Women’s reproductive health in the workplace

Abstract

Reproductive health issues such as Menopause and Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) or Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) affect women’s personal and occupational lives. Despite this, there remains a lack of targeted policies and interventions in various organisational context, including in South Africa. This oversight is also reflected in the dearth of literature or research examining the impact of and women’s experiences with these issues within South African workplaces. Thus, using a qualitative research approach, this study explored the lived experiences and perceptions of women affected by PMS and Menopause within the South African workplace context. Using Liberal feminism and Empowerment theory, this study advocates for the reproductive health rights or justice and institutional support of women’s unique health needs, while Goffman’s Stigma theory sheds light on the psychosocial dynamics of silence and discrimination associated with women’s reproductive health in the workplace. Through semi-structured interviews with women representing the population of interest, the analysis revealed that the physical, emotional, and cognitive difficulties of these issues significantly affect women’s overall quality of life. Despite this, workplace support remains inadequate, perpetuated by stigma, and gendered norms that pressure women to suffer in silence. The study highlights the urgency of policy reforms within our workplaces, empowering affected women through structural accommodations, and challenges the normalisation of gendered health stigma, trivialisation, and discrimination. Conclusively, the findings contribute to broader discussions on gender equity and occupational health and wellbeing, calling organisations to recognise women’s reproductive health issues, including PMS and menopause, as legitimate workplace concerns and equity issues.