It is the World Menopause Day on the 18th of October. What is menopause and why it is important to raise awareness and talk about it?
Our Professor of Work and Employment Sarah Vickerstaff wrote about Menopause in the Equality Matters blog: https://blogs.kent.ac.uk/equalitymatters/world-menopause-day/
“It remains a largely taboo and hidden subject and awareness about who it affects and how it affects is poor amongst the general population. Yet in the workplace most people knowingly or unknowingly will be working with someone or managing someone who is going through the menopause who may be thriving or may be struggling.” Professor Sarah Vickerstaff
Professor Vickerstaff urges men to join in to the conversation and related events – two past menopause events organised by the University of Kent have been solely attended by women. As NHS Employers says: “Studies have shown that menopause symptoms can have a significant impact on attendance and performance in the workplace, which makes menopause not just a female issue, but an organisational issue.” This right here is important to realise – it is not just a female issue!
If you feel lost or unsure where to go or what to say it is always good to do a bit of research first:
“So feel emboldened to talk about your own experiences or start a conversation with someone, get informed. A great source of information on symptoms and ideas for managing them can be found on the Menopause matters website: https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/about.php. There is also a menopause matters forum where people can ask questions and respond to each other. You might prefer some more alternative solutions; there is no one approach that will suit everyone, perhaps yoga would help: https://www.menopause-yoga.com/.” Professor Sarah Vickerstaff
Let’s talk about menopause!