Get Angry!

Newsletter Issue 2

Housekeeping

This week’s episode spoke about the image of the perimenopausal woman as dictated by society and perpetuated by women. International Menopause Day is a real thing and ‘celebrated’ on October 18th every year! There is such an organization called The International Menopause Society (https://www.imsociety.org) and there are chapters in most countries… See if there is one where you live and if not maybe you can start one?

We delved into the “woman of a certain age” trope/stereotype and how it perpetuates a stigma, affects our narrative and the image we hold of ourselves. Who do we identify as and shouldn’t we get angry when our story is told TO us instead of BY us? Perspective is everything and reclamation is vital! We tell our stories. We dictate our image. We craft our identity.

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Tell Me What You Really Think

This is the comedy bit that I spoke about in the last episode. Funny? Yes! Relatable? Undoubtedly! Am I kinda bothered? Absofuckinglylutely! Am I being too sensitive?? Maybe? Probably? Am I allowed? Hell effin yeah!

Have a listen and leave a comment! Let me know what you really think…

@clean_comedy1Jeff Allen menopause #foryoupage #fyp #foryou

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The Runners-Up Club

“We are being gaslighted by our own hormones” - Jules (Woman of a Certain Rage)

This book is funny in its relatability. The protagonist Eliza was in the throes of perimenopause and trying to hold on the image she had of herself. Her attempts to reconcile her past, present and future selves all while handling a sensitive husband, social media loving teen daughter, unwanted admirer and dysfunctional family would lead anyone to anger. Then there’s the case of the stolen canal boat. Simultaneously, laugh out loud funny, gut wrenchingly sad and full of justified rage, this novel will inspire and aspire and lots of mic drop quotes…

Discussion Guide:

1. Eliza’s mother expresses her loneliness during perimenopause because her ‘generation simply didn’t talk about menopause, or if they did it was in euphemisms’ has that changed?

2. Eliza’s mother states that she was “no longer frightened of everything” after menopause, can you relate?

3. Paddy laments the loss of ‘bubbly Eliza’ and Eliza realizes that she spent over 20 years with a partner that doesn’t know her cup size, what turns her on or anything about menopause. Is this a fair representation of a relationship during the more mature years? 

4. Eliza had taken to hiding her hair thinning from Paddy, are there things about your body changes during this time that you hide from your partner and why?

5. Maybe global warming is Mother Nature’s menopause?” Why do you think nature was assigned female gender?

6. “Over fifty, apologies carry less weight”, is society less forgiving of older women?

7. The title alludes to the narrative that women get more emotional / angry as they age and then Eliza says “who can think of a single positive word used to describe a woman over fifty?” Why do you think this narrative has been perpetuated and do you ascribe to it?

8. Anger is a primary emotion for both genders, yet for women, that emotion is trained into suppression. Discuss.

9. “What’s the point of dressing up invisibility?” Why is this narrative harmful?

10. Empathy spoken in shorthand speak conveying to ‘chin up’ and ‘you’ll get through it” and best not to go into detail does a disservice to the next generation, how can we change that narrative?

11. Eliza mentions that she and her partner are ‘products of traditional, gender-divided upbringings’ and that she ‘believes feminism was for academics or activists’, do you think you perpetuate this narrative? How has it evolved for the next generation?

12. Eliza is astounded that her teen daughter is using technology to perpetuate the narrative of old-fashioned femininity, discuss the new wave of ‘trad wife’ being promoted in an evolved vehicle.

13. Eliza states that she never doubted she wasn’t equal to men mentally and emotionally but she did feel inferior to feminists, can you relate?

    “Hooray for balls! Except women don’t have balls. Why can’t we have a positive piece of our anatomy to represent being courageous and powerful in our own right” - Eliza (Woman of a Certain Rage)

Recommended:

This article on Menopause Day by Andrea Hoffmann is an awesome read:

Results will be shared in next week’s episode when relationships and menopause will be the focus.

Not Just for Giggles:

https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/is-it-perimenopause-or-the-fascist-death-knell-of-late-stage-capitalism

In Closing: Reclamation Is Vital

“When a man gives his opinion, he’s a man. When a woman gives her opinion, she’s a bitch” - Bette Davis

Let’s get angry and keep talking out loud! Because why the hell not!! Changing the narrative!