Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site ssc-vax.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!ssc-vax!ginger From: ginger@ssc-vax.UUCP (Ginger Grover) Newsgroups: net.women.only Subject: celebration Message-ID: <255@ssc-vax.UUCP> Date: Sun, 9-Dec-84 16:10:21 EST Article-I.D.: ssc-vax.255 Posted: Sun Dec 9 16:10:21 1984 Date-Received: Tue, 11-Dec-84 03:33:34 EST Distribution: net Organization: Boeing Aerospace Co., Seattle, WA Lines: 34 Perhaps we could promote a more positive attitude by establishing a variety of ceremonies to *celebrate* the start of another menstrual flow. After all, it is a sign that we are female and healthy, praise Hera! (Some of us may just want to celebrate the fact we're not pregnant). I'm not advocating running a used napkin up a flagpole (Oooh, ish! Grody to the max!), though it might be interesting to see who saluted :-) But wouldn't it be wonderful to see a tv commercial that treated the whole business with pride and respect, rather than like something shameful to be hidden? Maybe one day we'll even see a movie in which a gathering of women celebrate a girl's menarche. I have a friend who keeps her tampons in a beautiful alabaster jar, and her napkins in a soft fabric box she embroidered with symbols (moon, venus, etc.). She makes a point of taking time to be by herself at the start of each cycle, to "center" herself; she lights a red candle and give thanks to the Great Mother. I am become Demeter Bountiful Mother Giver of Life Ginger uw-beaver\!ssc-vax\!ginger PS Sophie - I'll see what I can find out about names and addresses for sending copies of this discussion to the "bat-brains". If there *are* women in advertising who are in a position to make decisions about these ads, perhaps we can give them some extra ammunition, a real impetus for change. G.