Marie Mulvey-Roberts, on behalf of SAMS (Scholarly Association of Menopausal Studies), approached the Vagina Museum to propose hosting the world’s first interactive exhibition on menopause, which aims to traces its history, silencing, impact on the arts and how it is regarded today. Though her university UWE, Bristol, she secured the initial funding from the AHRC, followed by an additional contribution from Sussex University thanks to a successful bid by Jill Kirby, and then 400 crowdfunder donations. Marie is a consultant curator for the exhibition, which has been running for over 18 months, and has so far attracted an impressive footfall of tens of thousands of visitors. For more information see https://www.vaginamuseum.co.uk/exhibitions/current
Join Dr. Jill Kirby, Prof. Marie Mulvey-Roberts and Prof. Shani Orgad for a conversation about menopause and anger as seen through the arts, women’s history and in public discourse. Throughout history, society has set out to subdue the anger of menopausal women – an ostensibly anti-feminine phenomenon. Women going through menopause are encouraged to embrace the feminine qualities of serenity and tranquillity as condoned by celebrities and the meno-literatti with the help of HRT and various pacifying activities. Our speakers ask whether menopausal anger is a legitimate outlet or response to patriarchy, to life? Has the angry menopausal woman become taboo, a figure of fun or simply demonised?
Their presentations will be followed by a Q&A, moderated by Zoe Williams.
Vagina Museum
275 Poyser Street, London, E2 9HD (view map)
Wednesday 10th December 2025 at 7:30 PM
Accessibility – Accessible Toilets, Complimentary Ticket for Assistant, Relaxed Performance, Service Animals Area, Step Free Access, Wheelchair Accessible
Speakers
Dr Jill Kirby is an Associate Professor at the University of Sussex, currently working on a history of menopause in 20th century Britain. She is interested in histories of ordinary people, everyday life, health and wellbeing.
Marie Mulvey-Roberts is Emerita Professor in English Literature at the University of the West of England, Bristol. She is interested in the cultural aspects of menopause and in Gothic, gender and the body.
Professor Orgad is a feminist researcher whose research interests include gender, feminism, and inequality in public discourse, contemporary culture and everyday life, representations of suffering and migration, and media and sociology.
Supported by UWE Bristol’s AHRC’s Impact Acceleration Account and the University of Sussex.
Menopause: New Perspectives 13 July 2023 Watershed
Marie’s Interview about the event on Radio BBC Bristol 2.38.07-2.47.09
PROGRAMME
MENOPAUSE: NEW PERSPECTIVES
Thursday 13 July – Watershed Bristol 6.00-9.00
6.00 – Introduction and launch of MenoP website – Ruth Heholt and Jo Parsons
6.15 – Marie Mulvey-Roberts- ‘The Arts of Menopause’
6. 30 – Ali Ramsey – Introduction to clip of ‘Changing “the change” –
Re-visioning Menopause’
6.45 – Jill Kirby– History of Menopause
7.00 – Liz Banks – Introduction to clip of Red Moon Diaries
7.15 – Lauren Chiren CEO Women of a Certain Stage
7.30 – Kat Branch – Perry-Menopause song
7.45 – Panelists – Sarah Garlick (Meno Chats UWE) and Hazel Hayden (Bristol Menopause – Bristol Menopause Society)
8.00 – Q&A
8.30 – Refreshments, networking and Stanfords Bristol book stall run by Melody Cummins
9.00 – END
