Yapuna Ginu: The Communal Menstruation Hut
So the Dogon women don't feel left out, they also have a building dedicated just to them. It is the yapuna ginu, or house for menstruation and it is where women eat, sleep and live during the days of their menstrual cycle. The building is typically round in shape, is simple and spartan and is located at the periphery of the village.
Apparently Dogon men fear they will lose their virility if they come into contact with a menstruating woman so they are prohibited from seeing, touching, smelling or talking to a menstruating woman. Menstruating women may not cook for others and their washing must also be done separately. Therefore, they temporarily reside in the village's yapuna ginu where they have separate cooking utensils and clothing. Their young children often accompany them. On a lighter side, the yapunu ginu tends to become an evening gathering place for the village women, upon completion of their day's work.
The older men of the village do the maintenance of the yapuna ginu since their sexuality will be less threatened compared to younger men.
Source: Dogon, Africa's People of the Cliffs by van Beek and Hollyman
Sangha, Mali
This photo to appear in the film Things We Don't Talk About.
Yapuna Ginu: The Communal Menstruation Hut
So the Dogon women don't feel left out, they also have a building dedicated just to them. It is the yapuna ginu, or house for menstruation and it is where women eat, sleep and live during the days of their menstrual cycle. The building is typically round in shape, is simple and spartan and is located at the periphery of the village.
Apparently Dogon men fear they will lose their virility if they come into contact with a menstruating woman so they are prohibited from seeing, touching, smelling or talking to a menstruating woman. Menstruating women may not cook for others and their washing must also be done separately. Therefore, they temporarily reside in the village's yapuna ginu where they have separate cooking utensils and clothing. Their young children often accompany them. On a lighter side, the yapunu ginu tends to become an evening gathering place for the village women, upon completion of their day's work.
The older men of the village do the maintenance of the yapuna ginu since their sexuality will be less threatened compared to younger men.
Source: Dogon, Africa's People of the Cliffs by van Beek and Hollyman
Sangha, Mali
This photo to appear in the film Things We Don't Talk About.