Woman-as-Womb: Menopause and ‘Good Doctoring’ in the U.S.

Abstract

This thesis interrogates how value is assigned to women based on their reproductive function in the U.S. medical system. Through semi-structured interviews of 19 post-menopausal women, most of whom identify as Asian American Women of Color, I aim to decenter the unmarked white norm in medical knowledge and advocate for a restructuring of the categories ‘normal’ and ‘natural’ as they relate to menopause and aging. I begin by using a Foucauldian perspective on biopower to understand the deployment of medical authority on women’s bodies, before investigating how in the U.S. medical establishment, 'woman' is treated as 'womb.' Next, I explore how systemic silence surrounding women’s health has taught women to be silent about their health, and how cultural narratives pertaining to aging harm women’s conceptions of self. Ultimately, this thesis seeks to be a guide for women, by women, sharing useful skills and tools for navigating the U.S. medical system and taking care of your health. Secondarily, it is an entreaty to doctors to redefine ‘good doctoring’ and think about women’s health and menopause differently. I focus on the stories of post-menopausal women in an effort to make them feel more visible and valued in a society which too often devalues them, providing space for my interlocutors to tell their stories while we intently listen and learn.