What do you get when a menopausal woman eats Twinkies? (or, another reason boomers will never be known as the second greatest generation)
I don’t know about you, but this phenomenon doesn’t seem like much of an advance to me.
For those of you who aren’t registered at the NY Times website, the article by Elizabeth Hayt is about the fact that middle-aged women have become much more forthright about their menopausal symptoms—even “flaunting” them in mixed company. The headline is a good example of what I mean: “Listen up, everybody, I’m in menopause.”
Well, isn’t that special! Glad to hear it, thanks for sharing.
It’s not that I’m squeamish. Or that I think women should be ashamed or embarrassed to be going through menopause, or that a nice woman-to-woman gabfest on the subject wouldn’t be fun at times. Or that I think the recent proliferation of medical and scientific information on the subject is a bad thing. Or that two women in a grocery store line (one of the situations described in the article) can’t exchange quips on the subject, if it happens to come up—say, if both of them are turning as beet-red as the beets in their carts.
Women discussing menopause in private groups of women isn’t really a new phenomenon, although boomers like to think they’ve invented it, along with just about everything else. There’s something strangely narcissistic, though, about the prospect of women inflicting their personal body functions on all others in earshot. Maybe it’s a way of staying forever young—well, at least, forever juvenile.
And what hath feminism wrought when menopause is used in the classic manner as an excuse for behavior grownups ought to be taking responsibility for? Menopause now seems to be turning into a form of the notorious Twinkie defense, hormonal style:
“A hot flash is an opportunity to get away with saying stuff that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to do,” said Ms. Mahone, the Durham author. “You can curse at people. That’s your moment to get even. Afterward, you can apologize and they’ll understand and feel sorry for you.”
Menopause is the best revenge?
thebabyboomerdiva.comYou and I are on the same page when it comes to all of this created hype about menopause. It’s NOT new. However, the fact that it’s being OPENLY discussed is.
I don’t know what community you come from but I don’t ever recall an afternoon tea where my mom and her girlfriends sat around and discussed hot flashes and mood swings. I, personally, feel very comfortable talking about my issues. But then again, I’ve never been one to remain SILENT on anything.
Peace & Bessings,
Beverly Mahone
Author
Whatever! A Baby Boomer’s Journey Into Middle Age
http://www.thebabyboomerdiva.com
It’s a private matter and my dear Granny would be horrified at it’s public discussion. But she was a “victorian’ woman and there’s the difference. Myself….went through it in mid 40’s, easy as pie, nothing to see here so move along. My dearest friend had needed surgery and found herself there much earlier. Best line ever……her husband was ‘annoying’ her a while later…..Bob…says she…..I have no estrogen and no one will convict me if I kill you right now! Keep in mind Bob, I have no ESTROGEN! But would she, or I, discusss it in a grocery line? Good god no!
And a hot flash is not an excuse to do or say anything…Menopause is surely not a reason for just plain bad manners. I completely object to the following:
“A hot flash is an opportunity to get away with saying stuff that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to do,”
“A hot flash is an opportunity to get away with saying stuff that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to do,”
That’s kind of like the line in the movie/play “The Boys in the Band,” the “Christ was I drunk last night” line. Just claim severe inebriation, and you can get away with anything.
This discussion also reminds me of cell phone etiquette…people discuss the strangest things inadvertantly in public while on cell phones. I was once subjected to a man discussing the mental instability of his wife while riding on public transportation…not something that one would ordinarily choose to overhear, but unavoidable in that instance.
I’m the last of the baby boomers and frankly after hearing whining women all of my life I now understand why males need to get away from my gender. After fourty-five years of obnoxious wussy whining, personally I’m fed up with women’s issues.
There is nothing left for me to admire about my gender.
Pingback:Please put your menopause and your erectile disfunction back in the closet where they belong… at Amused Cynic
Well, the was a bumper sticker that read,
“I don’t get hot flashes, I get power surges”
My wife loved that one.