Show Notes:

• Women’s voices not only need to be heard but paid attention to.
• Madeline and her team are listening and taking note and sharing the feedback they are receiving
• Everyone needs be at the table to discuss the realities of women experiencing perimenopause and menopause at the workplace – men, partners, leadership
• It is important to understand this change in order to be understanding of it. This is just one way our bodies will be changing and we need to learn to reflect on what our bodies are asking us to reconsider what we are asking of them
• We are forced into a new relationship with our bodies –
• It is a shift – painful because we don’t like to let go of parts of ourselves who have served us well in our lives to this point
• Madeline wants to make women feel less alone and hear the voice of others
• There is a lack of culture about this phase of life in a woman’s life – but it is coming!!
• Share tools and strategies that other people are using and they may help other people – to help women know they don’t have to suffer – there are resources and tools and to help
• Women in perimenopause and menopause are bringing so much value to the labour market – it’s about talent retention – when women don’t feel supported, they leave the company or the labour market before they want to – some tips Madeline would like to offer leadership:

1. Don’t try and control bodies
2. The importance of flexibility in scheduling etc.
3. Give resources – do your benefits cover HRT? Do your employees have access to supports?
4. Do your employees have a safe environment to talk about their struggles?

• This is not an ending, but a beginning – listen to your body – seek the resources that will support you through whatever means –
• Research indicates the changes that happen in the brain and other bodily changes are consistent with things that happen when you go through puberty and pregnancy.
• It is so destructive because it is threatening to our identity as women and workers – but there are leadership opportunities that come out of menopause
• This is the time that you leave things behind, but when you do that, it leaves you lighter for new things and growth
• We may not be able to change what is happening to our bodies, but we can absolutely change what we say to ourselves. And we can be part of a movement that sees the possibility and promise, transformation and growth this time of life can bring.

Links:

The Menopause Manifesto by Dr. Jen Gunter

The (Peri)menopause Project website

Madeline Toubiana on LinkedIn