1 Setting the Scene
1.1 Introduction
1.2 This Research
1.3 Research Practice, Process and Procedure
1.4 A Note on Terminology
1.4.1 Menopause
1.4.2 Religious
1.5 Summary and Structure of the Book
References
2 Life Course Approach & Understanding Body, Gender, and Sexuality
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Biographical Life Course
2.2.1 Life Course as a Concept
2.2.2 Pertinence of the Life Course: Viewing Menopause as a Turning Point
2.3 Exploring Theoretical Positions on Gender, Sexuality, the Body and Menopause
2.3.1 Patriarchy and Walby's Approach
2.3.2 Hegemony, Gender and the Gender Order
2.3.3 Pertinence of Connell's Gender Order Concept
2.4 Embodiment
2.4.1 Introduction
2.4.2 Notion of Body in Social Sciences
2.4.3 Perspectives toward Body and Reflexive Embodiment Techniques
2.4.4 Pertinence of Crossley's Reflexive Body Techniques Concept
2.5 Biographical Research Approach
2.5.1 Why Biographical Research?
2.5.2 Biography as a Source of Authentic Data
2.6 Gender Order, Reflexive Body Techniques and Biographical Life course: Integration
2.6.1 Connell's Gender Order and Reflexive Body Techniques
2.6.2 Connell's Gender Order and Biographical Life Course Approach
2.6.3 Biographical Life Course Approach and Reflexive Embodiment
2.7 Conclusion and Summary
References
3 Childhood
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Gender Discovery: When Family Didn't Want Me to be a Girl: Gender Discovery
3.2.1 Gender Discovery through Gender Discrimination
3.2.2 Gender Discovery through Sexual Awareness and Family Strategy
3.2.3 Gender Discovery through Physical Differences
3.3 Extra Things That Kept Growing and I Felt Shame: Puberty
3.3.1 Growing Breasts
3.3.2 Menstruation and Menarche
3.3.3 Family Management of Sexuality Signs
3.4 Bloody Napkin or Virginity Test: Virginity Proof System
3.5 'A Girl' and a 'Good Girl'
3.6 Conclusion
References
4 Womanhood
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Entering Womanhood
4.2.1 Goes With White Dress, Returns with White Dress: Marriage
4.2.2 Just Keep Quiet and Be Still and Motionless: First Sexual Experiences
4.3 Participating Womanhood
4.3.1 Sex as a Joy or a Duty and Sacrifice
4.3.2 A Good Wife Must be a Good Wife: Domestic Labor and Requirement for being a Good Wife
4.4 Conclusion
References
5 Menopausal Time
5.1 Introduction
5.2 It Was Too Early for Me: Disclosure of Diagnosis: Onset and Timing of Menopause
5.2.1 Menopausal Signs and Onset of Menopause
5.3 Understanding Menopause
5.3.1 Resources for Understanding Menopause
5.3.2 Menopause as a Source of Illness and Depression and as a Time for Re-evaluating Life
5.3.3 Menopause as a Sign of Being Old
5.3.4 Menopause as a Death Reminder
5.3.5 Menopause as a Body Reminder
5.4 This Puffiness around My Eyes: Body Image and Cosmetic Surgery
5.5 Now, I Can Say NO to My Husband: Sexual Experience
5.6 The Impact of Medical Discourse
5.7 Loss Narratives: Narratives of Resistance
5.8 Conclusion
References
6 Conclusion
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Childhood
6.3 Womanhood
6.4 Menopausal Time
6.5 Summary
References.