Social & Cultural Impacts On Menopause

Although the typical age range for menopause is between 40 to 61 but it has been seen to vary among different society& different cultures. As per National Institute of Aging

& National Health Service the average age for menopause in UK is 51 while in USA it is 52, in Australia it is 51.7 years, In Philippines & India this is 44 years & in India one fifth of woman faces menopause before aging 41. This clearly shows that how a woman experience menopause transitions on this the cultural context she lives have significant impact. Social & cultural components plays a vital role in the way a woman experience or perceive menopause as menopause it a subjective matter. Through research it has been seen that the way Japanese woman experience menopause is completely different than how American women face. Common symptoms like hot flashes & night sweats are less reported by Japanese woman.

In USA how a woman face menopause & menopause resulting biological effects are highly affected by her social location. Her socio-economic status decides her view towards menopause as expected change of life or medical issue. A women’s view towards menopause is also affected by her assumptions, values, practices & concepts. Those who consider menopause as a natural symbol of ageing takes it more positively than the ones who consider menopause as a medical condition.

During a woman’s menopause experience another vital affecting part is her ethnicity & geographical location. Woman from different ethnicities of USA report significantly different menopause effect. One research have seen that the symptoms reported by Caucasian women can be actually described as psychosomatic symptoms (physical symptoms originating from mental traumas), African-American woman report higher vasomotor symptoms (hot flushes, night sweats) than others, It has also seen on a research conducted by Melissa Melby that the reporting of vasomotor symptoms by Japanese woman has now been doubled compared to 20 years prior. Although the exact reason is undetected but significant changes in diet, increased medical facilities of middle aged woman, higher media exposure on menopause has been considered as contributing factors. In North America vasomotor symptoms reporting in comparatively lower.

A study have shown the most American women has got very negative views about menopause considering it to be a time of deterioration or decline while most Asian woman has a positive understanding views about menopause focusing the sense of liberty from the risk of getting pregnant.

Since western women have a great longevity one third of their life span is spent in post menopause. Some woman considers menopause transition as a vital change of life on the basis of its social, cultural, physical & psychological significance. Sometimes menopause transition on psychological & social ramifications is ignored or underestimated.

In India postmenopausal women celebrates marking it as an era of reaching wisdom & experience by entering Hindu temples & participating in rituals.