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Menopause: A Sociological Review
1University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA.
Journal of Health and Social Behavior
|May 21, 2026
Summary
Sociological research on menopause is limited, despite its widespread impact. This review highlights gaps in understanding how social factors shape menopause experiences and its relation to the broader reproductive life course.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Gender Studies
- Medical Sociology
Background:
- Menopause affects millions globally, intersecting medicine, gender, family, and work.
- Despite its significance, menopause is the least sociologically studied female reproductive event.
- Existing research primarily focuses on the medicalization of menopause.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing social scientific research on menopause.
- To identify gaps in sociological understanding of menopause.
- To explore the social construction and lived experiences of menopause.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of social scientific research on menopause.
- Analysis of studies on the social construction of menopause.
- Examination of how social meanings influence menopause experiences.
Main Results:
- Sociology has a clear understanding of menopause medicalization and its experiential impact.
- Nuances of menopause construction, including variations in experience, remain less understood.
- The relationship between menopause and the broader reproductive life course requires further investigation.
Conclusions:
- Significant gaps exist in the sociological study of menopause.
- Further research is needed to explore diverse menopausal experiences and their connection to the reproductive life course.
- A comprehensive sociological understanding of menopause requires addressing these identified research deficits.
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