Finding Men in Menstruation: Resolving Bad Blood by Discovering Male Roles in the Purification Rituals of Leviticus 12

Abstract

Harmful interpretations of the blood rites for menstruating and postpartum women in Leviticus 12 have sown seeds of misogyny for two millennia. While this text has often been criticized for its patriarchal perspective, this article demonstrates how male participation in Lev 12:1-8 provides unexpected support for women during their blood cycles. First, through historical analysis of postpartum and menses misogyny, the author holds androcentric religious agendas accountable for female blood taboos, rather than scripture itself. Second, Markowski provides a close Hebrew textual analysis of Lev 12 to suggest that ancient Israelite men function as allies to bleeding women, not enemies. Third, he shows how cross-cultural narratives and practices of menstrual rest and maternity leave, supported by anthropological research and feminist scholarship, confirm the collaboration described in the biblical text. Surprisingly, ancient biblical male-female partnerships offer modern society inspiring role models for empowering and liberating biblical family values.