LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The Michigan Women’s Commission (MWC) has decided that what Michigan really needs right now isn’t necessarily more attention to affordable groceries, better infrastructure, or safer streets – it’s a menopause roadshow.
According to a recent press release sent out by the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity (LEO), the department that MWC resides in, “Menopause: It’s a Movement!” is officially coming to a town near you, with listening sessions to talk about hot flashes and hormones and how all of this might be tanking the state’s economy.
The LEO press release says that the menopause discussions will take place around Michigan to “promote legislation to Michigan policy makers that will address the lack of menopause research and workplace initiatives to help women thrive as they experience this natural life transition.”
Creating “safe spaces” to share stories.
The Michigan menopause meetup listening sessions aren’t just about policy – they’re about feelings. According to a statement from LEO, the goal is to provide a “safe space” for women to share their stories about how menopause has impacted their work lives.
LEO further states that women make up 51% of the population, and around 75 million are either in perimenopause, menopause, or post-menopause – with about 6,000 more hitting that milestone every single day. In Michigan, roughly 2.26 million women were part of the workforce in 2023, either working or actively looking for a job. That puts the state’s labor force participation rate for women a little over 57%.
$1.8 billion in lost productivity because of estrogen?
According to the MWC, menopause is no longer just a personal health matter – it’s an economic crisis. Citing a Mayo Clinic study, they blame $1.8 billion in annual productivity losses on menopausal symptoms.
Susan Corbin, director of the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity says, “When we create policies and workplace cultures that acknowledge and support women navigating menopause, we’re not only promoting health and dignity – we’re making a smart investment in our workforce and our economy.”
Corbin continued, “Supporting women at every stage of their careers helps retain experienced talent, boosts productivity and fosters workplaces where everyone can thrive. The return on that investment is healthier employees, stronger businesses, and a more resilient economy for all.”
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A report will be released later this year by MWC based on a survey that was sent out to women across the state regarding their experiences with menopause in the workplace. This will be used to make recommendations to employers and lawmakers on how to create menopause-supportive workplaces.
Governor Whitmer and actress Halle Berry talk hormones.
To lend gravitas to this hormone-heavy initiative, the MWC launched its movement with actress Halle Berry and Governor Gretchen Whitmer at a Women’s History Month event last month. A clip of that event is in a video here.
After being asked by Whitmer to tell her story, Berry explains in the video, “I go to the bathroom in the morning like I always do but this particular morning, I couldn’t go. It was so excruciatingly painful.” She explains how she went to her doctor and got misdiagnosed as having a really bad case of herpes. After doing a test and finding out that Berry was negative for herpes, the 58-year-old actress asked her doctor what the problem was but he didn’t know. Berry said it was an “aha” moment and went on to say that she did her own research and found out that menopause is only “one chapter in medical school, like one hour that only 13% of doctors in our country understand the menopausal body.”
After learning this, Berry said that “I have to make this my second act life work. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my time or my platform, or use my voice to one, help educate women but also align with thought leaders and people who are as invested as I was in women’s health and longevity.”
Whitmer’s personal crusade.
After listening to Berry, Gov. Whitmer added, “It is really striking how little we’re taught about our own bodies and I’ve been on a crusade to self-educate on this but when you (Berry) came and talked to us and with so many doctors now who are helping us light the path, I thought this was a great opportunity for us to really talk with the Women’s Commission and do the work of seeing what we can do in Michigan and what’s possible to make it easier for women to access the health care that they need at any point in our lifetimes.”
So while Whitmer and Berry trade hormone horror stories and prep policy pitches on hot flashes, most Michiganders would probably prefer a little less hormonal drama and a little more action on roads, crime, the cost of living and responsible governance. Until then, it looks like the governor will be passing the ibuprofen instead of helping to pass a road funding bill that makes sense.
