Guest Author - Linda J. Paul
Throughout history, menstruating women have been looked upon with misgivings and fear. Many societies banned women who were menstruating from being present at any kind of sacred ritual event, and even from simple, everyday tasks such as the gathering and preparation of food. Contact with women at their “time of the month” was strictly limited if not totally forbidden. In some societies women were and still are kept completely isolated from friends and family for seven or more days a month.
The process of menstruation was not fully understood until the mid 1800’s. A doctor by the name of Gendrin came up with the idea that ovulation controlled menstruation. This led to the conclusion around the late 1800’s that a woman menstruated because she failed to conceive. Up until that point the common belief among physicians was that menstruation had something to do with the release of unneeded blood, perhaps to cool down a highly emotional state. Basically , the thought was that menstruation was a hysterical reaction.
I find it amusing actually that God himself seems to have a real issue with menstruation, as does Allah. And, I would hazard a guess that neither of these said deities invented tampons, maxi-pads or Midol.
According to the Bible, a woman is impure for seven days from the beginning of her menstrual flow (Lev. 12:2; 15:19). Anyone who touches a menstruous woman becomes unclean until evening (Lev. 15:19). Whoever touches her bed or anything she sits on during the week is unclean until evening and must wash his clothes and bathe with water (vss. 20-23).
Sexual relations during a woman’s period are forbidden (Lev. 18:19; Ezek. 18:6; 22:10). The penalty for the man and woman who violate this prohibition is being “cut off” from the people of Israel (Lev. 20:18). But should a woman’s menses begin during intercourse, the man and woman become unclean for seven days, and her condition of uncleanness is transferred to him (Lev. 15:24).
If a woman menstruates for more than seven days, or has an irregular discharge of blood at any time other than her period, her uncleanness ends only after seven “clean” days (Lev. 15:25ff.). On the eighth “clean” day, the final act of ritual purity involves the bringing of two doves or two young pigeons for sacrifice (15:29ff.).
The sages extended the period when sexual relations between a husband and wife are prohibited to seven “clean” days following the menstrual period. This means that the total period of separation is about twelve days a month assuming a menstrual period of five days.
Koran 2:222. "And they ask you about menstruation. Say: It is a discomfort; therefore keep aloof from the women during the menstrual discharge and do not go near them until they have become clean; then when they have cleansed themselves, go in to them as Allah has commanded you; surely Allah loves those who turn much (to Him), and He loves those who purify themselves."
During menstruation, a Hindu woman is considered "polluting", "dirty" or "impure" and the Manusmriti prescribes a ritual bath after menstruation ceases. Menstruating women do not attend temple services and a ritual bath is taken when bleeding ceases. Since menstruation is seen as "dirty", Hindu women do not even light the lamp in the shrines of their homes. The lighting of the lamp is an important part of ritual life.
Many Native American tribes on the other hand, viewed a girl’s first menstrual period as a time of celebration and honor. A first period was and is an important rite of passage for any female.
In fact, without the presence of indoor lighting and birth control pills, etc., women always cycled together at the time of the dark moon. Women who are in close contact with one another on a regular basis still tend to regulate their cycle with that of the "alpha" female of the group. During the days of the tribe the women would gather together at their moon time in the women's hut. This was seen not as a time of punishment, but as a time of sharing and working together.
Most societies of today do not put any restrictions on menstruating women. In fact, millions of dollars each year are spent on the paraphernalia that is produced to make this time of the month more comfortable. There are literally shelves upon shelves of scented products, unscented products, products with wings, small pads, large pads, and hundreds of different types of tampons to fit any shape or size.
It has been proven that menstruating women do not spoil fruits and vegetables by touching them. It is also quite allowable for menstruating women to take a bath, go swimming, exercise and even have sexual intercourse.
The new generation of young women are much more open concerning menstruation, even in parts of the world that still place restrictions on menstruating women. I see this as a giant step for women’s spirituality.
Goddess bless….
