ABSTRACT
Menopause remains largely invisible in workplace discussions, despite its impact on women’s wellbeing and careers. Shaped by norms that prioritize youth, bodily control, and constant productivity, menopause is often treated as a personal health issue rather than an organizational concern. This study examines how menopause is experienced, managed, and contested in French workplaces, a setting where reproductive health remains culturally taboo and professionally sensitive. Drawing on Foucault’s concept of biopower, we analyze how women monitor and conceal menopause symptoms to maintain credibility in workplaces where professional competence is associated with control and composure. Based on qualitative interviews with 15 French professional women and analysis of 936 French-language YouTube comments, we reveal a paradox in which menopause symptoms are often visible yet actively hidden by women at work. We argue that the medical framing of menopause in French culture reinforces workplace taboo. As responsibility shifts onto women to manage menopause symptoms silently, digital platforms offer alternative spaces to share experiences, challenge stigma, and seek support. This study calls for menopause to be more clearly recognized as a workplace issue in France.