Modern Musings
This is reprinted from an original post I did in my Women in Cross Cultural Perspective class.
One big question has always been stuck in the back of my head and this week brought it forward. How does human menstruation differ from other mammals or even primates? From what I know, with most animals the onslaught of menstruation is an olfactory (smell) action to get a mate. It is a biological thing which occurs when the female is ready to reproduce. The male smells this, is attracted, and the act commences. Humans are quite the opposite, especially recent history. Females try and cover up this smell and prevent it from getting out. Why are we so different and is this difference interrupting our biological factor somehow?
First, I tried to find information on odors and menstruation since this seems to be the biological factor among animals. Research showed that close to ovulation, and thus menstruation, odors (possibly the mysterious pheromones) emanating from the female become different. Sensitivity to odors also increases. The study revealed that women had more sex and more orgasms around ovulation (Finley). Biologically speaking, these odor-producing areas are further enhanced with hair, which effectively disperses and retains these odors so they can do their thing (Wolfgang). In Victorian days the menstrual odors were compared to the marigold flower and labeled a “seductive aroma” (Finley).
So how are we disrupting this cycle? Females are cutting off all of their hair and masking their scents with deodorants. How can that biological attractant get out and do its thing? So we are left with females having no natural way of attracting and thus must rely on the current mode of attractant: outward appearance. Am I getting somewhere?
These natural odors are quite interesting. We are seeing girls beginning their menstruation at earlier ages than we can remember. One site suggested that odors are responsible. Pre-Victorian era showed that girls menstruated at very early ages like today. People mingled and these odors did also. When the Victorian age occurred, male and female interaction was restricted heavily and this effect lasted a long time. The reduction of interaction among males and females during this time resulted in the menstruation ages also raising. Then post-Victorian, to present day, has led to more interaction again, and an earlier age of menstruation once again. (Wolfgang)
They also went on to state that these same odors are responsible for females having the same cycle when living in close proximity. These odors may have remarkable resources for the women. So I beg of all you females: let it hang, let it grow, and let it smell!
Tom
Sources Cited
Finley, Harry. “Odor”. Museum of Menstruation. [http://www.mum.org/Odor.htm]. 1998.
Wolfgang-Kimball, David. “Pheromones in Humans: Myth or Reality?”. [http://apocrine.com/pheromones-1.html].
One big question has always been stuck in the back of my head and this week brought it forward. How does human menstruation differ from other mammals or even primates? From what I know, with most animals the onslaught of menstruation is an olfactory (smell) action to get a mate. It is a biological thing which occurs when the female is ready to reproduce. The male smells this, is attracted, and the act commences. Humans are quite the opposite, especially recent history. Females try and cover up this smell and prevent it from getting out. Why are we so different and is this difference interrupting our biological factor somehow?
First, I tried to find information on odors and menstruation since this seems to be the biological factor among animals. Research showed that close to ovulation, and thus menstruation, odors (possibly the mysterious pheromones) emanating from the female become different. Sensitivity to odors also increases. The study revealed that women had more sex and more orgasms around ovulation (Finley). Biologically speaking, these odor-producing areas are further enhanced with hair, which effectively disperses and retains these odors so they can do their thing (Wolfgang). In Victorian days the menstrual odors were compared to the marigold flower and labeled a “seductive aroma” (Finley).
So how are we disrupting this cycle? Females are cutting off all of their hair and masking their scents with deodorants. How can that biological attractant get out and do its thing? So we are left with females having no natural way of attracting and thus must rely on the current mode of attractant: outward appearance. Am I getting somewhere?
These natural odors are quite interesting. We are seeing girls beginning their menstruation at earlier ages than we can remember. One site suggested that odors are responsible. Pre-Victorian era showed that girls menstruated at very early ages like today. People mingled and these odors did also. When the Victorian age occurred, male and female interaction was restricted heavily and this effect lasted a long time. The reduction of interaction among males and females during this time resulted in the menstruation ages also raising. Then post-Victorian, to present day, has led to more interaction again, and an earlier age of menstruation once again. (Wolfgang)
They also went on to state that these same odors are responsible for females having the same cycle when living in close proximity. These odors may have remarkable resources for the women. So I beg of all you females: let it hang, let it grow, and let it smell!
Tom
Sources Cited
Finley, Harry. “Odor”. Museum of Menstruation. [http://www.mum.org/Odor.htm]. 1998.
Wolfgang-Kimball, David. “Pheromones in Humans: Myth or Reality?”. [http://apocrine.com/pheromones-1.html].
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