Although medicine interprets menopause as the wearing out of female reproductive organs, and modern society largely views it as the end of femininity, the biological reality does not suggest that we should become worthless or purposeless from this point onward…
In biology, everything revolves around survival and ensuring that the traits of the most viable individuals are passed on.
This means the process is far from being about organs malfunctioning like rusty mechanical parts. Instead, it’s biologically advantageous for species survival if younger individuals handle reproductive tasks, while older ones support the herd, pod, or community in other areas. It also means that during menopause, the ovaries don’t “exhaust” but become inactive, and in cases of biological urgency, they can reactivate.
But why is this important?
In today’s (especially Western) world, the post-reproductive phase of women’s lives has been drastically devalued due to various social-economic pressures (such as individualism, the stigmatization of aging, technological advancements, and a focus on work and economics). This has led to changes in social structures, the weakening of community roles, and the pursuit of a youth-obsessed culture.
From this point, menopause itself has become a conflict, triggering a range of discomforts and symptoms.
What could be different in Japan?
In Eastern cultures, particularly Japan, Confucian traditions and a collectivist mindset mean that the older generation is traditionally held in high regard. This is not just a matter of polite formality but an integral part of the social structure.
Older individuals (especially women) are often seen as the family and community’s wise elders and a source of stability. Grandparents—including post-reproductive women—play an active role in raising grandchildren, passing down traditions, and maintaining family harmony. For example, multi-generational households (though less common today) still exist, where the knowledge of older women is valued. Aging is not treated as a loss but as a respected state of life experience. This is particularly evident in “Keiro no Hi” (Respect for the Aged Day), an officially recognized holiday expressing gratitude toward the elderly.
In Japan, menopause (called kōnenki, meaning “transitional years”) is not treated as a disease or a “deficiency state” but as a natural part of life. The term kōnenki is neutral and doesn’t carry the dramatic “end” connotation that “menopause” does in Western languages.
As a result, women experience fewer conflicts, focus less on expected symptoms, and society does not dramatize this period.
This text does not aim to be comprehensive; it touches on only a part of the topic and serves to understand the biological processes occurring within us and the nature of conflicts. Every person’s life and life path are unique, so the specific triggers should be examined individually, based on the events experienced. How someone copes with their conflicts varies from person to person, and different areas are handled differently depending on the amount of negative experiences or failures accumulated there. Exploring a conflict does not replace medical care.
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