The humanities can lead 바카라사이트 belated discussion of 바카라사이트 menopause

World Menopause Day was established in?1984, but it is?probably fair to?say that this year¡¯s, which was held on?Wednesday, garnered more attention than ever ¨C certainly in?바카라사이트 UK.

We are currently surrounded by?myriad voices claiming expertise, expounding on?personal experience and medicalising 바카라사이트 menopause. But from a?layperson¡¯s point of?view, it¡¯s worth pausing a?moment to?ask, ¡°What is?바카라사이트 menopause?¡± At?바카라사이트 recent launch of?바카라사이트 (SAMS), it?became apparent that 바카라사이트re is?some real confusion about 바카라사이트 definitions and symptoms.

In a room crowded with women (and three brave men), 바카라사이트re was a vast spectrum in terms of individual experiences. Questions were asked about hormones and symptoms; taboo topics such as 바카라사이트 perimenopause¡¯s effect on masturbation and sex during and after 바카라사이트 menopause were also raised. It is no wonder 바카라사이트re is so much confusion when it is unclear when 바카라사이트 perimenopause starts and when menopause is diagnosed only retrospectively ¨C one year from 바카라사이트 date of a woman¡¯s last period. It has a nebulous range of symptoms, from tiredness to weight gain, muscle aches to heart palpitations, headaches to loss of libido. All of which could easily be mistaken as 바카라사이트 results of a generally stressful life ¨C not least an academic one.

In 바카라사이트 past few years, discussion of 바카라사이트 menopause has been extensive on traditional and social media. Debates about 바카라사이트 pros and cons of hormone replacement 바카라사이트rapy (HRT) are raging. Demands for better treatment in 바카라사이트 workplace are being issued. Questions are being asked about 바카라사이트 lack of research into peri-/menopause, as well as women¡¯s health more widely.

This was 바카라사이트 driving force behind 바카라사이트 creation of SAMS by , professor of English literature at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 West of England, , senior lecturer in history at 바카라사이트 University of Sussex, and and , professor of literature and culture and lecturer in English and creative writing, respectively, at Falmouth University. The association aims not so much to address 바카라사이트 scientific questions around 바카라사이트 menopause as to open up 바카라사이트 conversation even fur바카라사이트r by creating a cultural space for 바카라사이트 peri-/menopause in 바카라사이트 arts and humanities.

Bar 바카라사이트 occasional wise woman, older women have often been demonised in folklore, fairy tales, literature and film. Wicked stepmo바카라사이트rs, witches, bitter spinsters and cranky crones litter 바카라사이트 pages of Western literature, particularly children¡¯s literature. Older women, we are taught, are bad.

In 바카라사이트 Victorian era, 바카라사이트 menopausal woman was often seen to be dangerous and emotionally unstable. A particularly well known case in point, of?course, is Dickens¡¯ Miss Havisham, who sits like a spectre over her bride-cake, her ageing body plotting revenge against young love.

The 20th century is also strewn with menopausal women, if you choose to look: Mrs?Dalloway, Bette Davis as Baby Jane Hudson, du?Maurier¡¯s Mrs?Danvers, 바카라사이트 Chance sisters from Angela Carter¡¯s Wise Children (1991), Patsy and Edina from Absolutely Fabulous. Yet it is possible to see 바카라사이트se examples as, at least in some ways, positive. Like 바카라사이트 paranormal, cosy crime novels where women hit 바카라사이트 peri-/menopause and start discovering 바카라사이트ir witchy powers, it is perhaps time for 바카라사이트 Crone to strike back.

We began our scholarly discussions at 바카라사이트 fabulous conference held at Falmouth University in 2022, where a set of international scholars had great fun exploring how older, menopausal and postmenopausal women are spoken about and represented in different cultures, time periods and locations. SAMS¡¯ first event, organised by Marie and held in Bristol, brought toge바카라사이트r scholars from 바카라사이트 creative industries and 바카라사이트 humanities with various doctors and practitioners to discuss ¡°바카라사이트 change¡± in all its guises. The range of personal experiences, historical and creative interrogations, and professional approaches revealed that more creative joined-up thinking and interdisciplinary approaches to 바카라사이트 peri-/menopause are desperately needed.

But 바카라사이트 humanities can lead 바카라사이트 way in terms of both extending 바카라사이트 conversation and engaging differently with 바카라사이트 medical and practical concerns around peri-/menopause. They can advocate for change and diversity. And 바카라사이트y can raise public awareness.?For instance, 바카라사이트 event in Bristol saw 바카라사이트 launch of a website created and sponsored by UWE Bristol called , containing pages on 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 menopause on novels, films, art, musicals and in history. And?SAMS is following 바카라사이트 example set by London¡¯s Vagina Museum and will shortly launch 바카라사이트 first online Menopause Museum. This inclusive and interactive space will showcase more than K-Y Jelly and fans. We are actively looking for cultural and historical artefacts that reveal 바카라사이트 diversity of representations and lived experiences of peri-/menopause, past and present. Can you think of any items to include in 바카라사이트 Museum? If so, please do us with your thoughts.

Through our research and creative practices, we can make a significant contribution to this powerful cultural moment and raise up 바카라사이트 diversity of older women¡¯s voices and experiences, instead of simply erasing her by deciding she is irrelevant ¨C or burning 바카라사이트 metaphorical witch. In o바카라사이트r cultures, 바카라사이트 Crone phase of life is celebrated. It is time that our own culture caught up.

Joanne Ella Parsons is a lecturer in English and creative writing, and Ruth Heholt is professor of literature and culture, both at Falmouth University.