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

[elynne.livejournal.com]

I've heard the "menstrual hut" thing referred to in several prehistoric cultures, although in the smaller tribal cultures, it sometimes translated basically to "don't touch that woman, she's currently unclean."

One thing I heard of recently was using tortoiseshell - but I think that was intended as an IUD/diaphragm method of birth control. Sounds damned uncomfortable, either way.