The Meaning of Menopause among Ghanaian Canadian Women

Abstract

In spite of its bio-universality, menopause presents a complex phenomenon experienced differently by women from varied cultures. The meanings of menopause and what it signifies for women vary considerably. They are shaped by social attitudes about aging and women’s roles over the life course. Utilizing in-depth interviews, this study examines the meanings and experiences of menopause for ten Ghanaian-Canadian women living in To-ronto. It explores how some aspects of Ghanaian culture have influenced the women’s perceptions and interpretation of menopause. The study con-cludes that while Ghanaian women living in Canada have been surrounded by a culture where menopause is medicalized, most do not view menopause as a disease but rather as a normative life transition