Purity and Pollution

Essay # 27814

Anthropology > Cultural
Religion and Theology
Women Studies > Culture

A discussion of purity and pollution in regard to menstrual taboos in world religions with an emphasis on Zoroastrianism.

2,231 words () | 10 sources | MLA | 2003 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how women in many modern cultures continue to undergo several menstrual taboos. It looks at how the existence and continuation of cross-cultural taboos concerning menstruating women has sparked interest in the field of anthropology by scholars who have noticed such a phenomenon. It evaluates the mentality in many of the world religions that menstrual blood is polluting and contaminating to societal order and therefore women, consequently, are the polluters. It attempts to explain the cross-cultural similarities of menstrual taboos by looking at the extent to which the lines between culture and religion blur and by looking at how many of these theories share a common flaw, the assumption of female oppression in cultures or religions possessing such taboos.

From the Paper:

"Besides the psychoanalytic approach to examine menstrual taboos, another type of explanation is the more functional, or practical method. These include theories that connect the origins of menstrual taboos with rational responses to practical problems, as observed by Westerners, by extending the demands of bioecological activities, such as successful hunting, for cultural or religious purposes. To the outside observer, this extension of utilitarian strategies to what appears to be unrelated aspects in a particular culture or religion is rather "irrational". Not only does this theory once again assume societies with menstrual taboos are oppressive to women, but incorrectly assumes that such activities are irrational. One can argue, especially individuals of the specific culture or religion, for its actual "rationality.""