Menopause and Culture

Culture has long been acknowledged as playing a vital role in menopause experiences, but until now its dynamics have not been adequately understood. This book refutes the notion that menopause is solely an estrogen-deficiency disorder and argues instead that it is influenced by a variety of factors, one of them being culture. It digs deep into the mechanics of culture and menopause to examine how culture mediates menopause experiences cross-culturally. Focusing on women in the Philippines and Australia, it assesses how intricate belief systems impact on this natural transition and reviews a broad selection of biomedical, psychological, anthropological and health care research on menopause. This approach demonstrates that menopause is more about wellness than illness, demystifying long-held stereotypical and misogynist views of menopausal women.