Redefining Menopause: Inma Luna's Poetics of Transition

• Writer and anthropologist Inma Luna explores menopause not as an end, but as a transitional phase toward a new, non-biological form of fertility in her book Que arda.
• The book challenges the taboo surrounding menopause, arguing for its politicization as a critique of capitalist and patriarchal systems that equate value with youth and reproductive capacity.

Redefining Menopause and Fertility

• Luna rejects the notion that the end of biological fertility marks a decline or loss of purpose, drawing parallels to cetacean societies where older females guide and sustain the group.
• She proposes a "menopausal poetics"—a philosophy of life that reclaims agency, rejects the invisibility imposed by society, and defines visibility as being heard and taking up space.

Politicizing the Personal

• The author argues that true political action begins with developing one's own criteria and rejecting external, imposed narratives. This critical thinking extends to broader societal issues, such as housing rights and systemic inequality.
• Language plays a central role; Luna notes how terminology for menopause is often derogatory and clinical, advocating instead for terms that imply renewal or transformation.

Beyond Biological Roles

• Luna contends that the pressure to remain "eternally young" is a trap. She advocates for embracing the physical changes of aging as part of a deeper, authentic existence.
• The concept of "fertility" is expanded to include artistic creation, intellectual contribution, and the lasting legacy one leaves on future generations, rather than just biological lineage.