Women and Blood: Ambivalent Symbology in the Christian Tradition

The Christian tradition has understood blood, particularly women's blood, as inherently polluting and impure. Based in both biblical directives and the sensibilities of pre-Christian cultures, this understanding supported and reinforced the low status of women by giving their bodies and bodily functions divinely enforced taboo. However, there did exist one extremely notable exception with regards to blood, that being of the blood of Christ. His blood was redemptive, healing - the very stuff of life without the taint of original sin.