E117: The Social Domain of Perimenopause

Humans are one of only a handful of species in which females routinely live decades beyond their reproductive years. One leading explanation, known as the “grandmother hypothesis,” suggests older women helped humans survive and thrive by supporting children and grandchildren long after their own childbearing years had ended.

In the social domain of perimenopause, Kirtly Jones, MD, and Katie Ward, PhD, are joined by Kristen Hawkes, PhD, distinguished professor of anthropology and pioneer of the grandmother hypothesis, to explore the evolutionary and social significance of menopause. At a time when many women are told to fear aging or mourn the end of fertility, they examine why post-reproductive women have long played a vital role in human communities, how older generations contribute to the health and success of families, and what this reveals about our deeply social nature.