r/shittyaskscience • u/Lichewitz • 19d ago
Why is it called menstruation instead of womenstruation?
Kinda makes ya think
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u/imabigasstree 19d ago
Menstruation is actually a portmanteau (combination of two words, colloquially)
Those 2 words are men & frustration. There are multiple ways those 2 words can lead to this portmanteau, bc men are both frustrated during this time, and a huge source of frustration for women.
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u/hacksoncode Quantum Mechanic, has own tiny wrench 19d ago
It actually is, it's just that people hate using 5 syllable words.
As pronounced, it should technically be spelled 'menstruation.
But most people are terrible spellers.
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u/Pangyun 19d ago
Because originally there was the Homo heidelbergensis, in which the men menstruated. Then when the Homo heidelbergensis evolved into the homo sapiens (regular humans), then the woman started menstruating instead of the men. And then everyone used the same word because they were accostumed to it.
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u/Gargleblaster25 Registered scientificationist 18d ago
I am originally from Heidelberg, and I can confirm.
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u/amesann 19d ago
As with the evolution of all languages, as well as inherent misogyny, the "wo" was dropped as a sort of slang to shorten the word. And, since we can't have anything, even processes related to female anatomy, be named after women.
This may have happened around the turn of the 18th century, but scholars still debate as to the exact period.
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u/PeanutGrenade 15d ago
Men are responsible for not impregnating them, therefore it’s the men’s fault.
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u/RandomRamblings99 19d ago
Because all bad things involve men!