Proposals to change UK legislation to protect the rights of women experiencing menopause have been in part rejected by the government due to fears such a move would discriminate against men.
Here, six Guardian readers share differing views of this news.
‘The government has signalled it doesn’t care about women’s health’
It’s unbelievable that the UK government would decide not to support women during menopause. It feels like a kick in the stomach for women’s rights and gender equality. The government’s decision to reject calls to make menopause a protected characteristic – because it could [in part] be “counterproductive” by discriminating against men – is proof of how misunderstood the impact of the menopause on both women and workplaces is.
The concept of gender equity recognises that women and men have different needs and that these differences should be identified and addressed in a manner that rectifies the imbalances between the sexes. Data shows that menopause can have a crippling impact on a woman’s physical and mental wellbeing, and one in 10 women have even left their jobs due to the severity of their symptoms.
This proposal would have protected women against discrimination in the workplace and supported them through a challenging time. By rejecting it, the government has signalled that it is not interested in women’s health. The argument that such legislation would discriminate against men is a lazy excuse – it is about levelling the playing field, and would not prevent men with health conditions from being supported through that as well.
Sharon Peake, workplace psychologist and founder of gender equality consultancy Shape Talent, London
‘We should celebrate menopause, not pathologise it’
I’m glad this was thrown out. We are in danger of pathologising women’s bodies as deviant, or in need of pity. Menopause is a natural part of life and, while it needs understanding, this legislation is part of a worrying trend towards further seeing women’s bodies as dysfunctional, while men’s bodies are seen as normal, as the blueprint. I’m not saying menopause doesn’t cause problems for women. Of course it does. But there now seems to be a presumption that every woman will find it problematic, and that’s just not true.
I think we just can’t tolerate the idea of women getting older in the UK. I think it’s the patriarchy that says, “menopause is dreadful!”. We should celebrate it, it’s fab! Let’s accept our biology and our bodies – and not give patriarchy further reasons to resent us.
Dawn, 55, NHS consultant, Norwich
‘I suffered a lot in perimenopause and felt alone’
I think it’s appalling that sloppy thinking and “whataboutery” have stopped this legislation. The argument that men with medical problems may be discriminated against just doesn’t hold water. Menopause isn’t a medical problem – it’s a phase of life that every woman will experience. It may present problems with employment that may lead to discrimination against some women, especially where the employer is ignorant of how menopause can affect women at work.
Here are some things that happened to me: for the last five years before menopause I had excruciating and embarrassing problems: sudden drops in energy; very heavy, irregular periods; pain and discomfort the like of which I had never experienced before. On several occasions I had to take time off sick because I simply couldn’t work, or had to go out and buy new clothes, having bled through everything despite wearing heavy pads. My husband found it very difficult to understand what was going on for me and my marriage hit problems. It would have been great to see what I was going through recognised as something important and shared.
Bridget, 66, North Yorkshire
‘Legislation could turn employers off hiring older women’
I agree that the effects of menopause on some women should be recognised, and it’s great that people talk about them a lot more. Employers should provide adequate sick pay arrangements and be flexible and sympathetic, as they should be with any illness or difficult life circumstances. However, menopause is not an illness and it is not a disability. It can be managed well.
Medicalising it and promoting it as a disability could cause women to fear it, which causes stress – exactly what you want to avoid in menopause. And it could cause employers to think twice about employing women of a certain age, which is the last thing you want to encourage. I’m perimenopausal, and when I got a parking ticket by accident, I wrote to the parking provider and said, “look, I had brain fog, this is a perimenopausal symptom”. And they did waive it. I think the best thing to do is raise awareness.
Louise, 53, social worker, Cambridgeshire
‘Why are our bodies no longer worthy of protection when we become infertile?’
It infuriates me that maternity is a protected category, but when we stop producing future taxpayers our bodies are no longer important or worthy of “protecting”. This government recently recognised that over-50s are voluntarily leaving the workplace at worrying rates, but fails to understand women make up a significant part of this group.
I’m perimenopausal and it’s tough, but being able to adjust my working day to short bursts – as I work for myself – has helped me find the right balance and accept that biological changes are, at times, significantly affecting my body and mind. If this government was serious about protected characteristics and supporting disabled and disadvantaged people (regardless of gender), they wouldn’t fear discriminating against men if they implemented better support for menopausal women.
Leila, 46, therapist, London
‘My female boss understands, but others don’t’
Yesterday was a great example of how debilitating perimenopause can be. I was due an oestrogen patch change the night before. I took the old ones off and had a shower, but I forgot to put replacement ones on. Yesterday morning I was so tired I felt as if someone had drugged me. I had a visual migraine. I couldn’t drive safely and I had to ask for some time off, which my (female) boss is understanding about. I’m very lucky. It would have been very different in my previous job.
Menopause has been proven to affect women very strongly in multiple ways. It is real. And if men had to go through similar, menopause policies would have been in place for years now.
Sophie, 47, administrator, Essex
