Read some more of the book. Boy! it really is one-sided. But, having said that, I do see some truth in what she says.
I think that hormones affect us all, and perhaps women more than men. Does that mean that when the hormones disappear, the "true" person emerges?
I don't think it's that simple. I think that perhaps the hormones (along with societal influences) tend to make a woman more nurturing, and even feeling guilt for not being nurturing enough. So, she buries parts of herself to better fulfil this role. When the hormones diminish, these parts surface and become more important because of all of the years of being overshadowed by the “false” self.
But, I don't think that these menopausal attributes are the only true person. That view is too one-dimensional. It seems to me that it diminishes women who are in the first half of their lives. I can’t believe that a person is in a “hormonal fog” until they reach mid-life.
Anyway, I haven’t read the whole book yet, and it appears to get a little more balanced later. It does discuss hormones – including hypothyroidism (apparently hits 26% of menopausal women).
W started reading it this morning. I mentioned that I read some of it and found it interesting.
Anyway, I know this stuff sounds over-analytical. Perhaps it is. But, I’m feeling a little more detached in my analysis. I don’t think there’s much I can do right now except to keep up what I’ve been doing.
So, in a practical sense, there’s nothing more to analyze. Intellectually, I’m still learning.
