Forbidden Words: Taboo and the Censoring of Language

166 Forbidden Words
in a very real sense, catamenia is the discharge of decaying matter. Although
menstruation may occur during anovulatory cycles and during pregnancy, it
is typically induced by hormonal changes associated with an unfertilized
ovum; these changes lead to the break down of the endometrium, in which
blood soaked regions of it crumble away and are discharged, along with
mucous and cellular debris that includes the unfertilized ovum. 59
There is the pollution taboo of any discharge through the vagina. 60
Menstrual discharge renders the vagina comparatively messy, and it smells
and tastes unpleasant – consequently a menstruous woman is regarded as
unclean (hence the German terms Schweinerei and Sauerei).
Loss of blood is generally correlated with injury and loss of strength.
Unlike other blood, menstrual blood does not coagulate.
In many women, menstruation is sometimes accompanied by cramps or
similar discomfort (dysmenorrhoea).
Some women have reduced libido during the first days of menstruation.
Some women suffer a brief period of premenstrual tension that may cause
headaches, and often results in otherwise uncharacteristic irritability.
Oh! menstruating woman, thou’rt a fiend
From whom all nature should be closely screened.
(Crawley 1960: 77)
On a few occasions, menstruation is counterevidence to a desired pregnancy.
It is reported that ‘Maoris regard menstrual blood as a sort of human
being manqué.’ 61
There are several characteristics of menstruation that make it appropriate for a
woman to excuse herself for being unwell. Mabel Loomis Todd, the lover of
poet Emily Dickinson’s brother, kept a explicit diary of her sex life, her
orgasms (including those induced by masturbation) and her menstrual cycle,
which she referred to as ‘my illness’. 62 If we put together all the characteristics
of menstruation, we get a composite of the menstruating woman which
typically puts her below her best in temper, in sense of well-being, in sexual
receptivity and in sexual attractiveness. Furthermore, in some contexts, she
will be disparaged for having failed to achieve pregnancy. So it is hardly
surprising that one synonym for menstruation is the curse. 63 None of the listed
disadvantages of catamenia is shared by male ejaculate; at worst, ejaculation
is perceived to lead to the temporary weakening of the man.
Many X-phemisms for menstruation are based on the salient colour RED: the
Red Sea’s in; it’s a red letter day; riding the red rag; flying the red flag (cf.
Russian krasnyi flag and pervomaiskie prazdniki ‘May Day celebration’
because, in Soviet times, people marched with red flags); 64 surfing the red
wave; snatch box decorated with red roses. Much more poetic and figurative