Women’s Midlife Experience of their Changing Bodies

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The purpose of the ethnographic report described in this article is to discuss midlife women’s perceptions of their changing bodies within the Western cultural context and to provide a basis for health care with women. The narratives of 11 midlife women (ages 40-53) were obtained. Data were analyzed using Spradley’s (1979) Developmental Research Sequence Method. Results of the study indicate that women’s midlife experience of their changing bodies encompasses a broad spectrum, full of contradiction and change. Issues of loss, cultural influences that perpetuate ageism and sexism, lack of consistent information about menopause, questioning, redefining self, and self-care, all played a central role in the women’s lives during this time of transition.

This publication has 31 references indexed in Scilit: