This post explores the lived experiences of menopause among seven Canadian women aged 53 to 74. Through a qualitative narrative inquiry, informed by critical feminist and transformative learning theory, it examines how women learned about menopause and what shaped that learning. The study revealed three key themes: embodied realities and self-perception; community and dialogue as transformative learning; and health literacy and agency.
Participants shared deeply personal stories that highlighted the importance of nurturing connections, accessible healthcare, and reliable information. Their experiences also illustrated how societal expectations and cultural beliefs can negatively shape self-image, often leading to feelings of devaluation and isolation. Yet through reflection and conversation, many began to reframe menopause—not as an ending, but as a time of growth, freedom, and empowerment.
Understanding Menopause Through Women’s Stories
Menopause is a universal biological transition experienced by women, yet the way it is understood and experienced is anything but universal. It typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, and is marked by 12 months without menstruation. But beneath the biology lie complex intersections of identity, culture, and learning.
This study focused on cisgender Canadian women from varied backgrounds—urban and rural, diverse socioeconomic realities, different family structures and health histories. Through in-depth interviews, each woman shared how she learned about menopause, how it impacted her body and mind, and how society responded to her transformation.
1. Embodied Realities and Self-Perception
Menopause impacted women physically, emotionally, and psychologically. The body’s changes—hot flashes, weight gain, brain fog, mood swings—often collided with societal pressures around professionalism, beauty, and aging.
Anne described hot flashes in the workplace as feeling like being “cooked from the inside out.” For Lisa, weight gain brought more distress than menopause itself. Janet critiqued the obsession with youth, noting how media and social pressures to maintain a youthful appearance fueled self-doubt: “It’s invalidating and just depressing… all centred around capitalism, and it’s just bullshit.”
Some, like Patricia, described an awareness of shifting sexual identity: “All of a sudden, I thought, Holy mackerel, I’m asexual.” Others, like Cheryl, spoke to the grief of losing a former sense of self: “She’ll crumple up into a ball and cry.”
These stories show that menopause is not only physical—it deeply influences how women see themselves and how they believe others see them. The narratives highlight the need for societal change to embrace aging and body diversity without shame or judgment.
2. Community and Dialogue as Transformative Learning
Participants learned about menopause in a variety of ways—some from books, others from friends, healthcare providers, or even social media. Yet almost all emphasized how important it was to talk with other women and share stories. These conversations became a form of learning, healing, and transformation.
Lisa said, “The connection with other women has really made the whole thing very normal, very bearable.” Patricia likened the experience to joining a club of women who had “been through it.” In contrast, others shared how silence and shame shaped their early understandings. Kim admitted: “I never talked about it with anyone. There is a shame… I just kind of endured it.”
For some, even family history was silent on the topic. Anne said, “My mother never sat down and talked to me about it. As far as my mother was concerned, she never went through it.”
These stories underscore the transformative power of dialogue. Through open conversations and reflection, participants began to see menopause not as a deficiency or loss, but as a stage of strength, wisdom, and self-knowledge.
3. Health Literacy and Agency
Navigating menopause requires more than courage—it also requires information. Participants described gaps in healthcare education and inconsistent medical support. Some doctors focused on weight rather than menopausal symptoms. Others seemed uncomfortable or dismissive.
Janet shared: “I found that the doctor talked a lot about me losing weight, which I didn’t think was relevant. I’m like, ‘why are we talking about that?’” Cheryl said, “My doctor said menopause might be hard for you because you don’t have kids.”
These encounters left participants feeling dismissed, disempowered, or confused. Many turned to books, websites, or alternative sources. Patricia credited Christiane Northrup’s writing, while Janet found hope in UK-based resources.
Still, challenges remained. Lisa’s doctor refused to prescribe hormone replacement therapy, suggesting antidepressants instead. Her story illustrates how many women must advocate fiercely for their own care, navigating not just hormonal changes, but a healthcare system that doesn’t always listen.
Moving Forward: Toward Inclusion and Empowerment
These narratives show that menopause is far more than a medical event—it’s a lived, embodied, and social experience. For many women, it is shaped by silence, stigma, and systemic barriers. But through dialogue, reflection, and learning, menopause can also be a powerful site of transformation.
Women in this study challenged narrow definitions of womanhood, age, and value. They called for more inclusive healthcare, more honest conversations, and a cultural shift that respects menopause as part of life—not something to be hidden or fixed.
Their stories remind us that menopause is not the end of something—it is the beginning of another kind of knowing, a deepening of self, and a powerful time to reclaim agency, voice, and community.