“I’m going to pull menopause out into the open, remove the cobwebs, clean it off, and look at it” – Rosetta Reitz.(from Menopause: A Positive Approach. Rosetta Reitz (1924-2008). New York: Penguin Books, 1979, c1977, pg. 1.)

To bring an oft-taboo topic out into the open, you are cordially invited to a dramatic reading: The Menopause Monologues.

Excerpts from pertinent texts will bring to life the voices of women and men, past and present, whose perspectives on menopause range from “the historical to the hysterical.” In addition to the readings, individuals are also encouraged to share their own stories and experiences of “the change.” Light refreshments will be provided. The reading complements the Spring exhibition on display in the Josiah Charles Trent History of Medicine Room, The Change of Life: Menopause and Our Changing Perspectives. Curated by Erin Rutherford, Josiah Charles Trent Intern, the exhibition runs from March 20 – July 14, 2018. This program is co-sponsored by the History of Medicine Collections and the Sallie Bingham Center for Women’s History and Culture.