MANIFESTING MENOPAUSE

Part of the BLOODY BEAUTIFUL programme by affect lab.

This event took place on 30th October 2024 at Tolhuistuin, Amsterdam.

In Gossip Session #5: Manifesting Menopause we explored how cultural myths, biases, and stereotypes about menopause are sustained, and questioned the consequences of the lack of representation and misrepresentation of menopause for those experiencing it – and for everyone else. 

This intimate evening was structured in two complementary acts. As the opening act, we presented the results of our Bloody Beautiful survey on menopause culture, created in collaboration with the brilliant minds at Opinium in the summer of 2024. This is the first-ever Dutch survey of the feelings, attitudes and beliefs about menopause. Part of the survey examined the representation of menopausal people in the media, as well as in everyday conversations at home and in the workplace.

The second act was a walkthrough of representations of menopause in mainstream entertainment media, starting with 1970s sitcoms and continuing up to the Instagram reels of today. These hilarious, infuriating, ridiculous, and relatable film clips were researched and curated by Juliette Brederode (affect lab) and included highlights like “End of the Curse” from The Golden Girls (1987) and “The Menopause Monologues” from Fleabag (2019).

The film snippets and survey statistics served as very fertile ground for gossip and critical reflection on how menopause is portrayed and discussed.

About BLOODY BEAUTIFUL

BLOODY BEAUTIFUL is a movement for lesser heard stories about menstruation and menopause. Our goal is to creatively propagate new public narratives about menstruation and menopause in a gender-forward way. 

About Opinium
Opinium is an award-winning strategic insight agency, built on the belief that in a world of uncertainty and complexity, success depends on the ability to stay on the pulse of what people think, feel and do.

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