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It’s My Period and I’ll Have a Party If I Want To
April 6th, 2012 by Elizabeth KisslingRespecting the Maori Menstrual Taboo
October 14th, 2010 by Elizabeth KisslingFemale visitors to Te Papa (Museum of New Zealand) are faced with a difficult moral dilemma regarding the taonga Maori collection included in an upcoming tour.
An invitation for regional museum staff to go on a behind-the-scenes tour of some of Te Papa’s collections included the condition that “wahine who are either hapu [pregnant] or mate wahine [menstruating]” were unable to attend.
Te Papa spokeswoman Jane Keig said the policy was in place because of Maori beliefs surrounding the taonga Maori collection included in the tour.
“There are items within that collection that have been used in sacred rituals. That rule is in place with consideration for both the safety of the taonga and the women,” Keig said.
She said there was a belief that each taonga had its own wairua, or spirit, inside it.
“Pregnant women are sacred and the policy is in place to protect women from these objects.”
The policy does not apply to the entire exhibit, but to a “behind-the-scenes” tour offered November 5. Visitors’ reproductive status will not be verified in any way, but women are expected to be honest about it and obey the request.
Tonight’s the Night: Listen to Seeing RED
June 14th, 2010 by Laura Wershler Tonight’s the night, Monday, June 14th, to tune in as CBC Radio airs Part One of: Seeing RED: A Cultural History of Menstruation. This two part documentary concludes next Monday, June 21st. If you miss the original broadcast, which you can listen to online at 9:00 PM in all time zones (choose the program IDEAS) you will be able to link to the podcast at any time convenient to you as of Tuesday, June 15th. 
Introduction to the documentary:
They are misfits. Witches. Children. Just a few of the labels used to portray menstruating women over time. The Bible has described the bleeding woman as undergoing “customary impurity”. In the Middle Ages, it was thought that women menstruated to release “sexual overflow”. Their counterparts in the Victorian era were told that a period would deplete their body’s precious resources. Twentieth century feminists worked hard to reclaim menstruation as a vital and positive part of womanhood. IDEAS producer Mary O’Connell explores menstruation from a cultural and historical perspective.
Several members of the Society for Menstrual Cycle Research were interviewed for this documentary. We invite our readers to listen to the program and share their thoughts and comments. (Photo by Laura Wershler of Bleedy, the Period Puppet, created by Bree Horel at a Menstrual Arts and Crafts event held by Sexual Health Access Alberta.)
Readers should note that statements published in re: Cycling are those of individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the Society as a whole.
