Embracing Silver Linings: Understanding When Menopause Facilitates Women’s Generative Behaviors At Work

Authors:

Abstract: The mid-to-late stage of women’s careers tends to coincide with their menopausal transition, a natural phase of life for women commonly associated with undesirable vasomotor, physical, and psychological consequences. These challenges often harm work productivity and well-being, which can in turn facilitate various sources of conflict at work. In our research, however, we identify a potential silver lining of menopause and the conditions needed to facilitate it. Integrating theories on identity and lifespan development, we propose that the experience of menopause-related vasomotor symptoms facilitates women’s generativity. In turn, we expect that generativity would encourage women to engage in subordinate-directed career development, coworker-directed knowledge sharing, and increase their well-being. Further, we argue that these positive work experiences are more likely to occur when women are supported by their supervisors. We test our predictions via two studies—an archival study (Study 1) and a longitudinal field study of women leaders (Study 2).

Track: CULTGEN

Keywords: menopause, generativity, middle-aged women, supervisor support