Purity rituals for bridal bodies

Two cleansing rituals, one old and one new, performed by brides for their wedding are explored to analyze larger social messages about women. The first ritual is the Jewish practice of the Mikvah, a ritual bath, which begins for women when they are about to be married and continues through menopause. The practice represents the removal of menstrual blood or “filth” from a woman’s body to prepare her for intimacy with her husband. The second ritual is the more modem trend of juice cleansing, said to remove ‘toxins’ from the body. Both create isolating experiences for the bride while simultaneously using the bride’s body as a source of creation for commodification. The commodification of a woman’s body and experiences serves to create a sense of worth in the women to suit the wants of the men in her life. My personal story and content analysis of popular websites highlight the lived experiences of brides going through these rituals and their long lasting effects.