Radical Anthropology Group

Anthropology asks one big question: what does it mean to be human?

If you live in London, why not come to our regular Tuesday evening talks? Admission is free.

Next evening talk

Camilla Power

Why Menstruation Matters

Tuesday, October 16, 2018 - 18:45

Daryll Forde Seminar Room, Anthropology Building, 14 Taviton Street, London WC1H 0BW. Tube: Euston Square. map

This talk examines the biological and cultural impact of menstruation in human evolution. It looks into which species menstruate and why this evolved. What effects would highly visible menstruation have on hominin social systems? Why did menstruation become a critical biological signal and how did this affect the emergence of symbolic culture? The widespread distribution of menstrual taboos and observances indicates their great antiquity in human belief systems. Can we offer any predictions about the various forms these take in different societies?

Upcoming talks

23 Oct	Music, Morality And The Creation Of Value In Mongolia	Rebekah Pluekhahn
27 Oct	Saturday Afternoon Play-Reading Workshop: ‘The Story Of Go'	Jonathan Chadwick
30 Oct	Everyday Communism In Slovenian Underground Music Venues	Rajko Muršič
6 Nov	Two Songs For A Red Girl: Music And Language In Eastern Amazonia	Guilherme Orlandini Heurich
13 Nov	Ice Age Art	Camilla Power
20 Nov	‘Woman's Biggest Husband Is The Moon’	Jerome Lewis
27 Nov	From Music To Language: A Bayaka Perspective	Jerome Lewis
4 Dec	Human Evolution: Where Are We Now?	Chris Stringer
11 Dec	Spirits Of The Forest: Self-Government Through Polyphonic Singing	Ingrid Lewis
18 Dec	A Christmas Fairy Tale: The Shoes That Were Danced To Pieces	Chris Knight

Recent talks

Many of our past talks are available as video.