The Moon Cycle: A Critical Menstrual Studies Perspective of Select Novels

This paper studies one of women’s pressing issues in recent times, menstruation, around which spirited discussions and campaigns have converged. It explores literary representations of menstruation and menstruators using critical menstrual studies perspective. Anita Diamant’s The Red Tent (1997) and Aida Salazar’s The Moon Within (2019) have been selected for analysis. This paper explores the ways in which the two novels portray women’s lived experiences of menstruation. Furthermore, it examines and questions the validity of several stereotypes, popular myths and beliefs constructed around it. It also comments on the various cultural practices and menarche rituals depicted in the select novels. It concludes by suggesting that menstrual justice is crucial in achieving gender equality.