Menarche,Menstruation, and Gender Identity: Retrospective Accounts from Women Who Have Undergone Premenopausal Hysterectomy

Hysterectomy (the surgical removal of the uterus) precipitates the end of menstrual cycles in premenopausal women. In this article I explore whether that premature termination of menstrual function negatively affects women's subjective gender identities. Using the grounded theory research approach, I conducted in-depth interviews with 40 diverse respondents who had undergone premenopausal hysterectomy. These women generally acknowledged that, since the time of menarche, they had closely associated menstruation with their gender identities. However, despite some regrets, respondents' primary reaction was almost unanimous relief that they had ceased menstruating. This finding must be viewed in the context of overwhelming and uncontrollable menstrual pain and bleeding that many respondents had previously experienced. Contrary to expressing remorse that they no longer identified with normal women, who menstruate, most respondents sought to disassociate themselves from the normalized suffering that they perceived is endured by all menstruating women.     

Making Menarche Positive and Powerful for Both Mother and Daughter

Abstract

Psychotherapists who treat mothers with preadolescent daughters are in an excellent position to positively influence mother-daughter relationships at a time when Western societal influences are pushing them apart. Therapists are encouraged to help mothers process their own experiences with menarche, development of secondary sexual characteristics, and attitudes toward their bodies. By exploring these areas with their clients and then by encouraging the mothers to have early intimate discussions with their daughters, therapists can learn valuable information about their clients and can lay the groundwork for healthier mother-daughter relationships. Examples are given to help therapists encourage mothers to begin these difficult dialogues with their daughters. Suggestions are presented to help mothers overcome their daughters' reluctance to discuss sensitive topics of bodily maturation, menstruation, and emerging sexual development.     

Ambivalent sexism,attitudes towards menstruation and menstrual cycle‐related symptoms

The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between ambivalent sexism and beliefs and attitudes towards menstruation, and, in turn, to study the influence of these variables on menstrual cycle‐related symptoms. One hundred and six Mexican women completed the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory, the Beliefs about and Attitudes toward Menstruation Questionnaire and the Menstrual Distress Questionnaire. The higher scores on benevolent sexism were associated with the most positive attitudes towards menstruation and also with the belief that a menstruating woman should or should not do some activities and that menstruation keeps women from their daily activities. The higher scores on hostile sexism were associated with rejection of menstruation as well as with feelings of embarrassment about it. Beliefs about and attitudes towards menstruation predicted menstrual cycle‐related symptoms related to negative affect, impaired concentration and behavioural changes, but did not predict somatic symptoms. These results will be useful to health professionals and advocates who want to change the negative expectations and stereotypes of premenstrual and menstrual women and reduce the sexism and negative attitudes towards women that are evident in Mexican culture.     

Emotional distress and the perceived interference of menstruation

The relation of perceived interference of menstruation on expected behaviors to emotional distress was examined. It was predicted that the perceived interference of menstruation would be more predictive of emotional distress associated with menstruation than either menstrual or premenstrual pain. Participants completed measures of menstrual pain and visual analogue scales of emotional distress (anger, frustration, depression, anxiety, fear). Measures of perceived ability to tolerate the pain, the perceived interference of the pain, and attitudes toward menstruation were also collected. Results indicated that perceived interference was the strongest predictor of emotional distress secondary to menstrual pain. Ratings of menstrual and premenstrual pain were also significant predictors of emotional distress. Results supported the major hypothesis of the study and provide evidence that the appraisal of interference imposed by a particular condition or Stressor may be an important factor in stress and coping processes.     

Health and Sickness: The Meaning of Menstruation and Premenstrual Syndrome in Women's Lives

The experience of menstruation was examined through an analysis of women's narratives in order to understand perceptions of menstrual cycle changes. Research within a medical anthropology perspective was conducted with 43 women who volunteered for a study on the knowledge and understanding of menstruation and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, from 1997 to 1999. Although most women accepted the PMS label and placed their cyclic changes within the realm of sickness, a small group of women were identified who conceptualized their cyclic changes in an extremely positive way thus reframing their experiences. More positive perceptions of menstrual changes may have a significant impact on the reevaluation of menstrual cycle fluctuations as sickness without devaluing the experiences of those women with severe changes.     

Exploring a sample of university students’ perceptions of menstruation

This study aimed to explore how a sample of young South African women constructed their perceptions of menstruation. The sample comprised 16 racially/ethnically diverse female university students (blacks = 4, whites = 2, coloured = 8; Christians = 11; Muslims = 5; aged 18 to 23 years). They participated in one of three focus group discussions on their constructions of menstruation. Findings from the discourse analysis indicated that the women perceive social control experiences of their menstruation—even in the context of medical understandings.     

On the Rag on Screen: Menarche in Film and Television

The purpose of this essay is to examine film and television representations of menarche from a critical, feminist perspective. A close analysis of scenes about menarche in 3 films and 4 television programs reveals implicit ideological messages of gender difference and gender stereotypes. Although these scenes appear to be positive and powerful challenges to menstrual communication taboos, they ultimately serve to reinforce media stereotypes of gender difference.     

红颜还是祸水——由Lybrel等控制月经引发的思考

本文追溯人类对月经的认识的演变,同时记录避孕药物的历史沿革,并分析其利弊。虽然通过药物方法减少甚至停止月经的安全性和伦理尚存争议,随着科技的进步和人们观念的改变,更多的女性仍会选择控制月经,来为其带来更健康、便捷的生活。“我的月经我做主”会成为未来女性的生活方式。