This is a really insightful article for any fellow educators suffering with perimenopause or menopause symptoms. It sadly shows the impact of perimenopause and the menopause on female teachers and their careers.
Research surveying 258 peri- and post-menopausal secondary teachers found that menopausal teachers are significantly more likely to consider leaving the profession than pre-menopausal teachers. Many reported feeling unable to manage menopause symptoms at work due to rigid schedules, limited bathroom access, heavy workloads, and lack of flexibility.
Only 7% of teachers surveyed felt supported by their schools, and many who asked for help were ignored or dismissed. Some teachers experienced embarrassment, discrimination, or financial consequences after reducing responsibilities or stepping down from leadership roles. I can resonate with this myself, after recently stepping down from a senior leadership role in my school due to suffering with significant anxiety, chronic stress and eventually burnout.
The findings suggest that menopause is a significant but under-recognised factor contributing to teacher attrition. The research calls for better workplace support, including flexible working, easier access to bathrooms and breaks, menopause training for managers, and stronger, meaningful workplace policies to help retain experienced teachers.
Article in full:
