Exhibition challenges gender health gap

IF men had the menopause, it would be cured by now – this is a common refrain among those suffering the symptoms of ‘the change’.

A new exhibition aims to challenge the health gender gap and show women they are not alone in their experiences.

Portraits of Perimenopause is set to open at Liquorice Park this Sunday, May 24 as part of Lincoln’s cultural festival, WonderGround.

The collaboration between photographer, visual artist and lecturer at Lincoln College Stephen Rendall and co-author Amy Tointon, artist, (both pictured below) will highlight what they describe as the ‘systemic neglect that currently defines the transition in the UK’.

Around 1 in 10 women in the UK have left their jobs due to menopause symptoms.

“The perimenopause transition is not merely a biological inevitability; it is a site of profound systemic neglect, historically rendered invisible within clinical, corporate, and social discourse,” said Stephen. 

Amy has used her own experiences of menopause: “For a long time, I felt like my symptoms were something I just had to 'put up with' in silence. Being part of this project as a co-author, rather than just a subject, has been about reclaiming my agency.

 “This isn't just about my face on a wall; it’s about owning the narrative of a transition that society often wants us to keep hidden. We are showing that the 'invisible' symptoms—the brain fog, the anxiety, the exhaustion—are real, they are valid, and they deserve to be seen and supported.” 

Visitors will be invited to engage with the work-in-progress portraits between 10am and 4pm.

The exhibition will be highlighting the working of Menopause Support CIC and The Menopause Charity.

• WonderGround starts today, May 21 and the programme is listed on the city’s dedicated what’s on app, WOW Lincoln, which is now available through the Apple App Store and Google Play.