Keeping up Appearances: The Basic Social Process of the Menopausal Transition

Sixty-one perimenopausal women experiencing changes in menstrual bleeding were interviewed by phone and were asked about the changes they were experiencing, how they felt about the changes, and how the changes affected their lives. Women's responses indicated that they perceived certain changes (unpredictable or unexpectedly heavy bleeding, intense hot flashes, and sudden emotional outbursts) as potentially embarrassing or disruptive. Women's attempts to conceal and maintain control of changes led to the discovery of the core variable, keeping up appearances. The results of this study emphasize the need for a greater specificity in correlating women's feelings and behaviors with particular changes as well as the need for a better understanding of the ways in which social and cultural expectations influence women's feelings and behavior.