There’s an article in the Guardian describing Hiromi Ozaki’s upcoming art installation, simulating menstruation for those who lack the first hand experience. Interesting, as we previously discussed here at re:Cycling.
It’s unfortunate that artist’s rationale is framed along the lines of Is menstruation obsolete?, that is, taking the pill is normal, bleeding on the pill is optional, soon no one will be menstruating, and that’s probably a good thing and a positive cultural change. With a bit of nostalgia for those old-fashioned bleeding experiences, and their cultural significance.
As a female designer I had one big problem I wanted to solve. “It’s 2010, so why are humans still menstruating?”
The pill free, bleeding interval was devised when the contraceptive pill first came out, only because it was felt by doctors that women would find having no periods too unacceptable (Since 1960s, taking the pill continuously could have removed periods all together!) The doctors may think that women are attached to their periods, but only humans, apes and bats out of all mammals need to bleed monthly for their reproductive cycle. What does Menstruation mean to humans? Who might choose to have it, and how might they have it?
Still, it’s interesting to see mainstream media asking questions about what menstruation means when it is no longer a biological necessity, but rather a choice.
