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Menstrual expressions and menstrual attitudes

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Abstract

Women's responses to a questionnaire survey in a Northeastern U.S. college community are examined to determine whether usage preferences in menstrual expressions are systematically related to reported attitudes towards menstruation. While those women who use expressions with negative connotations tend to report negative attitudes, the converse is not true. A striking contrast is noted between familiarity and use of menstrual expressions and, in general, menstrual expressions are not consistently associated with or reflective of menstrual attitudes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rhode Island College, USA

    Terence E. Hays

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  1. Terence E. Hays
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The author gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Susan M. Case in data collection, analysis, and interpretation, and that of Patricia Hurley Hays as a source of constructive criticism and ideas. Neither is responsible for errors in the interpretation or analysis presented here. The author also thanks Rhode Island College for financial and logistic support of the research.

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Hays, T.E. Menstrual expressions and menstrual attitudes. Sex Roles 16, 605–614 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00300376

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00300376

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