This month's Snarl is by Rose Bergevin:

^^^

Menopause, Schmenopause!

I want to know if I'm actually going crazy or if other fine wimyn like me are feeling as I am. I am 45 years old and now they tell me that I am probably entering the "menopausal" stage of my life. Bulshit! I say. Why is it that after dedicating an entire life to raising two kids, I am classified as a target for having either my hormones replaced or my uterus removed? For the past twenty years I have made a career of raising kids and looking after hubby. Now that my oldest has moved away from home and my youngest just turned 18, I realize that I have the opportunity to be my own person. Trouble is, I lost sight of her years ago. I have no idea I to find her again. "What an opportunity" most people think. You now have the freedom to discover yourself. Where and how, I would like to know, do I go about doing this?

So, unsurprisingly, I feel depressed about my situation. It's like being part of a large corporation who decides to downsize because of financial difficulties. And yet I haven't heard threats from members of society about the possibility of castration for those men who are depressed by the loss of their jobs. Why then do they want to castrate me? Why do they keep wanting to send me to psychiatrists, and why do they insist on loading me up with hormones?

Menopause, Schmenopause! It's all a male construct. A ploy by the male medical professionals to get money from those members of society who have never truly contributed tangibly (read financially) to the rest of society.

I have had enough! However, rather than just gripe about the whole situation I would like to hear from wimyn who are in the same situation I now find myself in, or from wimyn who have come through it and survived or even triumphed. I want to know what these wonderful wimyn are up to because I need guidance. It's obvious to me that it is too late for me to start a brand new career at my age. The economy in this fair city is dire and there is little chance of it getting better any time soon. Although I have training and experience as an Office Assistant, there is no work available. Not to mention that the idea of sitting at a desk day in and day out is not at all appealing to me. I want to contribute to society. I want to make a difference. Where do I begin? Does anyone have stories of their own to share?

Rose Bergevin, like the rest of us, would like to know that she's not alone!