The answer to the menopause taboo? Start with a cafe | Libby Brookes

In a bid to destroy stigma, women across Scotland have been galvanised to openly discuss symptoms and support

For those who still think that the menopause is the punchline to a joke (albeit told by someone who has never experienced a night sweat), the advent of a men-only menopause awareness session at the Scottish parliament was the cause of some consternation. Organised by the Holyrood Women’s Network, and led by the Good Morning Britain regular Hilary Jones, last week’s Q&A aimed to educate male MSPs about the physiological challenges facing middle-aged female colleagues and staff. Critics have understandably found it easier to complain about the waste of taxpayers’ money than admit that the whole notion of women’s ageing, leaky bodies being discussed in a public place makes them feel a bit yucky.

I don’t remember much about puberty these days, aside from endless attempts to disguise sanitary products in fuschia plastic holders to avoid alerting the world to the shameful fact that I was bleeding. But I certainly don’t recall learning about the menopause during my patchy sex ed lessons. As an adult consumer, used to having my desire for hand-reared/organic/paraben-free products sold back to me with a hefty markup, it never fails to amaze me that we prize the “natural” in everything else other than the female body.

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from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2sqB8Wo