The Stigmatization of Menstruation and Witchcraft in India, and How It Relates to 'Walden' by Henry David Thoreau

Henry David Thoreau’s statement that men are “generally still afraid of the dark, though the witches are all hung, and Christianity and candles have been introduced” still rings true today. This can be seen through the stigmatism surrounding menstruation in third world countries and the witch hunts in India.

In Walden, Thoreau writes that men used to come to Walden Pond to fish, but used to leave when darkness came, usually without catching many fish. They left the “world to darkness” and to Thoreau. Thoreau believes that the men were afraid. An example of this in the world would be the stigmatization of periods, especially in third world countries. Many people dislike talking about menstruation, even though it is a normal bodily function. Men especially, in third world countries do not know about the pain and hardships of menstruation, and don’t want anything to do with it. This relates to the quote as the men in Walden did not want anything to do with the night, the same way many men in third world countries don’t want anything to do with menstruation. Walden states, “If we respected only what is inevitable and has a right to be, music and poetry would resound along the streets.” This is related to the patriarchy and how it affects menstruation. Menstruation is inevitable for women, but is a healthy bodily function. Men are afraid of the unknown, and in this case, menstruation, and that fear causes them to stigmatize this perfectly normal process.

Another way Walden’s statement is proven is through the witch hunt in India. In rural India, especially in Jharkhand, many innocent women are accused of witchcraft by men and beaten, burned, tortured, and even murdered. If a person in a rural village dies or gets unlucky, the blame is put on innocent women. One example would be an incident where two young men suddenly died of disease due to unsanitary conditions, and three women were accused of witchcraft and playing a part in their deaths. Then they were beaten with pipes and sticks, and ended up with many injuries. This relates to Walden’s statement because the accusations of witchcraft stem from fear in men. They fear witchcraft and the power it has, and instead of looking for a rational explanation, even though science has become more prevalent throughout the world, men start witch hunts. Another example in the witch hunts of rural India would be the fear of women gaining power. Another aspect of the aforementioned incident, is that the three women beaten also had previously inherited land, and the men had recently lost theirs. The women’s lands were fertile and grew crops well. The men feared that the women would gain too much success and decided that they would take the land from them. They beat and tortured the women, and threatened to kill them if they didn’t sign over their land. This is significant to the statement by Walden, because the men were afraid of the women, and decided to use violence to oppress them, as their anger was rooted in fear.

Through the stigmatism surrounding menstruation in third world countries and the witch hunts in India, Henry David Throeau’s statement that men are “generally still afraid of the dark, though the witches are all hung, and Christianity and candles have been introduced” ring true.