Sacred Power of Menstruation versus Cultural Myths: An Interdisciplinary Overview

Abstract

The onset of menstruation is only a single incident in one long continuous process whereby the girl attains maturity on the physical, sexual and psychological levels. The periodic flow of blood from the woman's body has been interpreted and designated by various cultures differently. Before the medical knowledge, it was recognized as a curse and sickness. Simultaneously, there prevailed worship of women womb and menstrual blood as well. The vernacular understanding of menses has relegated the biological process to something unclean. The taboos across various cultures and religions have led the women seeing their menses as an inconvenient ‘curse'. These practices further shape women's reproductive experiences and practices.

The fact is that menstruation is a biological natural function of female's body. Another school of thought believes in saving women due to their vulnerable nature during the monthly cycle from various powerful energies. It is a matter of continuous research that whether touch of women during their periods is dangerous. Various menarchist movements started in the late twentieth century. Both males and females have a role in representing menstruation as normal bodily function than as a matter of disgust and shame. The present work represents diversity of contradictory views about menstruation.