In the novel in verse “Sold”, Patricia McCormick details the anguishing story of an adolescent Nepali girl maturing in an oppressive environment and later enduring the physical and mental tortures of being sold into sex slavery.
While describing the negative effects of Lakshmi’s menstrual cycle, a mark of her blossoming womanhood, her mother Ama states that their precious growing plants will “rot” if Lakshmi sets sights on them. This exemplifies the harsh view placed on women in their culture, seeing the natural cycle of a woman’s maturity as destructive and life-killing in contrast to the growth and blossoming taking place. This mindset further shames women into isolation demonizing a woman’s periodーan unstoppable, uncontrollable processーas
While describing the negative effects of Lakshmi’s menstrual cycle, a mark of her blossoming womanhood, her mother Ama states that their precious growing plants will “rot” if Lakshmi sets sights on them. This exemplifies the harsh view placed on women in their culture, seeing the natural cycle of a woman’s maturity as destructive and life-killing in contrast to the growth and blossoming taking place. This mindset further shames women into isolation demonizing a woman’s periodーan unstoppable, uncontrollable processーas