Menarche stories: reminiscences of college students from Lithuania, Malaysia, Sudan, and the United States
Chrisler, J.C.; Zittel, C.B.
Health care for women international 19(4): 303-312
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0739-9332 PMID: 9873290 DOI: 10.1080/073993398246287Document Number: 274691
A qualitative study investigated cross-cultural variation in psychological responses to menarche. College students from Lithuania (n = 26), the US (n = 27), Malaysia (n = 20), and Sudan (n = 23) were asked to write the story of their first menstruation in as much detail as memory allowed. 50% of Lithuanians, 78% of the Sudanese, 89% of Americans, and 90% of Malaysians reported they were prepared for menstruation. The most common emotions expressed by US women at menarche were embarrassment (44.4%), pride (25.9%), and anxiety (22.2%). Malaysians cited fear (35.0%), embarrassment (35.0%), and worry (30.0%). Lithuanian women described themselves as happy (38.5%), scared (26.9%), or expressed no emotions in their narratives (23.0%). The most common emotions cited by Sudanese were fear (34.8%), anxiety (26.1%), embarrassment (26.1%), and anger (21.7%). Sudanese women were most likely to describe the associated physical pain. Some type of private celebration at menarche was reported by 2 Lithuanians, 7 Sudanese, 9 Malaysians, and 10 Americans. Finally, there were cultural differences in the impact of menarche on their lives. Lithuanians reported feeling more valuable, beginning to think more about life, believing they had entered the world of women, and feeling more like a part of nature. Americans worried about whether they could still play sports, felt superior to premenarcheal friends, and became eager to learn about sex. Malaysians described feeling wise, respected, and mature. Finally, Sudanese reported feeling more beautiful and aware, more able to express themselves, and aware they could now have children.