Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Manageable Discomforts: A Qualitative Study of Menopause Experiences in the Workplace in Sweden

Fox, Linnea Maria LU (2023) SIMZ51 20231
Graduate School
Abstract
Menopause is a transitional process often hidden from society. Menopause can have varying degrees of effects on individuals, however there are possible enormous effects which can have impacts on individuals personal and professional lives. The following thesis explores menopause as a sociological phenomenon. The research specifically looks into how experiences of menopause appear in the workplace and how menopausal symptoms affect employees. I also ask about the potential roles of social support networks. In order to investigate these questions, the researcher uses semi-structured interviews with administrative staff at Swedish universities who are currently undergoing or have undergone climacteric. Through thematic analysis of the ten... (More)
Menopause is a transitional process often hidden from society. Menopause can have varying degrees of effects on individuals, however there are possible enormous effects which can have impacts on individuals personal and professional lives. The following thesis explores menopause as a sociological phenomenon. The research specifically looks into how experiences of menopause appear in the workplace and how menopausal symptoms affect employees. I also ask about the potential roles of social support networks. In order to investigate these questions, the researcher uses semi-structured interviews with administrative staff at Swedish universities who are currently undergoing or have undergone climacteric. Through thematic analysis of the ten interviews, this research provides an overview of menopause experiences in the workplace, and an understanding of how larger gendered cultural and social norms work to shape experiences of menopause. I found that, similarly to periods, conversations around menopause bolster bonding and create social support networks within the workplace. Additionally, the participants spoke with a normative discourse of menopause being a manageable discomfort to minimize the concerns and shame around menopause. This result showcases further normalization of women’s pain. I argue that this discourse is another function to oppress women, by minimizing and concealing their pain. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Fox, Linnea Maria LU
supervisor
organization
course
SIMZ51 20231
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Menopause, Climacteric, Middle-age, Workplace, Women, Administrative Staff, Swedish Universities
language
English
id
9139124
date added to LUP
2024-06-26 12:29:04
date last changed
2024-06-26 12:29:04
@misc{9139124,
  abstract     = {{Menopause is a transitional process often hidden from society. Menopause can have varying degrees of effects on individuals, however there are possible enormous effects which can have impacts on individuals personal and professional lives. The following thesis explores menopause as a sociological phenomenon. The research specifically looks into how experiences of menopause appear in the workplace and how menopausal symptoms affect employees. I also ask about the potential roles of social support networks. In order to investigate these questions, the researcher uses semi-structured interviews with administrative staff at Swedish universities who are currently undergoing or have undergone climacteric. Through thematic analysis of the ten interviews, this research provides an overview of menopause experiences in the workplace, and an understanding of how larger gendered cultural and social norms work to shape experiences of menopause. I found that, similarly to periods, conversations around menopause bolster bonding and create social support networks within the workplace. Additionally, the participants spoke with a normative discourse of menopause being a manageable discomfort to minimize the concerns and shame around menopause. This result showcases further normalization of women’s pain. I argue that this discourse is another function to oppress women, by minimizing and concealing their pain.}},
  author       = {{Fox, Linnea Maria}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Manageable Discomforts: A Qualitative Study of Menopause Experiences in the Workplace in Sweden}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}