The Dark History of Menopause
Menopause was not a defined ‘medical condition’ until 1821 when French Physician – Charles Pierre Louis de Gardanne wrote that:
“Menopause is a critical age where a woman constantly regrets pleasures that are no longer her age, and paints the future with the saddest colours”
He went on to warn his peers that “grave dangers proceed, accompany and follow the cessation of fertility.”
And Women endured almost two centuries of male doctors and scientists purporting that it indeed required medical attention.
So, the blokes, ya know…..they got straight onto it.
Some of the procedures – many of them shocking, reveal the undercurrent misogyny that went onto frame popular beliefs about this phase of a Woman’s life, by which I mean systems and narratives that uphold domination and power over Women.
Procedures that included:
Blood letting with leeches, cutting the skin or surgery because the male doctors believed that non-menstruating Menopausal women were retaining evil blood inside of their body. What to do with it? Obviously cut it, suck it or slice it out any way they could. Ouch!
Then there was the occasional clitorodectomies; the surgical removal of “broken ovaries” – the kind of surgery women rarely survived; and the oral administration of testicular (cow) fluids.
Disrobing or removing any clothing in the late 17th / 18th centuries (Victorian era) was considered highly obscene sexual behaviour, so ice blocks were inserted into the vaginas of Women who were suffering from Hot Flashes.
The most common admission into mental asylums and psychiatric wards throughout the 19th century amongst females were Menopausal women diagnosed with mania, lunacy and neurosis. These women were often removed from their families and contained for long periods to ‘treat’ their symptoms. It was considered a very practical and justified therapy in its day.
As I always say, anytime a narrative feels poisoned or oppressive it’s likely that there within exists an inversion of reality. And as Women survived through their corsets, hair curlers, incapacity to vote, work or speak out their beliefs too became moulded by this medical heresy. In fact, it’s the current generation (X) moving through this phase that are finally and consciously deconstructing the generational trauma of these toxic beliefs.
Unpacking the history of misogyny that has defined Menopause is crucial to understanding our beliefs and stories attached to the journey. Many women have NO alternative dialogue to navigate the space. And without the proper words to describe or share our experiences we feel lost and hopeless. We go searching for something to grasp onto for safety and certainty but all that exists is grossly pathologised.
Without coming to terms with the metaphorical and metaphysical journey of Menopause, the Autumn season of our lives – we’re left with the scraps of taboo and clouded assumptions to meet the process.
Indeed the history of Menopause is rather dark, and on the back end of the Witch Hunts in the dark ages too. I like to imagine that the older Women of these times rattled the cage of their social conditioning and the Men did what they’ve done right throughout history – invert, oppress and control her Wild unbecoming.
We hold a chord that all women have touched. And we remember that the medicine is Us.
