Before Pads and Tampons

[browngirl]

(Crossposted a bit)

So, I'm working on a project, and I'm trying to figure out what a woman in a culture which did not weave cloth would have done about her period. (Also, a woman in a culture where cloth was rare and relatively expensive because it's very time-consuming to make--those two cultures are where my story will take place.) That's one area that is sadly, sadly neglected in anthropological studies and histories of peoples; in all those "Daily Life in X place" books no one ever writes about how half the adult population handles a major monthly event.

Sheesh.

So. Can anyone help me here? (This is for my NaNoWriMo novel, so ease of access would be appreciated.)

Comments

[maedbh7.livejournal.com]

I've heard/read about Native Americans using the puffy stuff off of cattails for this purpose. I also understand that some Native American cultures held the belief that a women was 'unclean' during her monthly, so she went to live in the bleeding house (forgot the real name) for the duration of her cycle. The blood was left to bleed into the earth in those buildings (unknown if they washed off or not during this week...the stuff I read didn't say). After her cycle ended, she would make her way to a stream, wash off, dress in some ritual fashion that screamed "Hey I'm done bleeding" and then return to 'normal' life.

I find the idea appalling, as a modern woman...nothing like being shunned every month. However, it's cultural anthropologicaly fascinating. Imagine that once a month when you are feeling all icky achy crampy you got to go hang out with all your other female friends who are also feeling icky achy crampy. Get away from those stupid men for a bit; let them take care of the kids. Have some of that cramp relieving tree-bark tea. Swap 'One time I bleed for 5 months' stories. Get abdominal and back-rubs from people who understand their purpose. How rocking cool would that be?!?

Sadly, I have -no idea- where I read this at. Could be apocraphal, could be fiction, could be fact, so take it with a grain of salt. Fun to think about, either way. -H...

[anahata56.livejournal.com]

I heard this, too--that the bleeding time was just left to its own devices and women just washed more.

Had to be more comfortable that way, although I'd probably be washing every 15 minutes.

And I don't think the menstrual hut was designed to shun women so much as what you express later in your post--the concept of it being a time when women just want to be with women and not have to deal with the stuff of the day-to-day...

Maybe the reason why so many of us are uncomfortable during menstruation is because we are trying to hide it, make it clean and pretend it isn't there (like those tampon commercials--"No one will will even be able to tell!").

Like that mindset isn't a "shunning"? Worst of all, it's a self shunning--"I have my period now and so I have to spend every waking moment pretending it isn't killing me."

Maybe if we just all went off somewhere and didn't try to work around it, we'd all feel better.