So Sonja recently wrote a blog post in which she raised the question of cultural perceptions of a women's menstrual cycles. And before the men run to hide from the "TMI" post, let me say that that reaction is exactly what was being address and so stick around and deal. In this post, Sonja discusses how "for centuries men have found women’s menstrual blood and the products they use to deal with it unclean and the butt of jokes." She writes, "Without menstrual blood, we would not have the human race for much longer. It is that monthly cleansing of the womb that allows pregnancy and prolonging our species. It’s high time we acknowledged that far from being unclean and a joke, it is what allows us to be and continue being. It is what makes us intensely feminine, female and other and beautiful."
Reading her thoughts there made me reflect on the general response I receive from guys regarding specifically female issues. They freak out and start making jokes (an immature response when the situation doesn't call for them) when the topic of menstrual cycles, breastfeeding, childbirth, or even bras are brought up. Why is this?
On top of that as a woman, I often find myself being self conscious about such things as well. I remember how in jr. high how it was the ultimate embarrassment for a guy to see a pad in your purse, but even now such items are treated with the secrecy of an illicit drug deal. We do our best to disguise "our time of month" (or what ever other euphemism you use). We panic if a bra strap shows or if a button comes undone. We refrain from actually talking about the gory details of childbirth - which is why first time moms have no clue what to expect. And don't even get me started on how breastfeeding is still a hidden taboo thing (but I love the t-shirt to the left). We seem to fear or hate our bodies as much as the men.
Is this a latent fear of all things feminine? It is too other for men to try to engage and understand? Is it part of the centuries old habit of despising women for the "weakness" of these things? Or is it even confined just to women or does our culture still accept the dualistic assumptions that disparage the physical body? And why do we as women continue to see the natural aspects of what it means to be female as something to be embarrassed by and hidden? Or is this just a Christian backlash to the world's objectification of all things sexual?
You are thoroughly invited to comment here. Men and women. No equivocating. No hiding. Just share your reactions.
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Labels: Culture, Gender Issues
Hey Julie ... excellent questions. But first ... where can I get that shirt?? I sooo want one!!! Especially because the message goes right across the milk producing part of my anatomy ... LOL. I just love it.
On a more serious note ... a lot of this makes me think of Anita Diamant's The Red Tent. On one hand, in that culture the women were separated and the blood was considered unclean. But ... on the other hand, during the time of menses, everything came to a stop for that week. The whole tribe halted and stood still for the women and there was a great deal of unity that they had in that. I'm not sure we've actually progressed very far.
We still have all sorts of euphemisms (feminine hygiene products) and hide it (except for during the family viewing hour on television ... when tampons and pads and their respective absorbency are fair game). All of which seems to send mixed messages to all of us.
I would love to be able to raise my daughter with a less conflicted self-image. She is 13. Some days I think I've done it. Then there are days like today when she announced that she won't wear shorts because of the fat blobs on the inner contours of her knees ... then I swear all hope is lost.
Sorry about the rambling comment. I don't think it's our Christian-ness that has done nearly as much damage as our culture in general has. I think we're experiencing a backlash right now from the free love and feminism of the 60's and 70's that is harmful to women and to men in the long run.