Redefining the Journey of Women’s Life Cycles

By Richard Shank Menopause - 1

Current models of aging are often conceptualized in negative terms of loss. Within the context of menopausal and postmenopausal women, this ideology has translated a normal process of aging into a negative stereotype that can stigmatize women during this part of life. A recent research study in Australia used this foundation to construct a plausible model of the aging woman that was defined on more positive and functional terms.

The current model of aging conceptualizes the aging process as the inevitable development of disability and chronic disease. For menopausal and post-menopausal women this has meant that their experience with menopause has been classified as a negative condition or burden. The model presented by these researchers conceptualizes aging as a normal process that brings both positive and negative expectations, which implies that menopause be seen in the same manner. Menopause - 2

To test the potential for a positive model of aging, the researchers recently performed a comparative analysis of the biomedical literature alongside the personal narratives of postmenopausal women. The results of this analysis justified creating a more holistic model of the female life cycle within health care practice. The researchers believe that this model will be better suited for creating programs of adult development that are specifically geared towards positive aging and can influence the aging process in ways that better prevent the formation of chronic conditions and disease.

The model that was presented here conceptualized menopause as a process involving the whole body;taking a multidimensional view of the person (the interconnections between the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual components). Their findings suggest that this multidimensional view introduces a rich complexity that is lacking in the negative model of aging and can serve to reconstruct a more positive experience with menopause that builds upon and empowers women to more successfully navigate through a normal life transition.

Although it remains underdeveloped, these researchers believe their type of model which offers a positive view of aging and directly builds upon the experiences of women, will be more beneficial from a care perspective than is the current prevailing trend.

Source: Harris, M.T.C. 2008. Aging Women’s Journey Toward Wholeness: New Visions and Directions. Health Care for Women International. 29: 962-979.

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