Menstruation is one of the oldest, and yet also newest areas of research. Anecdotal research has been conducted by women throughout the world since the beginning of our species. Knowledge of the “women’s mystery” was passed on through stories in caves, forests, waterholes, in sacred places, and on open plains. Grandmothers, mothers, sisters, daughters, aunties, nieces and friends exchanged knowledge, questions, tips and secrets. Some information was shared in hushed tones around the campfire, and some was shouted to the moon as these ancestors of ours bled over the earth, over plants and later, over crops. With the modern age came some wonderful advances in our ability to share information, such as writing, books, print media, and later, television, movies and the internet. The way we glean knowledge now in the developed world is very different to what it once was. However with the loss of ritual, storytelling and the associated sisterhood, we have seen the rise of fear, shame and even hatred of our bodies, and how they work.
...we have new ways of sharing information... however we seem to have lost many of our channels of communication about menstruation.
Living in a patriarchal society has not been kind to the image of the female body, and many women feel shame, fear, objectification and embarrassment when talking about their bodies, or even looking at themselves in the mirror. Relationships to the menstrual cycle are inherently tied up in this process. We have new ways of sharing information, and we have seen the positive effect of this in areas like science and technology, however we seem to have lost many of our channels of communication about menstruation. One of the reasons for this is the menstrual cycle has not been a focus of scientific research until late last century; likely due to the lack of female scientists in senior roles. Over the last fifty or so years, menstrual cycle research has slowly gained ground, however much of it has been from the angle of treating menstruation as a disease, or illness and finding medication and methods to make it go away, often at the cost of overall health. The Society for Menstrual Cycle Research, along with organisations like CEMCOR are changing this pattern, and collecting, sharing and researching ways to improve our relationships with menstruation, and break social taboos and stigmas.
Riding a bicycle across a country talking about menstruation is a great way to see exactly what fears, myths and stigmas abound. Many women in the USA, and also here in Australia are not familiar with their anatomy, and are horrified at the thought of investigating it with a mirror and hand, let alone a speculum. Relationships with our bodies have become very often theoretical and disconnected –ironically, they have become disembodied. Translating an image on a screen – usually a cartoon so it is not classed as pornography – into real-life is difficult, especially when there is no one there to help. Menstrual cups are creating a way for this conversation to happen, for people to start opening up to each other, asking questions, sharing stories and tips, and investigating this important part of our bodies, and our lives. Riding with Sustainable Cycles, and giving workshops across the USA has revealed so much, but mostly the need for open dialogue about menstruation. The Society for Menstrual Cycle Research Conference led to more questions than answers, despite the wealth of information and wisdom available. I have never before felt there is so much work to do, nor have I felt so wanted and needed in an area of research, education, academia and activism. The best form of menstrual activism, that anyone and everyone can do, is to have a respectful, open, honest conversation about menstruation with someone you know.
Sustainable Menstruation Australia is a safe place for menstrual conversations.
Sustainable Menstruation Australia is a safe place for menstrual conversations. Our aim is to be a catalyst to assist people gain a better understanding of their body, of their cycle, and open up the floor for knowledge sharing using the best of both worlds – of face to face storytelling, myth busting and tip sharing, of information sharing through articles, social media and blogging, and of the latest technological advancements to assist us reconnect with our bodies and view them as the unique, quirky, wonderful things they are. We will be launching our own workshops in coming months, sharing information about menstruation, how we can improve our relationships with our bodies, our cycles and use this knowledge in our day to day lives. The experience and knowledge gained in the USA is going to be fed straight into these workshops, check out our site in the coming months to find out more. The next adventure is on the horizon. We have some big announcements to make in the next blog, so stay tuned. Happy “cycling”.
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