What can be done to change societal images of menopause, aging and older women?
I think there are several items that need to be addressed in order to change the perception of menopause. My mother was suggested to have a hysterectomy because of health issue. However, she did not go through with it because she said she would not feel like a “woman” any more. I asked her what she meant by that because it did not make any sense to me since she had her tubes removed and she could have children any way. I asked her why it was such a big deal, but all she said is that she would not feel like a woman.
Now that I learned about menopause, I can understand that by having a hysterectomy this would cause her to go through menopause at an earlier age. This would bring about changes in her body, which I do not think she knows about. All she knew was that she would not have her menstrual cycle anymore. I do not understand why she still wants to have one.
It is not a surprise to me that culture has an effect on how menopause is viewed. In cultures where it is important to have a child or children; one is seen as a woman because you are able to give birth. Those women who reach an age are simply seen as old women. For instance, I have an aunt who is about 35, and is the only one who has never been married nor has had a child. Right now she is rushing to get married because she said she wants to have at least one child before she “gets old”. I have also heard my other aunts even my mom pressure her about having a child and tell her things like she isn’t getting any younger.
Society and media depict young women as being beautiful and as if older women are not. All the celebrities are having procedures and buying creams to stay young. I guess menopause is depicted to be like a punch in the face telling you “hey you’re old”. By society acknowledging menopause as normal and a part of life may decrease its negative notoriety . Also educating women about menopause can help ease one’s self. It is easier for one to deal with things if one knows what to expect and knows how to deal with it.
I agree i think that society puts a lot of pressure on woman to be and act a certain way and i think that that is why woman dont want to go through menopause. My aunts have both went through it and i think my mom is going through it now but she tries so hard to ignore it and she will not admit it.
ReplyDeleteI certainly agree with you about women not feeling fulfilled until they do the "womanly" thing of having children. I know it is so different for men taht are older and do not have chlidren. They do not feel judged but women are made to feel like weirdos because they don't have children. I hope that as more information is available, women will become more open to different ligfestyle choices and choices that maybe are not up to us.
ReplyDeleteGabriela said:
ReplyDeleteMarisol
Marisol I like how you add your personal experience with the subjects on blogs. Also, it is great how you mention that culture has a big influence on menopause, because it is really truth that cultures is a big role on this issue. Besides, other point I like your cartoon post too.
My mother in fact did exactly what your mother opted not to. The issue of her "woman hood" never came up but I dont think it really entered in mind in making the choice she did, especially being that it was beneficial to her health. My mother has always been a very strong woman who was confident who and what she was. My grandmother, her mother, was the exact same way which I'm sure is which is where she got it from. My grandmother was one of the strongest and self confident woman I have ever known and my mother didnt fall very far behind her in either of those traits. Both my grandmother and mother had two different surgeries that could have been seen as taking away their women hood (my grandmother, a double mastectomy and my mother, a hysterectomy) and nobody ever saw either of them, nor did they see themselves as any less of a woman after their surgeries. The societal views may play some part in woman's thoughts on these medical procedures but I also believe it partly has to do with self esteem, self confidence, and self worth.
ReplyDeleteMarlex,
ReplyDeleteEducating women about menopause is a great idea. It wouldnt hurt to educate the general public about menopause. This way everyone would understand this change in life and may become more understanding about what women go through. I think that its awful that your aunt is being pressured like that. So what if you never have a child?? Would the world end?