Menopause Challenges Women's Confidence & Career, Finds Study

A latest research published in the journal of Women's Health named ‘Too Hot to Handle,’ analyzed 130 anonymous posts on Reddit trying to find out the impact of menopause on the career sustainability of women. The research is a Qualitative Analysis of Reddit Platform Data on the Impact of Menopause on Career Sustainability.

According to a report cited by the researchers, 10 to 14% of women quit working during menopause. Previous studies related to menopause at work received little consideration on its influence on the overall well-being, job satisfaction and productivity. However, these three aspects constitute the pillars of the sustainable careers model.

Key Highlights:

• A study analysed 130 Reddit posts to examine menopause's impact on women's careers
• Menopause symptoms affected women's workplace confidence, productivity and professional identity
• Flexible schedules, mentoring and awareness training can help support women at work

The study revealed how menopause impacted the professional lives of women differently, resulting in obstacles regarding performance at work and wellness at the same time. It was established that well-being, happiness, and productivity were all linked, which became an important factor to consider when evaluating career sustainability.

Fatigue, mood changes, migraines, brain fog, and anxiety were mentioned by many women as symptoms which impacted their ability to achieve professional expectations and confidence at work. Women expressed feelings of guilt regarding their challenges and the fear of negative consequences on performance evaluations and career development.

Being able to discuss their situation online gave them the possibility to find more information about their condition and seek emotional support. However, there were also stories that described the connection between deteriorating women’s health, decreased performance and growing emotions at work.

Cognitive challenges proved to be another issue impacting women's productivity at work. Some of the participants faced problems with memory and concentration, and even forgetting familiar words, resulting in embarrassment, loss of professional confidence and fear of not meeting job requirements.

The limitations of the study conducted by the authors also need to be considered. Due to anonymity in the use of Reddit, demographic data on the participants was unknown, which posed limitations in assessing the diversity of the sample. Social media access disparities also could have served as limitations for representation. Selection bias was also a potential issue because people experiencing issues at work would be more interested in sharing their experience online.

Apart from the personal stories of the participants, the findings reveal how the organization can help women with menopause. According to the authors of the study, the policies within organizations, managerial behavior and availability of proper support can be of great help. It directly affects employees' ability to cope with menopause symptoms and continue their professional career.

Several organizational interventions were proposed by the researchers. Education of the employees on menopause and sensitization, opening spaces for discussion, providing flexible schedules and mentoring were on the top.

Menopause is an important but understudied aspect that affects women’s careers, especially with millions of women still being employed during this period. With more than a billion women in the world undergoing the experience of menopause or post-menopause, it has become vital to understand the effect it can have on careers.