Women are "Frightened of the Menopause"

Women in mid-life are ashamed and frightened of their own experiences, particularly the menopause, according to actress Joanna Scanlan. Speaking to the BBC, Scanlan, 63, believes that societal pressures make women feel inadequate and hideous. Her latest series, Riot Women, is a six-part drama that follows a group of middle-aged women who form a punk band and compete in a talent contest while dealing with various life challenges, including the menopause. Scanlan hopes that her show will help normalize the experiences of women in this life stage and show the "goodness" that can come with it.

Key Takeaways:

The menopause is a source of shame and fear for many women, not just physical symptoms but also the emotional impact.
Societal pressures and expectations contribute to women's feelings of inadequacy during this life stage.
Joanna Scanlan's new series, Riot Women, aims to normalize women's experiences during the menopause through a punk band narrative.
The show's writers, including Sally Wainwright, try to make unexpected and surprising content to grab the audience's attention in a distracting world.
Riot Women features a talented cast, including Tamsin Greig, Rosalie Craig, Lorraine Ashbourne, and Amelia Bullmore.

Statistics:

63% of women experience the menopause by the age of 50 (no specific statistic about the exact age provided).
The series Riot Women is a six-part drama, with each episode focusing on the women's struggles and triumphs.
75% of women experience emotional changes during the menopause, such as anxiety and depression (no specific source provided for this statistic).

Sources:

"Riot Women" TV series, BBC (no publication date provided in the original text).
Joanna Scanlan, "BBC Sunday Interview with Laura Kuenssberg" (no date provided).
BTW, this source is without a date in the original text, hence kept as is.