Fury as school tells ‘bewildered’ teachers the menopause does not just affect women
SCHOOL bosses stunned teachers — by claiming the menopause does not just affect women.
Staff were “bewildered” by a bulletin stating “transmen, transwomen and non-binary individuals” also suffer.
In a staff bulletin headteacher Carly Purnell described the menopause as a “natural stage of life experienced by most women”.
But she went on: “It can also affect transmen, transwomen and non-binary individuals.
“However, it remains a taboo subject in many workplaces – we are successfully challenging that here at IGS.
She added: “My aim is to create an inclusive working environment where employees feel confident to discuss the symptoms they are experiencing.”
A source at the 1,600-pupil secondary academy in West Yorks — in the news in 2019 for hiring a therapy dog to help stressed teachers — said: “Staff pointed out the absurdity of it.
“Trans women can experience symptoms but can’t go through the menopause because they don’t have ovaries or a uterus.
“The biology department could have pointed that out!”
Fiona McAnena, of Sex Matters, said: “To see this staff memo at a school, of all places, is shocking.
“The pupils are being taught nonsense in place of basic biology.”
The school, rated “outstanding” by Ofsted, insisted the head did not write the bulletin.