Menopause as wisdom and status

In more traditional cultures, post-menopausal women are community leaders with considerable power and status.

In fact, menopause itself is seen as a transition from being a member of the community at large to becoming a spiritual elder.

And post-menopausal women may enjoy greater social freedom as they no longer have to observe strict gender roles or the taboos of menstruation.

Women of wisdom, or of less value?