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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/may/17/menopausal-economy-productive-bank-of-england
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Actually, a ‘menopausal’ economy would be more productive | Actually, a ‘menopausal’ economy would be more productive |
| (25 days later) | |
| A few months ago I was flying home to Edinburgh. The sunset was beautiful over the Forth and all three of its wonderful bridges. I tweeted a photograph saying, “Beautiful Scotland. Man and nature in harmony.” | A few months ago I was flying home to Edinburgh. The sunset was beautiful over the Forth and all three of its wonderful bridges. I tweeted a photograph saying, “Beautiful Scotland. Man and nature in harmony.” |
| It was a gentle thought and I was surprised to have a few responses chiding me for my “non-gender-neutral” use of words. I felt hard done by. But someone tweeted, “words matter” and I thought that was fair enough. | It was a gentle thought and I was surprised to have a few responses chiding me for my “non-gender-neutral” use of words. I felt hard done by. But someone tweeted, “words matter” and I thought that was fair enough. |
| I suspect Ben Broadbent, deputy governor of the Bank of England, will have felt much the same this week. I have no doubt that he had absolutely no intention of offending anyone with his choice of words, which seemed to compare the state of the economy – less productive and less potent – with the menopause. | I suspect Ben Broadbent, deputy governor of the Bank of England, will have felt much the same this week. I have no doubt that he had absolutely no intention of offending anyone with his choice of words, which seemed to compare the state of the economy – less productive and less potent – with the menopause. |
| The Bank of England’s view of menopausal women is demeaning | Ros Altmann | The Bank of England’s view of menopausal women is demeaning | Ros Altmann |
| Yet, even before his words became headlines I felt offended. I am in the midst of the menopause myself – but I certainly don’t think I’m on the wane! I felt the words personally – as if implying that my stage of life (I’m 56) means that I’m less capable than I once was. On behalf of all women everywhere, I reject that notion completely. | Yet, even before his words became headlines I felt offended. I am in the midst of the menopause myself – but I certainly don’t think I’m on the wane! I felt the words personally – as if implying that my stage of life (I’m 56) means that I’m less capable than I once was. On behalf of all women everywhere, I reject that notion completely. |
| As a menopausal woman I sleep less, sweat more and have a cold nose (all apparently quite usual symptoms). A doctor once asked me if I wanted to go on HRT. When I asked why I should he said, “Well, you work with lots of men. Isn’t it embarrassing for them to see you sweating?” Er, no. That’s just who I am. I try to be tidy about it. | As a menopausal woman I sleep less, sweat more and have a cold nose (all apparently quite usual symptoms). A doctor once asked me if I wanted to go on HRT. When I asked why I should he said, “Well, you work with lots of men. Isn’t it embarrassing for them to see you sweating?” Er, no. That’s just who I am. I try to be tidy about it. |
| All of this emphasises to me that all of us have our differences that we bring to work every day. And it is those differences that help to create brilliant teams and better outcomes. | All of this emphasises to me that all of us have our differences that we bring to work every day. And it is those differences that help to create brilliant teams and better outcomes. |
| We know that gender-balanced teams create better financial returns. We also know that businesses with teams made up in the likeness of their customers – a wide variety of ethnicities, sexualities, strengths, faiths, ages and genders – provide better products and richer customer services. And we know that positive feedback creates better performance. | We know that gender-balanced teams create better financial returns. We also know that businesses with teams made up in the likeness of their customers – a wide variety of ethnicities, sexualities, strengths, faiths, ages and genders – provide better products and richer customer services. And we know that positive feedback creates better performance. |
| Some years back, I worked with someone who shouted at me. A lot. When he was replaced by someone who adopted an entirely positive attitude, not only did I change – becoming more open and happy – but the whole business around me changed too. | Some years back, I worked with someone who shouted at me. A lot. When he was replaced by someone who adopted an entirely positive attitude, not only did I change – becoming more open and happy – but the whole business around me changed too. |
| I have made it my objective since then to try to be positive with everyone. To thank them. And to help them see they are special. I definitely don’t always get it right. But the very fact that I try has come with age and experience. And with that has also come the menopause. | I have made it my objective since then to try to be positive with everyone. To thank them. And to help them see they are special. I definitely don’t always get it right. But the very fact that I try has come with age and experience. And with that has also come the menopause. |
| I like myself better in this phase of my life. I am less self-centred and build better working environments. And they deliver better results as a consequence. So I like to think that our economy will benefit from this phase of its development too. And become more inclusive, more positive, more open and more productive. | I like myself better in this phase of my life. I am less self-centred and build better working environments. And they deliver better results as a consequence. So I like to think that our economy will benefit from this phase of its development too. And become more inclusive, more positive, more open and more productive. |
| And we need to keep reminding each other of all that we have achieved. Because, in the end, words matter and we need to use them thoughtfully. | And we need to keep reminding each other of all that we have achieved. Because, in the end, words matter and we need to use them thoughtfully. |
| • Jayne-Anne Gadhia is CEO of Virgin Money UK | • Jayne-Anne Gadhia is CEO of Virgin Money UK |
| Menopause | Menopause |
| Opinion | Opinion |
| Women | Women |
| Ben Broadbent | Ben Broadbent |
| Bank of England | Bank of England |
| comment | comment |
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