To be pissed off that Davina McCall and Sainsbury's think that 50% of "people" go through the Menopause

[ButterYourMuffin]

Standing in bloody long queue at Sainsburys this afternoon (as they only open 1 bloody till even when 6 people have trolleys full - I know that's another thread ...) so not in a great mood. Then over the speaker comes Davina with "Hi, I'm Davina and I want to talk about the Menopause." Ok, I think, being at that age, then "Did you know that 50% of PEOPLE go through the menopause?" WTF!!

How to make a menopausal WOMAN really angry.

AIBU to say that Sainsburys have lost my custom?

You're over-reacting. It's a way of phrasing the statistic to make the entire population realise that we all need to pay attention to the menopause - men included. It would be the same if they said 50% of the entire world's population goes through the menopause. It's a way of showing how massive a deal it is, how it affects so many of us.

If they just say that women go through the menopause, probably many men will mentally switch off. And for things to change, we need EVERYBODY, men included, to pay attention to it.

YABU.

This.

Trans men are female. Therefore part of the 50% of the population who experience menopause.

I agree Remus - I'm not suggesting otherwise. I genuinely worry though that the importance of our biological make up is being obfuscated in the name of being kind. My son is dating a transman who has horrific endometriosis. I understand that being referred to as a woman is difficult and I'm very sympathetic but the fact remains that endo is a condition that affects the female body and there's no escaping that. This is where my personal worries lie - that there is this idea that you can escape your sex and for the people I care about, managing the reality of the situation is just as vital.

Apologies for the slight derail, just wanted to clarify my stance.

What a load of utter rot.

I don't know why men are supposed to be included and pay attention to the menopause messaging. Why can't they just speak to women? I don't see why we have to make it acceptable to talk about women's issues by including men. I don't give a shit if men in general know anything about periods or menopause. In fact, I'd prefer they stayed well out of it.

Because it’s not 50% of women who go through menopause, it is in fact 50% of people.
Using the word people in this context draws attention to the fact that it’s half the population (ie all the woman), the ad is trying to engage males with the topic

This.

I actually think she is trying to make the point that despite it affecting 50% of the population it's only now being openly being talked about.

An accurate description of this thread I must say.

Using the word people mean men won’t switch off. Dear lord what crap.

I work in PR and I guarantee you it was phrased that way to be able to avoid saying women. All clients are terrified of excluding 0.01% of people who’ll campaign against them

@beastlyslumber I think it's because historically men have dismissed women, periods and menopause and used those conditions to ensure that women are seen as second class citizens, incapable of the same achievements as men, by virtue of the fact that they bleed, grow babies and go through the menopause.

to make the entire population realise that we all need to pay attention to the menopause - men included
As if men give a shit about menopause.

@HadEnough798 You're deluded if you think that saying 50% of PEOPLE suffer from menopause is going to make men take notice or care. They don't give a shit about how women suffer during menopause, and never will. Men are inherently selfish and self centred, and will only be bothered if/when their wife having menopausal symptoms affects them getting their meals, the chores done, and their end away.

Because not all people who go through the menopause identify as women...

Also every fucking brand wants to talk about menopause at the moment it’s insane. They’ll find something else next month

Utter Rot ... is an accurate description of posters on here saying men will give a shit about women suffering during the menopause. LOL they don't/won't give a shit.

It's making the point that HALF the population go through it. It's not "a women's thing" that's embarrassing and shouldn't be spoken about. It affects half the population, isn't rare and needs to be discussed in the open. With half the population being affected it make sense that all the population know about it.

@beastlyslumber Trans men are trans men. They do not choose to identify as female, and the law supports them in this.

@CandyLeBonBon I really appreciate the extra detail there. I think any trans person has to accept that they can 'escape's the sense that they're utterly within their rights to do so, but that, medically their 'history' (for want of a better word) remains valid and can't just be papered over. But I won't/can't accept people therefore stating as bald fact, 'They are female' as some people on here are doing. It is misgendering them, according to the protected characteristics.

Cross post. ^ Exactly what I said.

Oh no. Men do give a shit about menopause. There are eons of jokes about why it's ok to ditch your old fat frumpy wife for a younger, fresher model - the fact is that 'male menopause' or the male midlife crisis has been given WAYYYYYU more airtime than the menopause.

Men are capable of learning that 50% of the population go through something that can often be quite difficult.

It's no different to erectile dysfunction adverts - the mere exposure effect. The more you talk about and are aware of things, the more likely you are to view it favourably.

I hear you @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie

Yep , menopausal - buy some menopausal shampoo or moisturising cream
Absolute bollocks
Sell
Sell
Sell

Have they? That's a very neat encapsulation of thousands of years of human history and I don't buy it for one second.

Yes, women's conditions have been medicalised and pathologised but this is the result of sexism rather than the origins of it. The origins of inequality between men and women is likely to be the development of agriculture replacing hunting and gathering, when women became tied to home.

Anyway, I don't need or want men to be involved or educated about my personal bodily functions, unless they are my husband/carer or doctor. Menopause is a woman thing.