Traditional medical response to women's health issues, cultural stereotypes of aging women,
and folklore have contributed to the misunderstanding and misconception of menopause. These
views have produced a dominant view of menopause as a deficiency disease, a reductionistic
view that obscures developmental and sociocultural factors. Broadening the view of menopause
to incorporate a range of contributing factors as well as attending to the diversity inherent in
women's experiences will allow for a more inclusive research agenda, in addition to providing
more flexibility in resources and services for menopausal women.
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