Nathan Loyd

Artifact 6

One of the first times that a girl can be embarrassed and confused in her life is when she receives her first menstruation cycles. Even though it can be a strange experience for the young female in most parts of the world it can be a time for celebration. Parent24.com tells us that in Japan the mother will cook a sweet and sticky dish made of red beans and rice called sekihan. The whole family will eat this meal together. In Brazil, when a girl has her first period, everyone is told. A big party is thrown for the girl and gifts will be brought to her for the big milestone. Looking into parts of the world that are not too kind when it comes to a girl receiving their first period is Afghanistan, Womenshealthmag.com tells us that when girls hit their first menstruation cycle they cannot wash their vaginas. They also cannot use a menstrual pad; menstrual pads also cost $4 which most women cannot afford.

Looking into older ways of embracing a females first menstrual cycle, I took a look at native American approaches, Apache to be exact. The Apache take the young girl and put them through a 4-day ritual that will test them for the trails of women hood. They will run through 4 stages, baby, child, adolescent, and women. Compared to other native Americans when a girl or women hit their menstrual cycle the men take over their chores and the women are not allowed to do anything because it is told to be a time of magic.

Women in the U.S. mostly view menstruation as a negative event. This is because as it happens the first time they feel embarrassed or ashamed and that carries out throughout their life. For that reason, women try to hide their period for the most part, some women and men see it as a nasty time for a woman and with the discomfort that the women feel such as stomach cramps does not help. This could be a factor on why women are looked down upon in in America, this can affect a women’s self-confidence and make her not think much of herself. Women and men can have a more positive outlook on menstruation by looking at it as a woman having a healthy body and having full potential of conceiving a child. Menstruation is a positive event in a women’s life.

In other countries like Africa, when women hit their menstruation cycle they are looked down upon. Thousands of girls miss school do to their periods and they have no idea how to control it. With no health resources available for menstruation they have to fend for themselves. Most girls in Africa cannot control the bleeding so they are not able to attend their schooling which is already hard enough to receive in Africa. With that being said they also have to worry about infections and staying sanitary since they don’t have menstrual pads available for them. Resources have been put in place to try to supply menstrual pads and teachings about women’s menstrual cycles but the lack of money plays a big role in these societies.

Dealing with the Jewish Orthodox religion and menstruation, it is not viewed as good or bad unless the female makes it that way. When a woman reaches their menstrual cycle, Jewish law forbids sexual relations until she immerses in the mikveh bath. She also has to sleep in separate beds away from her spouse while on her period. After she finishes her menstrual cycle is complete she is to immerse herself in the mikveh bath; the mikveh bath symbolizes a job well done or accomplishment in her life. The menstrual cycle in the eyes of the Jewish Orthodox is empowering towards women and shows that it is something to be proud of.

Overall, I believe that menstruation is in a way beautiful like a work of art; it is a sign of a healthy body that is ready to conceive a child. Women should embrace it and know that it is something to be proud of.