Abstract
This paper examines the intersection of the menopause with disabilities through the critical lens of ableist hegemony and the neoliberalisation of higher education (HE) in England. The project used mixed methods to collect the data: an online survey with 153 employees who are affected by menopause in English universities; three focus groups with protected characteristics; and the analysis of universities’ menopause policy documents. The findings clearly evince the continuing stigmatisation of menopause and discrimination in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in England. The intersection with disabilities had aggravating effects on employees. This led to negative impacts on employees’ career and mental/physical health. The data also indicates lack of policies specifically tailored for staff with protected characteristics including disabilities. Under the dominance of neoliberal managerialism in English HEIs, women and marginalised academics tend to perform emotional and invisible labour including equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives that are undervalued. Consistent with this, the findings suggest that although there are some positive changes in how HEIs deal with the menopause, such attempts are patchy and superficial in many cases, relying on individual wellbeing support officers’ initiatives. Menopause policies are largely regarded as box-ticking exercises for reputation management without being translated into transformative practice for staff with disabilities. Drawing on these, the paper argues that under neoliberal and market-driven HE, it is hard to achieve profound structural and cultural shifts around menopause and genuine support for staff with disabilities because such corporatised management prioritises individualised solutions and productivity over staff wellbeing.
Presenters
Hyun Joo LimPrincipal Academic in Sociology, School of Law and Society, Bournemouth University, Dorset, United Kingdom
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Ableism, Disabilities, English HE, Intersectionality, Menopause
