HEAVY KARMIC DEBTS: TIBETAN MENSTRUATION EXPERIENCES, PERCEPTIONS, AND ATTITUDES

This paper explores historical beliefs and practices surrounding menarche and menstruation, focusing on the experiences of five Tibetan women born between 1960 and 1972 who grew up in a traditional society where period products were not initially available and only gradually became so in the late 1990s. These women adhered to the cultural norm of silence regarding menstruation. Discussions about the experience were considered disgraceful. They internalized their menarche-related fear, confusion, and anxiety. Furthermore, dealing with menstrual blood posed challenges, leading to embarrassment and humiliation. Menstruation grew interwoven with taboos and restrictions as society changed, including abstention from sex, certain foods, and drinks, and refraining from visiting religious sites and the family’s shrine room. Insights are provided on the cultural perceptions and practices surrounding menstruation in Tibetan society, shedding light on the evolving dynamics of this aspect of women’s lives.