A History of Women's Menstruation from Ancient Greece to the Twenty-First Century: Psychological, Social, Medical, Religious, and Educational Issues

This is the first extensive study on the subject of the cultural and social understandings of menstruation by tracking its evolution over centuries. This study examines the evolution of the biological, psychological, sociological, and behavioral meanings of menarche and menstruation in dominant European and European-American Culture from the Classical Greek period through the early Twenty-First-Century. The results of this evolution were used to explore the implications for the menarcheal education of girls. The research indicates the following major influences impacted the cultural construction of menarche and menstruation: religion during the ancient period, medicine during the modern period, and commerce during the contemporary period. The book suggests that educational reform in this area include: non-dominant cultural world views, intergenerational support, both male and female family members, included as part of college coursework, include community and religious based educational centers, and provide information addressing the health risks and alternatives to commercial products.