Brotkin Elana Jaffe, Patel Shivani Paresh, Palmquist Aunchalee, Emerson Amanda, Hemberg Jordana, Lorvick Jennifer, Ramaswamy Megha, Knittel Andrea
University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Soc Sci Med. 2025 Aug 20;384:118508. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118508.
The number of midlife individuals involved in the criminal legal system has increased significantly in recent decades. Despite this growth, little is known about the ways in which experiences of midlife, including the menopause transition, shape experiences within the criminal legal system. This study explores the intersection between people's experiences of menopause and experiences of the criminal legal system.
We conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with individuals who experienced the menopause transition while involved with the criminal legal system. In-depth notes or transcripts from each interview were analyzed using the RADaR technique for data reduction. We identified emergent themes and developed an overarching thematic framework.
We conducted interviews with 29 individuals (mean age 56.9 years). Participants reported a wide range of menopause related physical, emotional, and social changes. Menopause related changes considerably shaped participants' experiences within the criminal legal system. Three distinct themes emerged to characterize how menopause impacted experiences in the criminal legal system: 1) shame and stigma; 2) loss of control; and 3) criminalization and collateral consequences.
There is a growing and largely understudied population of individuals going through the menopause transition while involved in the criminal legal system. Our data suggests that the experience of going through the menopause transition compounds dehumanization and deprivation of autonomy in carceral settings.
近几十年来，参与刑事法律系统的中年人的数量显著增加。尽管人数有所增长，但对于中年经历，包括更年期过渡，如何塑造刑事法律系统内的经历，我们却知之甚少。本研究探讨了人们的更年期经历与刑事法律系统经历之间的交叉点。
我们对在参与刑事法律系统期间经历更年期过渡的个体进行了半结构化深度访谈。使用RADaR技术对每次访谈的深度笔记或文字记录进行数据分析以进行数据简化。我们确定了新出现的主题并制定了一个总体主题框架。
我们对29名个体（平均年龄56.9岁）进行了访谈。参与者报告了一系列与更年期相关的身体、情感和社会变化。与更年期相关的变化极大地塑造了参与者在刑事法律系统内的经历。出现了三个不同的主题来描述更年期如何影响在刑事法律系统中的经历：1）羞耻和污名；2）失去控制；3）刑事定罪和附带后果。
在参与刑事法律系统的同时经历更年期过渡的人群越来越多，且在很大程度上未得到充分研究。我们的数据表明，经历更年期过渡的体验加剧了监禁环境中的非人性化和自主权的剥夺。
