Beyond Deficiency: Broadening the View of Menopause

Abstract

Traditional medical response to women's health issues, cultural stereotypes of aging women, and folklore have contributed to the misunderstanding and misconception of menopause. These views have produced a dominant view of menopause as a deficiency disease, a reductionistic view that obscures developmental and sociocultural factors. Broadening the view of menopause to incorporate a range of contributing factors as well as attending to the diversity inherent in women's experiences will allow for a more inclusive research agenda, in addition to providing more flexibility in resources and services for menopausal women.