More than half the population will experience menopause; it is time for the law to acknowledge it.
Menopause is a stage of life that half the population will inevitably experience. But it remains one of the last great taboo topics for discussion, even among close friends and family members. Silence and stigmas around many aspects of reproductive health—from menstruation to infertility to miscarriage to abortion—have historically created the conditions in which bias and discrimination can flourish. Menopause exemplifies that phenomenon, and in Hot Flash, authors Emily Gold Waldman, Bridget Crawford, and Naomi Cahn set out to replace the silence surrounding menopause with a deeper understanding.
Hot Flash explores the culturally specific stereotypes that surround menopause as well as how menopause is treated in law and medicine. The book contextualizes menopause as one of several stages in a person's reproductive life. Taking U.S. law regarding pregnancy and breastfeeding as an entry point, the authors suggest changes in existing legislation and workplace policies that would incorporate menopause as well. More broadly, they push us to imagine how law can support a more equitable future.
A broader framework further enables the authors to explore menopause discrimination as it is experienced by trans men and gender nonbinary people. They ultimately make the case for a new wave of intersectional feminism that encompasses gender, disability, age, and race.
About the authors
Emily Gold Waldman is the Associate Dean for Faculty Development and a Professor of Law at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University.
Bridget J. Crawford is a University Distinguished Professor at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. She is the co-author, with Emily Gold Waldman, of Menstruation Matters (2022), among other publications.
Naomi R. Cahn is the Justice Anthony M. Kennedy Distinguished Professor of Law and Nancy L. Buc '69 Research Professor in Democracy and Equity at the University of Virginia School of Law. She is author of numerous books, including most recently, Fair Shake (2024).
"Thanks to Hot Flash, menopause, the hidden but commonplace stage of midlife, can now be discussed, embraced, and recognized as a road all women will inevitably travel. Let us not remain silent on this natural cycle of life and allow the words to speak loudly, as they do in the pages of this book, enabling the menopausal movement to forge forward."
—Ashanda Saint Jean, MD, New York Medical College
"Hot Flash is revelatory, providing a much-needed, definitive guide to legal and cultural perspectives on menopause. Finally, a book that offers concrete suggestions for moving the needle forward so that we and our institutions see menopause as a normal, expected stage of life for half the population."
—Deborah Copaken, NYT bestselling author of Ladyparts
"I was thrilled to read Hot Flash. The authors highlight how public commitments to menopause support, along with open communication around menopause, are key components of a more equitable future. Read this book to be informed, challenged, and inspired."
—Helen Tomlinson, UK Government Menopause Employment Champion
"This is a groundbreaking exploration of a critical, yet overlooked aspect of reproductive health and the many ways that menopause is not just a personal, or even a medical, issue but also has legal implications. A must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of menopause and advocating for inclusive, supportive practices and policies."
—Isaac Schiff, M.D., Harvard Medical School
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