Menopause. A word feared by many, whispered by others, and wholly unavoidable by all (women that is). It’s a natural part of a woman’s life as her body continues to evolve, and yet it’s still widely treated as taboo.
Other women’s health issues are increasingly becoming front and centre – and rightly so. But whilst periods, gynaecological cancers and other issues such as endometriosis are being discussed, the conversation around menopause is still lagging behind. Why?
MP Rachel Maclean summed it up perfectly when she said: “The menopause is the ultimate taboo because it combines ageism and sexism, a toxic combination.”
As a result, GPs aren’t being trained properly on the topic, employers lack vital support systems and policies around it, and any association with menopause becomes an admittance of ageing and no longer having value in society. So women avoid engaging with the reality of it for as long as possible, and it fails to be addressed properly.
It’s a vicious cycle
So how can we break it?
Of course menopausal women speaking out is vital. It’s brilliant to see more platforms and communities emerging that offer women a safe space to share their experiences. And celebrities like Davina McCall and Lisa Snowdon are having a profound impact as they unashamedly speak loudly about their own.
But whilst menopause might now be on the lips of those soon to be or currently experiencing it, it’s rarely uttered by those who aren’t. And here in lies the problem.
At The Bias Cut, we’ve always said that eradicating ageism requires all ages to participate in the conversation, and the menopause is no exception. For it to turn from taboo to accepted, all ages need to be educated on and engage with the topic, otherwise significant and vital societal and systemic change won’t take place. Just look at the new bill passed by Carolyn Harris MP to make HRT prescriptions free: she can’t just rely on the limited number of potentially menopausal female MPs to push it through the House of Commons and House of Lords; other MPs need to see the value in it too.
Which is why, this October for World Menopause Month, our mission at The Bias Cut is to turn the menopause into an age-inclusive topic.
So if you’re thinking “menopause is in my past, I’m over and uninterested in it”, or even “but I’m years away from menopause, why should I care about it now?”, we urge you to reconsider. Because there is so much to collectively gain from us coming together to discuss, learn and understand about menopause - and not just on a societal level, but also personally. If you’re post-menopausal, sharing your empathetic insights and experiences can offer comfort and support to those experiencing it; and if you’re much younger, then learning about menopause now will ensure you’re as prepared and informed as possible (for example, no matter how far off you are, the sooner you start doing Kegel exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor, the better!).
Next Monday 11th October, we’ll be hosting an IG live panel discussing menopause and mental health, and throughout the month we’ll be sharing menopause related content to educate, help and inspire – whatever your age. We also invite you to share your thoughts, tips and questions, so we can engage as a community. Simply email us at contact@thebiascut.com to join in the conversation.
So this is our call to action: women of all ages, talk about menopause. Learn about it. Discuss your concerns. Share your experiences. Because menopause is a woman’s health issue; it may not affect a woman at all times, but it affects all women. And together we can make it one less ageist & sexist issue we have to deal with.
