Phenomenology of the Female Body, Comportment, Spatiality, Embodiment, and Menstruation in South Africa

The female body and its phenomena have been a source of interest within the existential phenomenology realm. This interest has spilled over to other realms of the topic, explaining how the phenomena such as menstruation, have been weaponized and used to alienate the female body, furthermore, negate the transcendental nature of the female body, thus focusing on the immanence of the female body. De Beauvior and Young explain and apply the existential phenomenological theories to outline the patriarchal view of the female body, moreover, how the existential phenomenological field of study negates certain dynamics of the female existence, and explain the importance of Merleau-Ponty’s phenomenology of perception. By using their arguments and theories, the theories about embodiment, comportment, and experiences is applied in the South African context to explain how menstruation is experienced and embodied by women in South Africa. Keywords: female body, compartment, menstruation, spatiality, embodiment, existential phenomenology.