The Curse: A Cultural History of Menstruation

by Janice Delaney, Mary Jane Lupton, Emily Toth

Menarche, the onset of the menstrual cycle, signals the transformation of girl into woman. In primitive societies, this is the crucial moment when a woman becomes a prisoner of the menstrual taboo. But this taboo asserts itself among the most advanced societies too, invoking the image of "inferior" woman, ruled by her monthly cycle.

This timely and authoritative work takes a major step toward liberating women and men form the fear, ignorance, and damaging misconceptions of the "unmentionable" subject by discussing:

Menstrual Taboos
Medical Myths
Red Humor--The Menstrual Joke
Rags to Riches--The Menstrual Products Industry
Male Cycles
Menarcheal, Menstrual, and Menopausal Imagery in Art and Literature
Changing Life-Styles and Beliefs
Lifting the Curse

Genres: Feminism, Nonfiction, History, Health, Gender, Womens, Gender Studies

262 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 21, 1977

Reviews

[Moved to Library Thing adaorhell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I came into it with my own feelings and experiences about menstruation, including the fact that the generation reading this updated version (mine, my sisters) is the first group in history to bleed as often or as not often as possible. No longer are we married off at 13 and giving birth by 14, no, we can decide when pregnancy occurs, how to treat menopause.

The history, as with all things relating to women, is incomplete. There is a disturbing lack of information about women of colour, outside of some very racist (NOT THE AUTHORS FAULT) studies done on African women and Native American women in the 1800s and early 1900s. This racism/lack of intersectionality was discussed, and the racial bias of the studies that says that African women bleed first because they are animals only capable of sexual reproduction, and the delicate western white women do not begin to bleed until their late teens or early 20s.

Over all, a well done look at how the human race has handled the most mysterious and vital of all human functions. I was also pleased to discover that Virginia Woolf was quite 'into' her periods, saying that she finished my favorite novel (Orlando) after her 'flood' broke the 'dam' of her writer's block.

Well written and well researched, and worth a read, especially with the updated additions to each chapter.

Who wants to get together and talk about their menarche?

[Ally · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 … just starting to show its age

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a fascinating book, as it covers half of the world’s population (more or less), and covers the cycles women go through (from their teenage years into their fifties) throughout history. And I enjoyed reading this book, though (as I am now in my mid-sixties) I am well past “that time of month”.

The book was written in 1976 and was updated in 1988. The authors have chosen to deal with this situation by printing the original 1976 chapters, and then (after each chapter) adding an Afterword to cover whatever happened in the intervening twelve years. The book is divided into several parts, beginning with The Tabooed Woman, The Menstrual Cycle in Action, The Menstruating Woman in the Popular Imagination, Menstrual Images in Literature, The Menopause, Sideshow, and (oddly enough) Men. The book is full of fascinating tidbits (sanitary napkins, as they exist today, came into being during World War I; television ads for products did not arrive until 1972; Carrie (novel and movie) gets five mentions in the book; and as of 1985 thirty percent of people who got Toxic Shock Syndrome never used tampons). And I, of course, am aware of developments in media since 1988 (The Red Tent by Anita Diamont came out in 1997, and the “Aisle 8-A” episode of King of the Hill came out in 1999).

I found this to be a fascinating book, and recommend it to all who are interested in this subject.

[Sue Blanch · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thorough investigation of the different elements of menstruation and the cultural attitudes that can influence our own attitudes towards our own cycle. Includes the taboo of menstruation, psychology, humour, advertising, the menstrual products industry and literature. A little dated in some respects but much of it still remains valid (sadly) 40 years after it was first published.

[Monica Arreola · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book should be mandatory reading, it is shocking that we know more myths and code words than of menstruation itself, i realized how ignorant i am, even thought i am a woman and i went to a "progressive"
school where they "taught" us about our periods, hooray for talking more about real biological processes

[Lee Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping for a few laughs from an outdated feminist tome, but it was decidedly lacking in camp appeal. Mostly a lot of dry statistics layered with a small whiff of indignation. This was a real slog.

[Ella]

technically didn't read all bc I read for uni but I read enough to count it and enjoy it

[Jessy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting to read perspective on menstruation from the 1970s, and very shocking and horrifying to read about menstrual rites in the (unfortunately not so far away) past

[Sandra Pérez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to read this because I was very interested to know more about the way women dealt with the "curse" before my time. This book tells us about the primal rituals, beliefs and taboos that were associated with a menstruating women, and the things women used to collect their menstruation before the pads and tampons. It is a very illuminating material, even though I took scientific information with a grain of salt (given the year it was written). It was for me like going back to the past and understanding humanity's association with the curse since the beginning of time until the present.

[izzyipee · Rating 5 out of 5]

men created religion because they were jealous that women are the only ones who can truly create life

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book because I was interested in the history of menstruation and the cultural issues surrounding it. Common thought in one era was that women's hair was the equivalent of men's testicles. Seriously. And that women were physically incomplete. I can't even comprehend half of the past explanations for menstruation and I grew to have an even greater appreciation of modern feminine products and modern medicine now after reading what manner of products & medical treatments women incurred to treat/cure/relieve menses.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting. Every woman should read it.

[Kira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting! I particularly enjoyed the exploration of how menstruation and menstrual products are portrayed in advertising.