Different beliefs, attitudes and expectations

1. Barriers to ethnic minority women seeking help:

Menopause may be:

• A social stigma, a taboo subject or not be talked about openly.
• A symbol of loss of fertility and femininity.
• Considered natural and therefore some reservations about treating the effects.

There may also be:

• Health literacy barriers.
• A lack of knowledge of menopause, HRT and the science.
• A lack of culturally appropriate literature and other resources.
• An expectation for women to stay silent and not complain.
• A belief that, as all women experience it, "what’s the issue?".
• Language barriers such that healthcare professionals do not understand the terms used to discuss symptoms.

2. Differences in knowledge and attitudes towards menopause and ageing:

• There is often a greater acceptance of ageing in ethnic minority groups.
• A Pakistani university survey showed that 78% of women were unaware of menopausal symptoms and their effect on health, considering it part of a natural process of ageing; lack of awareness and poverty also reduced help seeking behaviour.
• In African-Caribbean cultures, older women are respectfully called “Queen” or “Mother" implying that they embrace ageing.

3. Difference in self-help behaviours:

• Women from many ethnic minority groups may be more likely to turn to self-care, sometimes using traditional remedies.
• For example, Chinese women may be more open to seeing a doctor but are also more likely to get support from their family and make lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise.