worry about getting this type of cancer and can live without fear of it. Doctors had estimated that she had an 87% chance of developing breast cancer at some point. Her choice to remove her breasts ahead of getting cancer means her life will be less fearful so she can enjoy life without worrying she'll die from the cancer that took her mother at just age 56. She is a strong, intelligent women with a family to think of. Placing more value on body parts you and the media have decided to fetishise rather than consider that a woman's life was at risk shows that misogyny and sexism are both alive and well. 

I applaud her for her choices and hope that she has made many women aware of their options if they know breast cancer runs in the family. Hopefully this will lead to many women getting checked thus raising cancer awareness. I just wish someone could raise awareness to some of the more silly tweeters out there.