No, we've never had funding to conduct surveys.
One thing is certain, though: We're constantly being approached by the general public, community groups and businesses to raise awareness about menopause and offer advice. We're appealing to common sense so that people will listen to us, discuss the topic and break down the taboos.
What we're hearing on the ground—and I want to emphasize this, because we're actually conducting research and bringing these voices from the field to the forefront—is that the vast majority of women feel they aren't being listened to. These findings are supported by surveys from the Canadian Menopause Foundation. It's difficult to speak openly about what we're going through without fearing that it will be downplayed or that it could have significant repercussions on our professional and even our personal lives.
We realize that this runs very deep. There's a sense of shame that's quite moving. There is truly a sense of vulnerability, and it's always very moving, because we understand that it's part of our lives as women. We should be able to talk about it openly.