Black Women’s Menopause Experience in the UK
Making black women’s menopause matter!
Sometimes it takes a negative action to reveal a positive proactive action.
In 2013 when the first use of the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter was used, it surged once again when protests dominated international news and spread rapidly across social media channels during the pandemic.
Where does menopause relate to this you may wonder?
Towards the end of June 2020 we were tagged into an Instagram IGTV story by Karen Arthur, fashion designer, sewing tutor, stylist, and advocate making conscious clothing choices to lift your mood - Wear Your Happy! This woman loves to wear a kaleidoscope of colour, and that’s what we loved about her.
In Karen’s recording it was evident that the whole Covid-19 lockdown in the UK and the collective grief amongst the black community immediately after George Floyd's murder at the hands of U.S police, was understandably having an impact on her.
In Karen’s words,“I was convinced that there was a link between racial trauma - constantly being exposed to the knowledge of racially motivated mistreatment and/or violence as well as micro-aggressions – exacerbated menopause symptoms.”
This led Karen to start doing some research and once she started looking, she was appalled by what she found, or more to the point, what she couldn’t find!
The most current research she found specific to black UK women and menopause was published in the Nursing Times in 2007 a small study looked at why Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) women are only half as likely to opt for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) than white women. Karen found it incredulous that “there were 22 women in the cohort. Only 15 of those identified as black women. Fiff. Teen!”
It’s interesting to listen to Karen’s story as it was all too familiar to PositivePause, it’s what prompted us to develop our website in 2016. Searching online, navigating our way through all the myths and misconceptions surrounding menopause treatment. Looking for easy to understand, evidence-based information that related to us.
Karen said in an Instagram post “I'm learning that whilst all women enter transition we don't all do it in the same way. One size definitely does not fit all. Just because there's HEAPS of information on menopause out there (watch the plethora of new books drop in the autumn!) doesn't mean that it's landing. It's so bloody confusing. It has to resonate. There has to be a connection. Sometimes that's related to who is speaking.”
And that is the point Karen’s making, most of the modern menopause movement online at present is formed of white women, us included. We couldn’t find a community that resonated with us. We wanted to hear a positive message that menopause didn’t have to be all doom and gloom, it wasn’t out there so we started our own site! But there’s still a massive cohort of women that are not able to connect with us and we get that.
Which is why we’re sharing Karen’s story to help build her community because we’re all singing from the same song sheet, helping others navigate menopause knowing there is support that will relate to them.
Karen started to ask questions about the lack of menopause diversity in the general media because she was genuinely baffled (and pissed off) that no one had asked black UK women or documented their stories.
Once Karen started to talk and ask questions, she then couldn’t stop!
What Karen shared was evidence-based research but what she discovered alarmed her:
How does menopause affect black women differently?
Early birds
Apparently, in the USA study, SWAN - Study of Women's Health Across the Nation, Black women start menopause earlier (up to 2 years), experience more severe symptoms and for a longer duration.
No current UK research
Any recent research around black women is USA-centred and even then, not specific to black women (Black and Latina).
Karen feels that black women experiencing menopause, deserve to have their voices and stories heard and shared.
And raises the question, how can black women receive targeted help and advice about menopause if they are not being asked?
Like so many women, when Karen entered menopause 5 years ago, she felt alone, and to all intents and purposes, she was.
But what Karen is building now is her community and she’s getting her voice heard. “The thrill and relief at just being asked is palpable. I worried I would be shot down because I'm not a doctor or a research fellow. Classic imposter syndrome”. PositivePause can relate to that, not being medical professionals ourselves.
Our passions are the same, yet we struggle to reach the community of women that Karen can relate to, or with - black menopausal woman based in the UK.
Being a proactive person Karen devised a survey, and set up her ‘Menopause Whilst Black’ Instagram feed, aimed towards menopausal black women in the UK.
Karen’s survey is specifically interested in the effects of menopause on UK-based black Caribbean/African women because their stories have been ignored in this vast landscape.
The survey forms part of her bid to raise the visibility of black menopausal women in the media, target research specific to UK black women and help gain resources to help them better navigate the menopause transition.
Karen’s lonely menopause journey began in 2015 aged 52. Fast forward to 2020 and now post-menopause, she sees that the ever growing menopause landscape still pitifully lacks diversity. “I'm hearing from some worried women of all ages. No woman should be frightened of this natural transition due to lack of knowledge or representation or a feeling of exclusion. I'm creating this space for black UK women who want to hear menopause stories from women just like us. And for my own daughters. And for our youngers.”
Karen’s survey is raising many issues, including that almost all participants would like information specific to black UK women and much more visibility amongst the growing menopause community. Karen will share more information as it develops over time.
If you are a UK-based black woman experiencing menopause, know a black woman who has, or is experiencing menopause in the UK, then please fill in Karen Arthur’s survey. Share it with others and start making black women’s menopause matter!
