Menstrual taboos among havik brahmin women: A study of ritual change

This paper reports on changes in the beliefs and observance of menstrual taboos among Havik Brahmins in South India. Menstrual taboos have decreased in importance over the past 20 years as a woman's primary role has been redefined as a marital partner rather than as a bearer of children. When her function was as a bearer of children for the patrilineage, she was considered subject to biological rhythms and a threat to male ritual status. With increased education, professional opportunities, and increased marriage age for women, ritual status and male dominance have become less significant. Women are ritually less dangerous, less dependent on men, and transcend the biological rhythms that menstrual taboos symbolize.The research on which this paper is based was carried out with the support of grants from the American Institute of Indian Studies (1964–1966, 1974–1975, 1987) and the American Philosophical Society (1985). I gratefully acknowledge the constructive criticism from Joan Bamberger, Kaja Finkler, Shirley Lindenbaum, and the anonymous readers who commented upon earlier drafts of this paper.