"Heat within, heat without- nowhere to escape": an intersectional perspective on Israeli women's challenges during menopause.

Abstract

This study explores how Israeli women experience menopause in the context of climate change, with a specific focus on the intersection between internal hot flashes and external heat stress during the summer months. Using a qualitative methodology, 40 semi-structured interviews were conducted with women aged 42-60 who reported experiencing hot flashes as a symptom of menopause. The analysis reveals that coping with menopausal symptoms does not occur in isolation but is deeply embedded within environmental, material, and social contexts. Drawing on the Conservation of Resources theory while using an intersectional lens, the study highlights the significance of personal, interpersonal, material and social resources in managing the dual burden of internal and external heat. Based on these insights, the "Within-Without Coping Model" is proposed to conceptualize the layered and intersecting dimensions of coping. Although women in menopause should be recognized as a vulnerable population within climate and health policy, it is also important to acknowledge their agency and creativity in adjusting to the challenges. It is essential to develop gender- and climate-sensitive interventions that address the specific needs of women in midlife.