Blood is the red liquid that circulates in the bodies of people and animals, carrying oxygen and nutrients and removing waste. It is essential for life.
It comes from Old English “blōd,” from Proto-Germanic “blōþą,” and is related to many Germanic words for blood. It is a very old word, showing up in some of the earliest English writings.
Beyond biology, “blood” is a powerful symbol: we talk about “blood ties,” “bad blood,” and “new blood.” The word fuses family, emotion, and life itself into one deep-red metaphor that cultures use over and over.
“Blood” is central to discussions of menstruation, childbirth, and virginity, which have been heavily gendered and moralized, especially around women’s bodies. Menstrual blood in particular has been stigmatized, while male-coded imagery of “blood” in war and honor has often been valorized.
Use medically accurate, non-shaming language when discussing menstrual or reproductive blood. Avoid purity or honor metaphors that police women’s or marginalized people’s bodies and sexuality.
["menstrual blood","family ties","lineage (instead of ‘bloodline’ when appropriate)"]
Women health advocates and scholars have worked to destigmatize menstrual blood and challenge harmful myths about “virginity” and blood, shifting focus toward consent and health.
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