Menopause, a silent career killer

Editor's note

Older women are one of the fastest-growing sections of the Australian workforce. They are also the ones who must deal with menopause, which typically affects them for four to eight years. But most employers don’t recognise this as a problem and few women feel able to talk about managing their symptoms. As a result, writes Ruth McPhail, it’s killing careers.

John Watson

Section Editor: Cities + Policy

Top story

In one study, only a quarter of respondents felt able to discuss their menopausal symptoms with their manager. stockfour/Shutterstock

A silent career killer – here's what workplaces can do about menopause

Ruth McPhail, Griffith University

Workforce participation rates for older women have increased greatly, but most workplaces have yet to realise the benefits of helping them to manage the impacts of menopause.

Arts + Culture

Friday essay: from convicts to contemporary convictions – 200 years of Australian crime fiction

Stephen Knight, University of Melbourne

Australia's rich tradition of crime fiction is little known – early tales told of bushrangers and convicts, one hero was a mining engineer turned amateur detective – but it reveals a range of national myths and fantasies.
Dreams in an Empty City: a strikingly prescient morality tale about banking

Julian Meyrick, Flinders University

Stephen Sewell's 1986 exemplifies the traits of the decade: apocalyptic in feel, epic in scope and unforgiving in length

Environment + Energy
How to break up with plastics (using behavioural science) Kim Borg, Monash University How do you help a country get over plastic? By creating awareness and minor inconveniences and by providing lots of reminders.

Politics + Society

Whether teams win or lose, sporting events lead to spikes in violence against women and children

Melanie Pescud, Australian National University

A mix of alcohol, heightened emotions and toxic masculinity are to blame for surges in family violence perpetrated by sports fans.
Grattan on Friday: Little upside for Malcolm Turnbull in debate over religious freedom

Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra

The government won't be putting out the report before the July 28 byelections, and that tells us something. There are concerns about how this issue will run in the public domain.
Changing of the guard at the Treasury department

Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra

Phil Gaetjens, who has served as chief of staff to two Liberal treasurers, will now run the Treasury department, after the early resignation of the current secretary, John Fraser.
Audit found Vikki Campion was owed travel money

Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra

The audit also examined Joyce's claims between May 9 2016 and December 31 2017. It found all were within the rules.
Why New Zealanders are feeling the hard edge of Australia's deportation policy

Patrick Keyzer, La Trobe University; Dave Martin, La Trobe University

Changes to Australian immigration law have resulted in a sharp increase in deportations, particularly among New Zealanders of Maori and Pacific Island descent.

Health + Medicine
Carbon monoxide exposure in homes is a risk – here's how to protect yourself Christine Cowie, UNSW Deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning in Australia in recent years have focused attention on faulty or unflued gas heaters - here's what you need to know.

Science + Technology

When to trust (and not to trust) peer reviewed science

Merlin Crossley, UNSW

There's peer review – and then there's peer review. With more knowledge you can dive in a little deeper and make a call about how reliable a science paper really is.
Peer review has some problems – but the science community is working on it

Dr Jessica Borger, Monash University

Key areas of focus for tweaking peer review include making journal editors more directive in the process, rewarding reviewers, and improving accountability of editors, reviewers and authors.
Rethinking _Homo sapiens_? The story of our origins gets dizzyingly complicated

Darren Curnoe, UNSW

A manifesto from 23 researchers challenges old models, and outlines the major new directions archaeology should follow to solve the puzzling origins of modern humans.

Education
PhD completion: an evidence-based guide for students, supervisors and universities Timothy Colin Bednall, Swinburne University of Technology Completion rates for PhD courses are very low. Here are some things students, supervisors and universities can do to help support these students through to completion.

Cities
'Ideological masculinity' that drives violence against women is a form of violent extremism Joshua Roose, Australian Catholic University Men who subscribe to ideological masculinity believe that women's empowerment has left them victimised and discriminated against. And they play out their resentment through violent acts.

Business + Economy
Think carefully before buying Bitcoin – and don't buy the 'safe haven' claims Lee Smales, University of Western Australia Bitcoin's rise and fall to date already makes it one of the greatest market bubbles in history. In turbulent times, some have suggested it as a substitute for gold, but it lacks some vital attributes.