Cultural stigma is a barrier to menopause help, black women say

Cultural stigma and a lack of education are making it harder to get menopause help, ethnic minority women in Jersey have said.

The women came together to share their stories at an event in St Helier hosted by Eve Studios and Liberty Underwear.

Participants were encouraged to speak openly about the symptoms they had experienced.

Angela Mowanga, from Jersey, told ITV Channel: “I became dismissive about signs and symptoms. From our parents and our grandparents, they just carried on.

“I hardly heard the word menopause spoken about in my household. We never had things like hot flushes, itchy skin and tiredness.

“So for us to start talking about menopause, there is a taboo around it. A taboo that comes from ignorance but also not being willing to educate ourselves.

“We as women of colour, societies of colour, we have a lot of taboo subjects, which now have to be highlighted with the generation today.

“However, with the modern day, society is changing. And we hope programmes like this can actually be well received.”

Daisy Ayebale, from Jersey, added: “I think it’s important we are listened to. We need the right information from the experts, but we have also been overlooked when it comes to the healthcare system.

“We need to know this information before it’s too late, before you’re gambling with your health. We are glad to be changing the narrative, we are glad to be changing things right now. We are very hopeful.”

Research shows that black women are more likely to experience menopausal symptoms earlier, more intensely and for longer.