Opening space for alternative images and narratives of midlife women

Using a narrative, social constructivist perspective, qualitative findings from a research project on women's midlife experience are reported & the culturally dominant discourse of a woman's midlife experience is discussed. Data obtained via self-narratives from 100+ women indicates that those satisfied with their lives at midlife deviate significantly from the culturally dominant narrative of midlife. The alternative, more individuated self-narratives of 5 women who reported the highest degree of midlife satisfaction for 17 major areas of their lives are presented along with a clinical case of therapy with a depressed midlife client that was guided, in part, by the research findings. 11 References. Adapted from the source document.