INTRODUCTION:
According to a Senate Inquiry in Australia (2024), symptoms of perimenopause and a lack of workplace supports are responsible for significant loss of earnings, reduced superannuation, and high levels of unplanned early retirement for many working women. Citing data from the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (2022), the report claims the economic cost to Australian working women is estimated at $17b a year. Similar trends can be seen in other economies around the world, and underreporting of the effects of perimenopause on employment outcomes is likely. The South Australian Government’s Office for Women (2025) notes women in the relevant age bracket are the “fastest growing working demographic,” justifying further research into reasonable workplace adjustments for women handling this transition.

METHODS:
The Senate Inquiry noted many women experiencing symptoms of perimenopause feel stigmatised and report a lack of education and support from medical professionals, leading them to seek information through media and online support groups. This project assesses the depiction of perimenopause in mainstream and popular media, as well as various leading online communities. It compares the knowledge transferred via these sources to the up-to-date literature on the topic and the workplace adjustments these different media suggest.

RESULTS:
The project demonstrates there is a lack of institutional awareness of perimenopause among employers of many women posting in online communities. Health literacy on this topic is poor with a lot of misinformation present. Perimenopause is also rarely shown in popular media, but where it does appear it is often used as a comedic element and betrays various stereotypes about older women.

CONCLUSIONS:
Workplaces should be more proactive about supporting women experiencing perimenopausal symptoms and invest in education programs for men and women in the workplace to increase health literacy regarding this life transition.