CAITLYN GERMAIN
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The Day Pinterest Insulted My Body

10/19/2017

12 Comments

 
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It's no secret I've been trying to Monetize my blog since earlier this month. I intend to mostly continue on doing what I'd normally do... I'm just pushing myself to actually follow through and write. If applicable, I've started to include links to products directly related to the topic I'm covering... (so if you see one, and it's something you're interested in, help a girl out!)  

I was blogging anyway, why not try to make something of it?

In the process of learning the ins-and-outs of having a blog to make money (even if your goal is, say, gas money?), I've created a Pinterest. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm way behind on this stuff.  Out of curiosity, I clicked on the little "Promote" icon and I followed my curiosity to pay for an advertisement. I scheduled to pay a whopping $2.00 (because.... I still need to pay for gas) to promote a post I wrote a long time ago and just recently edited and linked to the products I originally mentioned. This post was organically created, and was the most "pinterest worthy" post I had... so it made sense to experiment with the promotion features with this particular post. 

It was titled "10 Things they DON'T tell You: POSTPARTUM" and if you don't remember, this was the image that I soon found out was not worthy of an advertisement:
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REJECTED!
Pinterest gave me two reasons this advertisement didn't make the cut. Based on their advertising guidelines this was considered Clickbait: 

We rejected one of your ads because it didn't meet our advertising guidelines
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•Clickbait
Your ad's image or description includes what we consider to be "clickbait". We don't allow clickbait tactics that play on people's fears, damage self-esteem, use alarmist language or imagery, or purposefully withhold information. Please don't try and trick Pinners into interacting with your ads.


The way I understand clickbait is much different than this.  If I were to make an advertisement using a clickbait tactic for my postpartum blogpost it would look something like this: Mom has a baby and you'll never guess what happened next! Similar to those annoying Buzzfeed things that I vow to never, ever, EVER be like! What you find in the body of my post is exactly what it says you'll find... 10 things no one (except bloggers, like me) will tell you about your postpartum body and experience. Nothing tricky or sneaky about the words I used... so I was flooded with questions I had for the Pinterest team and their rational for this rejection...
Is the image of a postpartum body something to be feared?

Does it really damage people's self-esteem?

Is the imagery of a real​ body really so alarming that it's not worthy of a $2.00 advertisement?


... and it gets worse.. The second reason the ad was rejected was because it fell under the category of Health or Skincare Images

 •Health or skincare images
We don't allow demeaning images of health or skincare conditions that suggest user deficiencies or capitalize on anxiety.

Okay, now I'm getting mad. 

Demeaning? 

a skincare condition?

deficient?


This causes anxiety? 

Maybe I'm wrong and I'm just a person that doesn't have stretch marks post-baby, so the image above doesn't strike a sensitive cord...? Or maybe I'm the opposite and I'm actually hypersensitive, hormonal and defensive of women who have-I don't know-sacrificed their body for the survival of the human race......? (insert eyeroll emoji)

​I decided to conduct an experiment to see what would happen if I tried to advertise the exact same pin only with a different body. Below is the edited version:
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This image actually is clickbait (what woman wouldn't wonder how to get that body postpartum?... or... ever....) and to credit Pinterest, it was rejected for being such. However, It was not rejected for Health or Skincare images. It's certainly not demeaning, but I, personally, know wayyyy more women that would feel anxiety or inadequacy seeing this image as opposed to the first image. I don't think there is anything wrong with either, but it's sad to have some evidence showing that a real life postpartum body is something people don't want to look at... or at least something the Pinterest algorithm has decided people don't want to see. 

Meanwhile, I login and this is what is advertised to me: 

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I'm not going to boycott Pinterest or anything, because I think as a whole their guidelines are trying to protect people... and don't get me wrong, I fully plan to get rid of my postpartum "jelly-belly" and get my abs back. I don't love my body this way... but I love the reason it's this way, and if my jelly-belly was forever, I'd get over it. It was the most beautiful sacrifice I've ever made! But... I get it, pinterest... I understand that to people that don't know Maebel and don't know the love you can have for your own child, the image of my body, or any other postpartum body, might not be what pinners want to see... but aren't I advertising to the demographic that this appeals to? The demographic that understands that the child and the sacrifice for the child is the most beautiful part!? The demographic that gets it?

It's hard not to scratch your head at the postpartum body and wonder how did something so natural become something so taboo...

Thoughts? Feelings? Emotions? 

How do the two advertisements make YOU feel? 
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12 Comments
Lynn mahan
10/20/2017 05:50:10 am

Pisses me off!!! AND you're gorgeous!❤

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Caitlyn Germain link
10/20/2017 03:28:58 pm

Thanks! But just to make sure it’s clear, the body in the ad isn’t mine. (I’m at the very top, though) I made the original post when I was 9 months pregnant, I didn’t have access to my real life postpartum body for a photo yet! 😂 but the body in the as represents my own!

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Christina
10/20/2017 06:27:37 am

That is both funny and terrible at the same time. I love the irony too... In fact, that exact blog post (specifically, the “authentic” photo) was the reason I started following you in the first place. I was my first glimpse at the realistic, honest, refreshing content you have continued to share since. I loved it and I always will love it. Just keep on your path. Clearly Pinterest didn’t read the article. (Or maybe they wanted pleasant script, pastel-colored font on the original belly pic?) Either way, you do you. The world will listen with or without Pinterest (who, when, and if ready). ❤️❤️❤️

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Caitlyn Germain link
10/20/2017 03:32:47 pm

Aww! That’s so sweet! I have to be myself, because who else would I be? 🤗

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Sarah s
10/20/2017 09:10:39 am

I think it's a but step forward for all women when women like you are honest about their postpartum bodies. I was so ashamed and embarrassed after one of my second kids was born. At the time there were headlines everywhere that after six weeks postpartum Heidi klum was walking a Victoria secrets runway and there was no signs of her having just had a baby. We can't all be Heidi klums - I applaud your honesty and willingness to put yourself out there.

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Caitlyn germain link
10/20/2017 03:37:55 pm

Thanks for the support! I saw your response to my sister, too. Appreciate that you made a comment here as well!

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Zully Hernandez link
10/20/2017 05:40:25 pm

Click bait?!! That's so annoying... if much rather see an authentic image that represents what your post is about. Social media can be so annoying.

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Caitlyn Germain link
10/21/2017 10:19:27 am

Right!? Now I have no problem with washboard abs, just a problem with people valuing themselves based on their midsection! Photos with faceless abs are weird.

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Jess link
10/20/2017 08:00:43 pm

That's insane. Insane! I'd rather see a real body. The sexy abs photos always make me feel 'less than'. Ever since my first kid I've always had a mommy pooch. No matter who fit or thin I got. My skin stretched past its elasticity so it's just kinda soft and wrinkly. I feel so gross. And I'm pregnant again!! So who knows what I will look like after this one...

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Caitlyn germain link
10/21/2017 10:16:12 am

I had a blogpost from my original blog that I’ll have to bring over to this one about focusing on body function instead of body image. What you’re able to do is more important than how you look doing it! Good luck!

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Lisa G
10/20/2017 11:26:47 pm

You go Caitlyn!

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Caitlyn Germain link
10/21/2017 10:13:31 am

🤗

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    Hello!

    Welcome to my blog! I've been blogging for a long time on various platforms. My intention has never been to reach the masses, but rather to give myself a chance to reflect and journal. I feel it at least challenges me to be somewhat coherent, however you can expect ramblings and grammatical incorrectness here! 

    I've recently been diagnosed with CECS and fPAES and had it treated with BOTOX of all things... So I suspect to see more and more people looking for answers with that in the future and hope to continue blogging so there will be easy to access follow-ups as that was helpful for me.

    NOTE: Apologies that some of the pictures incorrectly load sometimes. I try to keep up with the glitches, but can't always! Hope it doesn't impact the blog experience for all the PAES visitors.  
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