From Concealment to Celebration: A Historical Glimpse
The Cycle Chronicles: From Moon Rituals to Microchips | Biweekly series: 3/6
The Victorian Era: When the mention of ankles was scandalous and periods? “Oh, heavens! Fetch the smelling salts!”
The Grand Masquerade of the Victorian Era
Picture this: It's the Victorian Era. Women are donning corsets so tight that taking a deep breath is practically revolutionary. (No, I’m aware, they were tailored to one’s body and the stigma around it being painful is being challenged on all social media channel but let’s be honest, even a custom corset isn’t the epitome of comfort.) Amidst this backdrop of modesty and manners, where did menstruation fit in? Spoiler alert: discreetly, very discreetly.
In an age where the mere whisper of anything remotely corporeal could send someone into a tizzy, menstruation was the Voldemort of women's issues: The-Thing-That-Must-Not-Be-Named. Forget about discussing it openly; most women barely had the language or knowledge to understand their own bodies. Instead, they relied on a motley crew of 'sanitary solutions,' ranging from homemade pads stitched in secrecy to repurposing old rags.
Here Come the Heroines: A New Dawn
Thankfully, as corsets loosened (literally and metaphorically), the conversation around menstruation began to shift. And it wasn’t just because someone discovered how to make comfortable underwear. No, this transformation had fierce, sign-toting, slogan-chanting champions behind it - the feminists.
The rise of feminist movements brought with it a wind of change. Feminists of the time weren’t just advocating for voting rights; they also kicked down doors and shattered taboos around women's health. Menstruation became a topic of discussion, education, and activism. From breaking myths to demanding better menstrual care products, the mission was clear: menstrual equity.
Menstruation: From Shadows to Spotlight
If the Victorian era was a period of menstrual murkiness, the successive years, fueled by relentless feminist advocacy, transformed it into a beacon of enlightenment. Periods moved from being hush-hush affairs to proud proclamations of womanhood. Rallying cries echoed in the streets and resonated in the chambers of policy-making.
To sum it up, our journey from the Victorian era to now has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. While we tip our hats to the discreet dames of yesteryears, it’s the unabashed audacity of the womanists that truly gets a standing ovation. So, as we unwrap this chapter of The Cycle Chronicles, remember: every crimson wave has a silver lining, and that lining is embroidered with the threads of history and advocacy.
Up next in our series? A dive into the digital realm of period-tracking. Because if periods have taught us anything, it's that they’re as timeless as they are timely! Stay tuned!
Camille Charles is the voice behind The Minimalist Herbalist. She is an Herbal Researcher, Best-Selling Author and Consumer Advocate. You can find her distilling rose water in her instant pot, repurposing olive jars to store her cacao butter and overnight nettle infusions. She talks way too much about tinctures for womb health. When not writing or checking on her brews, she designs graphics