What was even harder to swallow was that quite a bit of the menopause messaging with regards to Nicola, was delivered by a woman who looked to be a midlife woman herself. We need to support each other and push back on the unhelpful messaging even amongst our own community!
I feel like this post is needlessly aggressive. Mental health problems and menopause induced symptoms are completely different in my opinion. I don’t claim to know anything about Nicola Bulley but I do think the police get such a rough time whatever they do. They are public servants doing a pretty difficult job. Maybe they don’t always get it right but they’re certainly doing more than blogging on LinkedIn. The menopause conversation is important and should not be conflated with mental health issues - though of course the one can exacerbate the other. Maybe I’m just not a fan of militant feminism. It would be nice if there could be a discussion about these topics which could be nuanced and civil rather than dogmatic and right on. My opinion
The police announcement sent me into a fury. I felt they used it to explain why they were looking at it as a missing persons case, rather than a more acute case. It was deeply inappropriate to deflect criticism this way. I worry that menopause will become seen as an easy excuse to undercut women’s agency even more.
As a woman, I feel fortunate to be living in a time of new awareness and intolerance of misogyny. This pivotal time of transition requires a nuanced approach, drawing on the very essence of our strength as women - patience, compassion and empathy. It is our gift. A gift which is referenced and celebrated with many examples through this very community. However, I would caution that this important stage in the change cycle requires time and patience. The slow process of the mutation of misogyny is an important first step toward its evolution. It is important how we tend to this delicate and slow stage of change that will determine its chances of fully evolving.
Can we as women and brave campaigners be part of this process using our strengths without succumbing to using the very aggressive divisive approach we are trying to transcend beyond? I suggest calling it out and knocking it down is a miss-step that we cannot afford at this tender and delicate stage of its development.
Whats so annoying is that there is this massive misconception that everyone going through the menopause is struggling and it just adds to the stereotype of being driven solely by hormones (when you are young all you get if you stand up for yourself is "are you pre-menstrual?"). So every middle aged woman who gets annoyed, has a period of struggling with life (hello aging parents, family, full time job etc) is deemed to "have issues with the menopause".....WRONG!!!! Plus the menopause is not always a negative experience, its freeing, life enhancing, a natural part of life and we should celebrate it as well as educate people about it.
What was even harder to swallow was that quite a bit of the menopause messaging with regards to Nicola, was delivered by a woman who looked to be a midlife woman herself. We need to support each other and push back on the unhelpful messaging even amongst our own community!
I feel like this post is needlessly aggressive. Mental health problems and menopause induced symptoms are completely different in my opinion. I don’t claim to know anything about Nicola Bulley but I do think the police get such a rough time whatever they do. They are public servants doing a pretty difficult job. Maybe they don’t always get it right but they’re certainly doing more than blogging on LinkedIn. The menopause conversation is important and should not be conflated with mental health issues - though of course the one can exacerbate the other. Maybe I’m just not a fan of militant feminism. It would be nice if there could be a discussion about these topics which could be nuanced and civil rather than dogmatic and right on. My opinion
Yep I agree and inappropriate to be using this very sad and tragic situation to sell copy, which seems to be what this newsletter is all about.
Brilliant article. Wish I could have seen the uncomfortable looks among your audience when you made your “Viagra club” comparison!
The police announcement sent me into a fury. I felt they used it to explain why they were looking at it as a missing persons case, rather than a more acute case. It was deeply inappropriate to deflect criticism this way. I worry that menopause will become seen as an easy excuse to undercut women’s agency even more.
As a woman, I feel fortunate to be living in a time of new awareness and intolerance of misogyny. This pivotal time of transition requires a nuanced approach, drawing on the very essence of our strength as women - patience, compassion and empathy. It is our gift. A gift which is referenced and celebrated with many examples through this very community. However, I would caution that this important stage in the change cycle requires time and patience. The slow process of the mutation of misogyny is an important first step toward its evolution. It is important how we tend to this delicate and slow stage of change that will determine its chances of fully evolving.
Can we as women and brave campaigners be part of this process using our strengths without succumbing to using the very aggressive divisive approach we are trying to transcend beyond? I suggest calling it out and knocking it down is a miss-step that we cannot afford at this tender and delicate stage of its development.
Whats so annoying is that there is this massive misconception that everyone going through the menopause is struggling and it just adds to the stereotype of being driven solely by hormones (when you are young all you get if you stand up for yourself is "are you pre-menstrual?"). So every middle aged woman who gets annoyed, has a period of struggling with life (hello aging parents, family, full time job etc) is deemed to "have issues with the menopause".....WRONG!!!! Plus the menopause is not always a negative experience, its freeing, life enhancing, a natural part of life and we should celebrate it as well as educate people about it.