The series portrays retreats to secluded tents during menstruation as some kind of personal space for females where they have gala time. It seems the author, Anita Diamant, had no idea of such practice in ancient Israel and based it on practices in pre-modern societies.
If she had done some research on West and South Asian societies then she would have observed that;
- such seclusion, either in a separate hut or in a separate room, wasn't a choice for females
- females during that period were considered impure
So she basically romanticized a barbaric practice. It's unknown whether this practice was started before the rise of patriarchy when families were centered around women. But whatever its origins the practice was ritualized and made compulsory among both tribes and non-tribes in these regions in patriarchal religions. She is not much different from right-wing nutcases who defend it as resting period for females or hygienic practice implemented by males.
If she had done some research on West and South Asian societies then she would have observed that;
- such seclusion, either in a separate hut or in a separate room, wasn't a choice for females
- females during that period were considered impure
So she basically romanticized a barbaric practice. It's unknown whether this practice was started before the rise of patriarchy when families were centered around women. But whatever its origins the practice was ritualized and made compulsory among both tribes and non-tribes in these regions in patriarchal religions. She is not much different from right-wing nutcases who defend it as resting period for females or hygienic practice implemented by males.
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