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Feel like you’re invisible?
Like you’re not really there?
Does menopause make us invisible?
This is one of the things that women complain about a lot as they get older. I’m not sure how much it has to do with menopause and how much it’s to do with how society views older women — or even how we view ourselves.
I have to admit that there have been times when I’ve struggled to attract the attention of a barman — despite brightly coloured hair and even more brightly coloured clothes! It’s as if they only notice men and young women — I’m not sure if that’s a professional failing or I’ve been unlucky.
I should also tell you that the kids next door think I’m Queen of The Whole Freaking Universe. I’m not invisible to them.
So who are we invisible to?
Is it that we’re used to being checked out, by the kind of men who assess all women for sexual suitability and the kind of women who assess all other women for competition? So used to it, that we grieve it when it goes?
Many women tell me there’s a sense of relief that the wolf whistles have stopped. Other women I’ve spoken to say they felt disregarded by men as soon as their hourglass figure went the way of all things.
