18/10/2024
It's World Menopause Day!
Finally, the media, medical world, government, and workplace health experts are waking up to what women have quietly endured for centuries.
And up until now, the solution has often been, "She just needs to deal with it." Most initiatives have focused on how women can help themselves—don’t even get me started on the endless Instagram feeds pushing beauty routines, exercise plans, or diets for women over 50 (yes, I’m part of this group ☹).
But here's the truth: women make up 51% of the population. They're partners, wives, mothers, daughters, doctors, cooks, and managers—they hold society together. Everything that affects women impacts families, workplaces, and communities.
One of the few studies on male perceptions of menopause—the 2019 MATE survey—revealed that 56% of men believed menopause negatively impacted their relationships. While most men knew about sleeplessness and low energy, they were unaware of the many other symptoms. In 72% of cases, women had to start the conversation, with only 10% of men doing any research (and just 8% asking their partners, how can they help!).
So, I’m calling on male partners, coworkers, managers, brothers, and sons—take the time to understand what’s happening with the women in your life and start the conversation.
To help, I’ve written a 10-step guide for partners to better understand this journey.
Having gender equality and inclusion policies in place is important, but it's not enough. To truly drive meaningful change, education is one of the most powerful tools for influencing behaviour. By raising awareness and providing practical knowledge, we can create a more supportive and inclusive environment for everyone.
For an engaging, informative, and highly practical menopause transition webinar or workshop, contact us. We'll help your workplace move beyond policies to real understanding and action.
