Louise Mary

So disappointed with The Project's treatment of the story about Menopause and the movement to provide paid leave to women experiencing symptoms. For a start, the convoluted explanation given was incorrect: According to the Australasian Menopause Society Perimenopause is the time leading up to, and 12 months following, the last menstual period. This time can vary and is where most of the changes and symptoms occur. 'Menopause' is literally the day 12 months after the last period. After that women are POST Menopausal for the remainder of their lives. Further to the disappointing treatment of this story was Kate Langbroek's tacky comment and flippant humour about workers from 'Hooters' requiring paid Menopause Leave. This comment only served to diminish the seriousness of the topic and to seek a cheap laugh in a way that was completely unnecessary and I think highly disrespectful to the intention of the guest and the story. For some watching, this comment would quite simply reinforce misogynistic and dismissive attitudes around the topic of Menopause and the genuine challenges faced by many women, not to mention the disrespect for women working for Hooters. The fact that the comment came from a woman of post-menopausal age was even more disheartening. The Project, please understand that not every slightly uncomfortable topic needs to be dismantled with cliched, base humour.