Why International Men's Day Matters for Menopause Conversations
By MICHELLE A. HARDWICK
International Men's Day tends to get a mixed reaction. Some people don't know it exists. Others aren't sure what it's actually for.
But every year, on the 19th of November, it quietly asks a question worth sitting with: are men getting the support they need too?
When it comes to menopause, the answer is often no, not because nobody cares, but because nobody's really asked.
Menopause conversations have made real progress in recent years. Women are speaking more openly. Workplaces are slowly catching up. But there's a whole side of this experience that's barely been touched: the men standing beside the women going through it, quietly trying to work out what to do and rarely given the tools, the language or the permission to ask for help themselves.
That's exactly why I think International Men's Day and menopause belong in the same conversation.
Men Are Affected Too: Just Differently
Nearly two-thirds of Irish women say they rely on Google, rather than their GP or their partner, for information about menopause. That tells you something important: even the people closest to it are often left figuring things out alone, including the men trying to support them.
Men aren't expected to understand hormones or symptoms. But they are expected by themselves, (often unfairly) to know how to help. And when nobody teaches them how, the silence can quietly strain even strong relationships.
A Day, and a Space, to Start Differently
This year, I'm marking International Men's Day with a free book reading and sharing circle at Cobh Library. A space for men to ask the questions they don't usually get to ask, without judgement and without needing to have the answers first.
It felt like exactly the right day to do it. International Men's Day isn't about taking anything away from the menopause conversation. It's about finally including the other half of the room.
Join Us
Thursday 19th November 2026, 11am–12.30pm
Cobh Library
Free. Spaces limited. Full details and how to book here.If you can't make it in person, you don't have to navigate this alone either way. Find out more about working with me here.
Want to go deeper?
“Are You Ready to Be Her Wingman?” is a free 10-page guide drawn from the book.
Five themes, a self-assessment and real quotes from the men. Click here to go to our Freebie page to sign up for it.