Reading: Harlow, Sioban D (1986) ‘Function and Dysfunction: A Historical Critique of the Literature on Menstruation and Work’ in Olesen, Virginia L. and Woods, Nancy Fugate Culture, Society and Menstruation, Hemsphere Publishing Corporation

• “Historically, menstruation has often been cited as the source of women’s inferiority as workers. It has been argues that, given the physical and mental demands of menstruation, the performance of certain jobs might cause a woman to hurt herself or to disrupt the orderly and efficient production of goods. Despite the influence that this reasoning has had on women’s lives, the validity of its conclusions have never been demonstrated by scientific enquiry.”

• “during that period when the biology of menstruation was just beginning to be known… physical and mental weakness is inherently associated with the normal functioning of women’s reproductive organs.”