Menarche Parties!!!!

So can you remember the first time you had your period? I can. It was not exciting for me - I was scared and upset and wanted nothing to do with it. However - I soon realized that there was no escaping it. Looking back on my experience I now wonder why it had to be that way? Why did I get upset?

For my Women's 301 class I was assigned to read the book 'cunt' by Inga Muscio. In her book she addresses menstruation and how it is portrayed culturally as a negative thing. It's a taboo subject for many. Most women hide their tampons (or whatever you use to absorb the blood) away out of sight. The only time you hear a woman talk about her period is when she is having cramps. The only time I have heard men talk about it was in complaining about 'PMS.'

Women, I think, need to embrace themselves and their menstruation. One way we can do this is by throwing Menarche parties for our own daughters when they are old enough. We could even suggest them to friends or relatives with daughters. If we can culture ourselves and our friends to be proud of menstruation just think of how liberating that would be?!

If you have never read about a Menarche party, they are celebrations put on for girls when they get their periods. Its a celebration for becoming a woman. There are different ways to do this. In 'cunt,' Muscio says that the honoree should wear a red dress and have a red cake. Red gifts wrapped in red paper should be brought by women young and old. Old women can talk about the moon and the lunar cycle-the ties women have to it. They can also talk about the joys of bleeding and then not bleeding. One can also have decorations and games associated with being a woman such as 'pin the ovaries on the uterus,' 'puberty bingo,' or 'menstrual bingo.'


There are so many ways that we can make this a positive thing - unite and celebrate your womanhood!!!

Please check out this video on you tube about Menarche parties: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVI89uVPqOs

Here are some helpful links to aid you on your quest for planning a Menarche party!!

http://www.womanwisdom.com/

http://vaginaverite.com/menstruation/menarchparty.html

http://www.celebratepuberty.org/shop/cubecart/index.php?_a=viewCat&catId=5

http://www.womanwisdom.com/w_coa-menarche-services.shtml