The word menopause is a term created by the Western medical establishment to refer to the cessation of menstrual periods.
It’s now used to mean the whole host of symptoms that women experience at this time. These symptoms vary greatly from culture to culture so, rather than a single human biological experience, are more likely to be a product of our beliefs, expectations and socialisation.
The concept of menopause also has negative connotations in Western society, often making women feel like:
they are no longer sexual beings…
that they are moving towards the end of their life…
that their useful role is now no more…
and that they are going to be crusty, dried up old women…!