Representation in the arts has been a hot topic in recent years, with calls for greater diversity in gender, race, disability and more, in TV shows and movies. But there’s another less-talked-about demographic gaining attention too – menopausal women.Women going through the transition used to be shown on screen as being cranky and a little bit crazy. In That ’70s Show, the American teen sitcom that ran from 1998 to 2006, menopause was described as “that horrible thing that’s taken over your mother”, “the lady parts problem” and “a tricky enemy”.While the classic sitcom The Golden Girls did tackle menopause, the topic was played for laughs rather than to raise awareness or gain understanding.In recent years, conversations about menopause have moved into the mainstream, helped by celebrities such as actresses Naomi Watts and Halle Berry, and talkshow host Oprah Winfrey who have spoken openly about their experiences.The 2024 documentary film The M Factor: Shredding The Silence On Menopause explored how menopause affects women’s careers and the gaps in medical education around women’s midlife health.
Menopause is also increasingly being addressed in TV shows that are not specifically about the life stage, bringing the conversation to audiences beyond menopausal women.In 2019, British comedy drama Fleabag featured Kristin Scott Thomas as a 58-year-old woman whose monologue about ageing and menopause went viral. Her character described menopause as "horrendous", but ultimately "magnificent".
