Her theory along with others have helped me to create an identity that struggles to be independent of men and their control. Kramarae s theory has been particularly useful in its ability to allow me to more fully understand the English language. I find more and more instances where women are muted and lack a word to express their experiences. This seems to be particularly true in regards to menstruation. Women have few words to describe their monthly reproductive cycle.
Women often describe their periods as a negative experience.
They say they feel bloated, moody, irritable, dirty, smelly, and generally unattractive. No importance is placed on the miracle of the female anatomy. Since menstruation is specific only to females it is described in a generally negative context. This is but one example of how male perceptions dominate all aspects of a woman s life. It is enjoyable to read terms so commonly derogatory to women as actually being positive for them or to read them with the mind of the feminist creating the meaning, not a white male.