Still Taboo: Menopause, Sex & Self-Image - Dr. Marjolein de Boer

Menopause is finally making headlines—but how much do we really understand about it? And who gets to define the narrative?

In this talk, Dr. Marjolein de Boer, philosopher and sociologist at Tilburg University, takes us on a sharp, engaging look at how menopause has been portrayed in culture over the past 75 years—from silence and stigma to today’s growing media attention. More importantly, she’ll explore how real women talk about their own experiences—and why one topic still remains deeply taboo: sexuality in menopause.

Whether you’re going through it, know someone who is, or just want to understand it better, this talk is for everyone. All genders and ages welcome.

From Ira, the organiser

For me, this topic is personal. I’m 44 and only recently began to understand what perimenopause even is—by accident. And like many women around me, I was shocked at how little we’re told, how rarely it’s discussed, and how many of us are left to figure it out alone. The silence is real. That’s why it’s so important to me to bring this subject into the open—without shame, without fluff, and with people who know what they’re talking about.

Dr. Marjolein de Boer is an assistant professor at Tilburg University and co-founder of the European research network WOMAHN. Her work focuses on how women make sense of their bodies in relation to illness, medicalisation, and social expectations. She has researched breast cancer, infertility, and chronic fatigue, and now leads a project on menopause and health activism.

Read more: https://www.marjoleindeboer.net/ and www.womahn.net

Doors open at 18:30 – Arrive early, grab a seat, and settle in.

Talk starts at 19:30 and runs until around 21:00.

Price includes light drinks.

Stick around afterward—good conversations don’t have closing times.