The Menopausal Storyteller: Narratives of Menopause in the Context of Imprisonment

Adopting a feminist narrative criminological approach this paper explores how the menopausal stories of women in prison are shaped by the context of imprisonment. Utilizing the Listening Guide method of analysis, this paper illustrates the multifaceted way in which women in prison draw on different menopause narratives at different moments of storytelling. Through adopting the theoretical framework of ‘Slow Violence’ and ‘Slow Resistance’, analysis also highlights the compounding impact of imprisonment and menopause whilst simultaneously illustrating women’s agency in managing and taking control of their menopause experiences within the constraining environment of the prison.