I had an interesting chat today with a young woman from a traditional circus family, who explained she could not grow up to become a lion tamer, because lions could smell when women are menstruating and are then likely to attack.
I found this claim quite surprising, and sure enough, while there have been female lion-tamers, the claim was repeated on the Internet.
-
[A female lion-tamer] told me that the reason most lion tamers are men is because they can smell the menstruation on a female and it causes them to go crazy.
Straight Dope Discussion board
I remember a Pop-Up Video show which said during the taping of the video for "Like a Virgin", Madonna was asked by the lion tamer if she was menstruating.
Is this an old circus legend? Is it true that menstruating women are more likely to suffer attacks from lions? Or is there some other story?