Women experience various reproductive stages, each presenting unique challenges that affect their quality of life. During the menopausal transition, for example, many women experience a range of symptoms but struggle to find accessible information to understand the changes in their bodies. As a result, many turn to social media for information and community support. In recent years, there has been an increase in discussions and posts about menopause on social media, with women sharing their personal experiences and healthcare practitioners promoting their services.

Discussions about menopause are often influenced by negative perceptions of women’s bodily experiences. For example, in Western societies, patriarchal values often emphasise women's reproductive abilities and youthfulness. Thus, menopause has often been framed as a deficiency disease and the end of menstruation as a loss. In contrast, in some cultures, it is taboo to talk about menopause because such topics are either ignored or kept private. Accordingly, this treatment has led to a significant lack of reliable and unbiased menopause information. Social media has become a platform where women can share their lived experiences, amplify their voices, and build supportive networks.

This project will investigate how women use online social platforms to find information about menopause and connect with others who share similar experiences. Specifically, the PhD student will investigate the primary information-seeking behaviours of women using social media platforms to find support, guidance and reliable information on menopausal issues. The project will adopt a feminist perspective to critically examine how the social, cultural, and power-related factors shape women's experiences on social media.