Bodies of Civility

The main objective of this research is to discern the menstrual experiences of women in Beijing, China. I interview 25 women during a comprehensive field work in Beijing on their lived experiences and thoughts regarding menstruation. From these interviews, I use Goffman’s theory of stigma and Goldenberg and Roberts’ theory of objectification to discuss the various processes of internalization, de-valuation, and marginalization that these women may have experienced. From there, I examine these interviews from a cultural perspective utilizing the Chinese conceptual framework of ‘face’ and the processes of self-cultivation women must complete in regards to menstruation in order to prevent loss of ‘face’ in society. Finally, I look at these interviews from a gender perspective and discuss if these experiences may signal gender disparities or the denigration of female gendered people in Beijing, China.