Speaking of Menopause: Why Words Matter in Women’s Health
Before starting Menopause Chicks, the words “menopause” and “hormones” sounded like swear words to me; always spoken in a negative context.
Was it the same for you?
How often did you hear “oh, she’s so hormonal,” or “menopause sucks?”
“Symptoms-this. Suffering-that.”
Every time there was a mention of menopause, it conjured up the same stereotypical thoughts of: “She must be hot, old, tired, moody, miserable and more!”
My guess is that if you stepped outside right now and said the word “menopause” to the first person you met, you would still receive a similar response.
This negativity alone could be why millions of women are now waking up in their 40s, 50s and 60s without a full understanding of their hormone health; which hormone is responsible for what, how hormones work, and some of the common experiences associated with hormone fluctuations as we navigate perimenopause-to-menopause-to-postmenopause–and especially how these changes can influence our current health…as well as our heart, brain, bone and genitourinary health for the next 3-5 decades.
More than once in my life, I’ve been accused of being a “Pollyanna.” I really love paradigm-shifting–especially if it can move a conversation away from outdated stereotypes towards something…dare I say it…worthy of celebration.
But let’s face it. We all worked hard to get here. This can’t be the beginning of the end, can it?
What if it was the beginning?
Yes, what if conversations about perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause were reframed to mean someone who is smart, wise, confident, and beautiful?
Who cares if she still has period anymore?! That’s irrelevant. What matters is that she has her own name (& health) at the top of the to-do list!
Well, I’m happy to say that it’s 2024, and the menopause conversation has been fully cracked open—at Menopause Chicks & MenopauseCommunity.com, which I started 12 years ago. And, with some amazing new initiatives, like the National Menopause Show in Toronto on October 26, 2024!
This is exciting–because there’s still a very large gap between old thinking and new; between misinformation and evidence-based information.
So, let’s change that on October 26th! Thank you for being curious about your health and for grabbing your ticket now. I can’t wait to meet you in person at the show. I know it’s going to be an excellent place for you to start thinking…or RE-thinking how you learn about, talk about, and plan your journey from perimenopause to menopause to postmenopause with more confidence and ease.