We know that aging is a privilege, but there is still so much negativity wrapped up with aging — particularly for women who are still thriving in their careers. There’s perhaps no greater blow than to be made to feel we’re “past our prime” just when we finally hit a point in life where we have more clarity and more to offer the world than ever. Tamsen Fadal, known as “The Midlife Mentor” on Instagram, found that out firsthand when a coworker told her that “women don’t age well on television.”
When Tamsen Fadal had her first hot flash (while live on air), she decided it was time to start sharing all of the realities of aging in the workplace — because the more open we are about what it’s really like to go through menopause, the more empowered we all become.
She shares the top 3 myths we need to push back on about women in their 50s.
MYTH NUMBER 1: 50 IS TOO OLD TO MAKE A CAREER SHIFT
Fadal spent 30 years as a breaking news anchor for Pix11 in New York City in what she calls a “bucket list job.” She shares how having her first hot flash on air changed the course of her life. “I was anchoring the evening news in New York City, and I just felt this inferno inside,” Fadal says, “I felt these flashes of heat before, but not like this.”
After that, she started sharing her menopause journey (as a woman in a high-powered and extremely visible job) on Instagram and quickly racked up over a million followers who could relate. She decided she wanted to go all-in as a full-time content creator, parsing all things midlife and menopause so she saved up enough money to quit her job and took the plunge.
“When I [first] started talking about it, I didn’t know what was going to resonate quite so strongly. It was that important to me to do this and take that chance,” Fadal says. “Was it scary? A hundred percent. But it’s been almost a year now (to the day!) that I left, and I’m so happy with the decision I made.”
MYTH NUMBER 2: MENOPAUSE WILL NEGATIVELY IMPACT YOUR CAREER
Historically, we’ve seen there are personal costs associated with menopause, such as women reducing their hours, taking early retirement, or changing jobs…. but it doesn’t have to be that way. Tamsen Fadal says women in perimenopause and menopause need more support in the workplace, and in many cases, they’re getting it. Particularly from more progressive employers, or businesses that are women-owned.
“I am a hundred percent for a workplace-friendly policy that allows women to feel supported in whatever role they need to be, whether it’s publicly or privately,” Fadal says. “We need to know that we could go to someone to get information. An important part of it is that there’s a community built there that a workplace is open to having experts come in and talk to women [about menopause].”
Yes, there’s still a long way to go before more employers are menopause-friendly, but enough progress is being made that women should never feel as if menopause is a career killer.
MYTH NUMBER 3: WOMEN GET LESS DONE AS THEY AGE
No one wants to feel that they have an “expiration date” in the workplace. Unfortunately, Tamsen Fadal experienced this feeling firsthand when a colleague told her candidly, “You need to have a backup plan because women do not age well on television.”
Through her new documentary, “The M Factor: Shredding The Silence On Menopause,” Tamsen Fadal is pushing back on society’s narrative that “blurs reproductive years with being productive,” and more than anything, she wants women to know this is not a time to be fearful.
“[We’re] shining a light on women that are doing incredible things. Starting careers over at 60 and 70 taking control of their bodies, and reclaiming their health,” Fadal says. “[We’re] doing things very differently and we have a lot to show for it. We have a lot of great examples in the lead and there’s more that are coming up behind them.”
BOTTOM LINE
Midlife is a time to reclaim our power — not go gently into that good night. At any age, women can make bold moves and level up our careers.
Thankfully, when we’re open about how menopause is impacting our lives (and our careers) we can continue to normalize the conversation about something that every single one of us goes through, so not a single one of us feels like we have to choose between our health and our jobs.
MORE ON HERMONEY:
- HerMoney Podcast Episode 257: How Women Over 50 Can Reclaim Workplace Confidence and Power
- Women In Their 50s On What They Wish They Knew About Money + Careers In Their 20s
- 3 Types of Annuities To Secure Your Financial Future
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