The Language of Menopause

Before we talk about symptoms, hormones, or interventions we have to examine the words we use to describe women, aging, and the most natural biological transitions of our lives. Because language doesn’t just reflect our attitudes—it actively shapes how we experience our bodies, our worth, and our place in the world. Drawing from personal experience, cultural history, etymology, and media portrayals, I explore why menopause and women’s aging have been shrouded in silence, stigma, and shame—and how deeply sexist assumptions are embedded in the very words we use. In this episode, we explore: * Why women “age out” of relevance while men “age into” status * The origins of words like spinster, crone, hag, hysterical, and old maid —and what they reveal about cultural bias * How euphemisms around menstruation and menopause reinforce secrecy and shame * Why even the word menopause frames it as a loss rather than a transition * The surprising animal origins of words (“animalogies”) like estrus, estrogen , and crone * How media has (rarely) addressed menopause * Why reclaiming language is a powerful act of self-respect, agency, and healing This conversation is for women navigating perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause—and for anyone who loves, lives with, or wants to better support them. 🎧 Listen to the full episode of Food for Thought , celebrating 20 years of practical inspiration for living compassionately, sustainably, and healthfully. For the animals,—Colleen Support the Podcast (20-Year Anniversary)! To keep Food for Thought Podcast ad-free and accessible to all, I rely on the support of paid subscribers . If you’re already one—thank you. If you’re not, please consider becoming one . None of the companies below sponsored this episode. They’re simply brands I personally use, love, and trust—which is why I agreed to be an affiliate. If you find this episode helpful, please consider giving it a like, share, comment, or restack. Remember Food for Thought is a listener-supported podcast, and your support as a paid subscriber helps me continue creating content that inspires compassion and action—for animals, people, and the planet. If you make a purchase using the links below, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you—and you’ll receive exclusive discounts using the codes provided! * Complement Supplements Everything you need, nothing you don’t. Complement makes targeted supplements for plant-based eaters, including B12, D3, DHA, and more—all from clean, trusted sources.🔗 lovecomplement.com | Code: JOYFULVEGAN for 15% off all products! * Plaine Products Refillable, non-toxic, plastic-free personal care products like shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and body wash. Gentle on you, gentle on the planet.🔗 plaineproducts.com | Code: JOYFULVEGAN for 20% off all products! * Nama Juicer My favorite cold-press juicer—quiet, powerful, and easy to clean. It’s become an essential part of my kitchen.🔗 namawell.com | Code: COLLEEN10 for 10% off all products! Additional Resources 👉 Connect with me 1:1 – Get personalized guidance whatever you are looking for. 👉 Read A Year of Compassion – Daily inspiration to help you live with intention, kindness, and clarity. 👉 Travel with me ! I host animal-friendly, luxury, all-inclusive vegan trips around the world, specifically curated to ensure high-quality, high-touch premium experiences. Check out our upcoming trips, and let me know if you have any questions. 👉 Check out my Recipe E-Books and my library of On-Demand Cooking Classes for recipes. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit

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The Language of Menopause is an episode from Food for Thought: Living Compassionately, Sustainably, and Healthfully by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau.

This episode is 40:22 long.

This episode was published on Jan 30, 2026.

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