Week unclouded. Cancer research, menopause-at-work policies, and Chinese babies
News can be overwhelming to follow. Important news bites can get lost amongst all the hard and breaking news. Here are a couple of the headlines from this week and beyond that impact women.
€1 million for cancer research
Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash
This week the Maltese government announced it will issue a €1 million grant for cancer research and innovation projects in cancer.
This is good news.
A recent EU report showed that Malta has one of the lowest incidences of cancer in Europe but things could get worse, with cases set to rise at twice the European average by 2040.
The report, based on 2022 data, showed that cancer remains the second leading cause of mortality in Malta, with lung, colorectal, pancreatic and breast cancer the most common forms of fatal cancers. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women, with about 300 women being diagnosed each year.
Businesses should cater for menopause and menstruation
Vlada Karpovich on Pexels
Research carried out with working menopausal women in the US showed that almost 78% reported work-related challenges due to menopause, with a perceived reduction in productivity (56.8%) being the most common issue.
Another research involving Irish women showed that the most common menopausal symptoms affecting employees were fatigue (54%), difficulty sleeping (47%), poor concentration (44%) and poor memory (40%). Work performance was impacted for 65% of respondents.
This is a reality across the globe for working women, and Malta is no exception.
The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention noted that “women may reduce working hours or leave the workforce due to difficulty managing menopause symptoms at work. Workplaces can support women who may be experiencing menopause by offering flexible working arrangements, adjustable room temperatures, non-restrictive and breathable uniforms, and adequate access to restrooms.”
But many women will know that, for some, the problems start earlier than menopause. For some, menstruation is extremely painful and disruptive.
This was a topic raised in an interview with Women for Women Foundation general manager Elaine Compango and Women for Women group founder Francesca Fenech Conti ahead of the annual health expo that took place last weekend.
They urged businesses to implement policies that support these realities women face. Because they are real, and impact a large chunk of the workforce.
Less babies lead to more entrepreneurial mums, in China
Here’s a new perspective on the whole ‘have-more-babies’ subject. Some weeks ago we heard how the Maltese government wants to invest more money so couples have more children. This is because Malta has the lowest fertility rate in the EU, at just 1.08 births per woman – far below the replacement rate of 2.1 needed to maintain a stable population.
Women in Malta have been told they should be having three babies each to keep up the local population rate.
This takes on a different light when seen in parallel with what’s going on in China. According to a recent study that collected data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey and the Chinese business registry, China saw a significant rise in female entrepreneurship in response to stricter fertility restrictions under the one-child policy.
According to the study, each additional child increased childcare demands on women by an average of 9.17 hours per week. Apart from that, housework responsibilities increased demands by 4.36 hours per week.
So the questions are: Do we want women to be having babies or boosting the economy? Babies give us more people, which is what non-EU workers are doing. So - correction - babies give us more Maltese people. But what about the women and the pressure to work and raise children?
What about the children?
Share your news
Do you have some women-related news you want to share? Or perhaps an idea or topic you feel deserves to be spoken about and ‘unclouded’? Or an inspiring story to share?
If so you can comment below or send an email on hello@womanunclouded.com so we can discuss how to get your voice heard.