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Drawing from lived experience and wisdom, as women age, they grow into their authentic selves. This journey of growth is mirrored in how they adapt and adjust to the changes of menopause

with a renewed sense of self. This is what a new AARP survey reveals about the nuanced experiences of women as they navigate their journey to authenticity and through menopause. The study,

interviewing over 4,400 women age 18 and older, delves into the intersection of age, gender, culture and women's health, revealing a layered story of challenges and growth. It sheds

light on women’s call for evolved media representation and more comprehensive menopause support. WOMEN ARE EMBRACING THEIR AUTHENTIC SELVES AS THEY AGE, BUT MEDIA REPRESENTATION HAS NOT

CAUGHT UP. The survey highlights that with age, women are increasingly likely to say they have grown into their authentic selves. Women attribute this growth to an accumulation of wisdom and

lived experiences. The degree to which this transition is experienced appears to have some cultural variation. Black women’s journey may present as less drastic as they start from a place

of greater self-confidence, whereas some Asian American and Pacific Islander women and Latinas may experience the journey differently as they are also navigating dual cultural identity

throughout their life course. Nevertheless, the general progression away from external expectations and toward a sense of genuine self-assuredness is seen among all women. Though women

experience personal growth, media representation does not always reflect their reality. A notable two-thirds (64 percent) of women age 50 and over report rarely or never seeing themselves

represented in today's media. Women say this inauthentic representation is due to older women being portrayed unrealistically, such as by celebrities who have altered their appearance,

or being confined in the types of roles they play to mothers or grandmothers. Encouragingly, six in ten (62 percent) women 50 and older say that the authentic representation of older women

in media has improved in recent years. To maintain this positive trend, it is crucial to reflect the diverse roles and realities of women. Misaligned personas can set women up to fear aging

rather than embrace the journey of growth that accompanies it. Furthermore, women indicate that authentic portrayals increase their interest in engaging with content, brands and products. 

WOMEN'S SENSE OF SELF EVOLVES THROUGH MENOPAUSE. While women say their current phase of menopause has a mixed impact on their sense of self, the survey reveals that women in

perimenopause, or the menopausal transition, are more likely to report a negative impact on their sense of self compared to those in postmenopause. As they are beginning or amid experiencing

physical, mental, and emotional symptoms that can interfere with work and family roles, this phase is often marked by a lack of information and resources combined with cultural taboos

impeding open dialogue, exacerbating fears and uncertainties. Women in postmenopause report a much more positive or neutral impact on their sense of self, indicating a shift in perception as

they move through different phases of menopause. Women may feel liberated from their menstrual period as well as from external pressures that are more commonly reported among younger women.

This transformational view of menopause aligns with cultural perspectives and experiences, such as viewing menopause as a natural part of life and associating aging with wisdom and becoming

an elder, which is revered in many Asian cultures, the optimism and change-oriented philosophy embraced by many Latinas, and the enduring confidence of Black women. As women continue to

embrace their value, societal perceptions lag behind, likely related to negative societal framings of older age, with a quarter (23 percent) of women in postmenopause saying being in this

phase has had a negative impact on how society values them. The study also highlights the real and varied symptoms of menopause, with women experiencing an average of six different symptoms.

The study’s reports also incorporate findings from medical research studies on the menopause experiences of women across racial and ethnic backgrounds. According to the Study of Women’s

Health Across the Nation (SWAN), Chinese and Japanese American and white women report the shortest symptom duration, whereas Black and Latina women tend to experience menopause symptoms

earlier and longer. Adding to the discussion on socioeconomic and environmental factors impacting women’s menopause experience, researchers believe that these differences may be explained by

weathering, a process of accelerated biological aging due to social stressors such as discrimination. Further, cultural beliefs around aging and menopause, both positive and negative

(menopause being a natural part of life, negative framings of old age, taboos around discussing menopause, etc.), can impact how menopause symptoms are reported, experienced and treated.

Accessibility of medical treatment options for menopause remain limited. Three-quarters (73 percent) of women who have experienced symptoms have used over-the-counter or home remedies, but

only a quarter (27 percent) have used hormone treatments in the form of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), prescription vaginal estrogen or birth control. Among women in the menopausal

transition who have not used HRT, almost half either have never heard of it (18 percent) or say they do not know enough about it (26 percent). WOMEN WANT TO SEE CHANGES. Women are calling

for specialized healthcare providers, more study on the health of older women, better public education on menopause and for policymakers to work to ensure all women have access to

high-quality, personalized menopause care including HRT. These sentiments are especially voiced by women who have yet to enter or are amid the menopausal transition, and by Asian American

and Pacific Islander women. Further, one in five women in the menopausal transition (20 percent) have felt concerned about being treated differently or discriminated against at work due to

menopause, translating to the majority of all women (54 percent) agreeing that U.S. employers need to do more to support workers. Overall, by shedding light on the multifaceted experiences

of women as they journey toward authenticity and navigate menopause, the study's implications underscore the desire for continued evolution of societal and media portrayals of older

women and more comprehensive menopause support, ensuring that women of all ages and backgrounds are seen, heard and valued. METHODOLOGY The research is based on a survey of 4,436 women age

18 and older, including oversamples of 1,039 Asian American and Pacific Islander women, 1,082 Black or African American women, and 1,045 Latina women. It was fielded July 31, 2024 to August

21, 2024. The survey was administered in English, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, and Vietnamese online and by telephone using NORC’s AmeriSpeak® Panel, NORC’s Amplify AAPI® Panel, and

Dynata for the sample source. The data are weighted to benchmarks from the 2022 one-year American Community Survey on race/ethnicity, age, region, education, language spoken at home, and

nativity. The data are also weighted on AARP membership status. The survey was conducted in collaboration with NORC and Interloq, LLC. Collage Group helped to provide cultural context for

the reports. For more information, please contact Sarah Kerman at [email protected]. For media inquiries, please contact External Relations at [email protected].