Breathe
By Marilu Rasso
Violence against women is a social problem that does not distinguish between cultural, social, economic or geographic levels. Violence can be physical, economic, sexual, psychological and symbolic, among others. These do not appear in isolation and intersect with other discriminations and conditions such as age. In particular, the intersection between menopause and violence has been invisible and little studied.
Menopause, like many other issues related to women's lives, is surrounded by myths, prejudices, stigmas and misinformation. There is an enormous social and medical ignorance about the symptoms and effects of menopause, which in many cases leads to misdiagnosis and stigmatization of women. Ignorance of the symptoms and specific needs of women at this stage has led, in many cases, to their exclusion, isolation and a perception of invalidity.
Traditionally, women have been disqualified as crazy, hysterical, hormonal. At this stage, it is often said that a woman is "menopausal" to disqualify or attack. On the other hand, the idealization of youth and certain beauty stereotypes, in many cases, deepens the discrimination and marginalization of women. The symptoms they are going through are used as elements for disqualification, abuse and aggression, aggravating and justifying violence based on certain stigmas linked to old age and the menopausal process.
In many cultures that respond to the logic of the patriarchal system, a woman in menopause is considered less desirable, less useful and less productive, restricting her capacity for development and social participation. This series of prejudices places women in situations of greater vulnerability and precariousness in both public and private spaces.
At the same time, women who have dedicated themselves to housework and caregiving, and who do not have a retirement or savings fund, find themselves in a place of profound defenselessness. Economic dependence and patriarchal mandates of what is expected of "a good mother, wife or woman" make it much more difficult for them to end a relationship in which they are experiencing different types of violence.
They commonly face derogatory comments about their bodies, constant comparisons with younger women, sexual rejection, teasing and ridicule.
On the other hand, one of the main problems in this area is the invisibility and lack of importance in terms of public policies for the comprehensive care of women at this stage of their lives. Specialized studies and care programs are needed to enable women to receive psychological and medical support to face the changes they are experiencing and strengthen their autonomy processes.
To address this issue, it is essential to dismantle prejudices about menopause and women's aging, in order to build new narratives that enable alternatives for development and empowerment. It is necessary to think about their care and also about programs that prepare them and provide them with the emotional and economic resources to have a dignified menopause and middle age.
It is essential to talk about this problem, to get out of the silence that makes it invisible and does not allow a comprehensive approach from a human rights perspective.
The opinions expressed are the responsibility of the authors and are absolutely independent of the position and editorial line of the company. Opinion 51.
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