Exploring The Cultural Role In The Construction Of The Concept "Female Climacteric"

Since medicine,psychology,and sociology diverged from philosophy,they have all developed along positivist paths,striving to be a science.By the 1960 s,social constructivism,in opposition to positivism,demonstrated a philosophical way of thinking that critiqued and deconstructed modern cultural philosophies and spiritual value orientations.Social constructivism holds that knowledge such as ideas,consciousness,regulations,ethics,and science are constructed and are the result of interaction and negotiation among people in a particular cultural history.Social constructionism advocates linking science and knowledge with society and culture,exploring the relationship between knowledge and society,and discovering how social culture influences the process of knowledge production and operation.This concept has had a significant impact on disciplines such as medicine,psychology,and sociology.The purpose of this study is to examine the phenomenon of female climacteric within the ideological framework of social constructionism,seeking to gain a deeper understanding of the social construction process of the phenomenon and to add to the deficiencies in the field of specific applications of social constructionism and empirical research in China.Climacteric is considered to be a sign of aging,a stage that is vunerable to a variety of psychosomatic problems.The clear majority of current research on Climacteric is carried out in medical areas,yet paradoxically the medical field does not have clear criteria for a cure for climacteric syndromes.The sociological meaning of climacteric in a social context and its accompanying psychological symptoms reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the climacteric phenomenon.With the aging process,more and more women are entering climacteric.How to understand climacteric and face it is not only a concern for these women,but also a question for the whole society.Therefore,starting from a reflection on the birth and development of the concept of climacteric,this study reviews climacteric-related phenomena and the specific cultural context,analyzes the longitudinal influence of culture on climacteric-related phenomena such as the concept of climacteric and the manifestations of climacteric syndrome,and presents the decisive position held by patriarchal culture behind the formation of the concept of climacteric.It is found that climacteric is not only a purely physiological phenomenon,but also a product of power shaping gender roles.Therefore,this study conducted a field research on climacteric women of three ethnic groups,namely Mosuo,a representative of matrilineal culture,and Yi,a representative of patriarchal culture,and Han as controls,who all live in Yongning Township,Ninglang County,Yunnan Province.It was found that the climacteric symptoms of Mosuo,Yi,and Han women were similar but differed significantly in severity,with Mosuo women having the least severe climacteric symptoms,Yi women having the most severe physical symptoms,and Han women having the most severe psychological symptoms.In addition,the cultural history and cultural status of Mosuo,Yi and Han Chinese differed significantly.They are highlighted in marital and family characteristics,family dynamics,social support,religious beliefs,female status,and illness perceptions.For women from all three ethnic groups,common factors influencing the severity of climacteric symptoms were family support and family decision-making power.Subsequently,an in-depth interview was conducted with a woman who had a cross-cultural experience to explore the relationship between her climacteric experience and her culture.It was found that her being in a cultural clash situation created internal conflict and consequently anxiety.However,the symptoms could be naturally relieved if personal perceptions would be integrated with the local cultural environment well.This study belongs to an interdisciplinary area with deep philosophical connotations.By exploring the role of culture in the construction of the climacteric phenomenon,revealing the philosophical basis behind the climacteric phenomenon,deconstructing the inherent image of climacteric,promoting the re-cognition of the climacteric phenomenon,and realizing the social value of philosophy.Meanwhile,this study also makes an attempt to integrate theories and research methods of crosscultural psychology,psychosomatic medicine,and medical anthropology.The results of the field research provide material supplements to social construct theory and theoretical guidance for clinical practice work,inspiring the exploration of diverse definitions of climacteric,valuing subjective experiences,and embracing differentiated experiences of climacteric.