Limits to knowledge : Conversations on menopause and its lived experiances

Abstract

I chose to study menopause experiences in India. I conducted a qualitative study in order to do so, and interviewed perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, as well as a few family members and stakeholders of menopausal health. The purpose of my study was to understand the different perceptions of menopause - the biological definition, the medical system’s perspective and how society views menopause - and compare it to lived experiences of menopause. Doing so allowed me to study the gaps between these different perceptions and theorise problem areas that lead to these gaps. I have divided my thesis into three chapters. The first chapter covers an overview of the different perceptions of menopause and where they may stem from. The second chapter looks at how the pandemic may have impacted menopause experiences and the foundational problem this unearthed. The final chapter is a summary of my efforts to bring awareness to menopause and the importance of qualitative research.