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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.