Facebook doesn’t care about your Aunt Flo
How the ad filter is sexist and straight up wrong
Periods aren’t sexy.
Whether you’re talking about movies, books, television, or in my world, raising money for international development, it’s hard to sell periods.
Even though menstruation is critical to the health and well-being of women and girls (not to mention a key part of the cycle of life), there seems to be an inherent “ick” factor associated with the process.
A recent study found there are over 5,000 euphemisms for being on your period, including TOM (time of the month), being on the rag, girl flu, the aforementioned visit from Aunt Flo and even shark week (really?!). Why is it so difficult to talk openly about a vital bodily function?
In different parts of the world, menstruation carries certain implications. Here in the United States, it’s synonymous with a woman acting emotional or irrational (or just doing her job). In India, 23 percent of girls will end up dropping out of school when they start menstruating because the schools don’t have safe, private toilets. And in Nepal, when a woman or girl menstruates, they are considered “unclean” and are forbidden from entering their homes, touching their male family members (or serving them food or drink), and they are required to sleep outside in open huts. This barbaric practice, known as chaupadi, permeates Nepali culture, even in more developed areas, because it is thought that a woman who is menstruating will curse her family and bring disease to her loved ones if she does not remain separated from them throughout the duration of her period.
When we cannot talk about menstruation, we cannot break down the taboos that surround it.
May 28 is Menstrual Hygiene Management Day, and on this day, organizations around the world gather to discuss menstruation, who’s affected by it and how to do it safely.
If you’re in the New York City area on Thursday, May 25, you should consider attending our MHD workshop at NYU, where nearly a dozen organizations will host a panel discussion about periods.
Currently, Facebook has prevented us from promoting this event on its ad channels.
This is the feedback we received from Facebook when we tried to do a paid promotion for the event.
And the offending ad?
Facebook, what the heck?
To be fair, I’m not certain if it was the image, or the copy that raised Facebook’s red flags, but it’s problematic either way.
Come talk periods with us on the morning of May 25; we’d love to hear your thoughts. And, if you care about issues affecting women and girls globally, check out WaterAid’s #GirlStrong campaign.
The stigma around the act of menstruating will persist as long as we’re prohibited from engaging in discourse about it.
Facebook, the blood is on your hands.
Update: (May 22, 4:24 p.m.)
I appealed, and here’s what Facebook had to say:
“Thank you for notifying us about your ad disapproval.
We’ve reviewed your ad again and have determined it complies with our policies. Your ad is now approved.
Your ad is now active and will start delivering soon.”
No reason was given for the initial disapproval, but hopefully, Facebook will take some time to explore how ad copy and content is evaluated in the future.
