#FREETHEMENOPAUSE

THIS IS a space FOR THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES.

to change the conversation for freelancers - to fight for our inclusion in female health research, data & developing policy in the workplace. to lobby for inclusion for those outside of traditional employment.

to connect freelancers & artists, to those who commision us.

to start the conversation. to stand together for change.

➡ CREATIVES GATHER

IT’S MY MISSION TO MAKE YOU SWEAT…

get involved!

the freelancers health policy

resources

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989,000 freelancers currently work in the UK and just over 31% of those identify as female.

Gender equality is a big thing in the Creative industries, we know this; fair pay, the number of women in senior positions or who even choose to purse a creative career in the first place are all areas of concern. So, what happens when an already underrepresented group are mis reported? Sounds dramatic but it’s happening!

As freelancers, self employed or those outside of traditional employment we are not included in research, data or policy by UK Gov so it is my mission to have this conversation. To translate the existing rhetoric to the nuanced experience of the freelancer, the artist and the small business owner.

Where are we in the statistics, mandates and the reports - who, how &where are we involved?

How are we managing the nuances of freelance life alongside the challenges that Menopause can bring and, what is this doing to contribute towards the Gender bias that already exists within the advertising, media and creative industries?

It is my mission to start that discussion and to create change, together…

what & why?

As a freelancer who is well into menopause (POI - Premature Ovarian Insufficency at 36) and someone who is determined to create a ripple in contemporary discourse despite her brain fog, sleepless nights, sporadic incontinience and seemingly reduced ability to manage multiple projects - how do I go about working in a world where this directly impacts the commissions I take. Where my entire ability to perform or bring my best would be under scrutiny if I admitted on set or while in a creative planning meeting, that I couldn't remember the name of the art director yet again and I'd probably need a bit more time here and there to accommodate my often sudden anxiety or slightly slower processing rate.

How do I, as a female freelancer experiencing early Menopause navigate the system?

Where is my support and what are brands, agents or representational bodies really doing for me and others like me throughout the entire process of an ad campaign.

What are professional groups or bodies doing to support the health of those of us who hustle & what are we doing to support ourselves?

This project is a personal mission, so that me and others like me can address an important gap in the current discussions around women's health in the workplace, focusing on the often-overlooked freelance community in the creative sector. It aims to create a space for freelancers to connect, advocate for themselves, and support one another within the industry. To discover the nuances that freelancing and menopause brings and how they intersect, to gather personal stories, share experiences and create change. To advocate for women and non binary individuals in the workplace and, to celebrate! Yes, we can have fun along the way too because where there are downs, there are ups and too often e forget to celebrate the incredible resilience and beauty of our bodies, even when they feel tired, messy, or our brains are stretched thin!

So I am calling on all freelancers, especially those in creative industries, to share your experiences, challenges, and triumphs. Whether you're navigating menopause, dealing with other health issues, or simply want to support this cause, your voice matters.

An IPSE survey found that 71% of self employed women over 40, reported that menopause or peri-menopause had affected their work negatively in some way.

become an advocate!

who am i?!

A commercial photographer for over 15 years, I have had the pleasure of working with a range of individuals and brands across a broad range of projects. I’ve always had some sort of personal creative outlet and this has expanded to occupy a large proportion of my time now, so I also work as an Artist within the field of creative health.

Four years ago after the completion of a Masters & right in the middle of Covid, symptoms I’d been experiencing for a while got increasingly more challenging to manage and after much of my own research, many tears, lots of confusion & feeling frankly lost - I eventually got diagnosed (although I dislike that word!) with POI, Premature Ovarian Insufficiency, which to you and I, is premature menopause. At 36, this was a bit of a shocker!

After many years of fighting for my medical autonomy, debating the democracy of the healthcare systems, bringing together groups of women to celebrate bodies and ageing and, creating work that I knew I wanted to mean more - here we are!

#freethemenopause

  • Portraiture, branding & commercial photography with a focus on female lead business’s & change making brands in the health, wellness & beauty sector.

  • Visual artist using mixed media to explore the language of the body and how through lived experience & participatory practice, we can further valuable research to explore the politics of medicine, identity, health and the language of the body. 

  • Workshops, seminars & sessions working across the intersections of art, health and research.

  • Visiting lecturer in media & arts and creator and facilitator of professional development workshops for freelance photographers. and visual artists.