Researchers Seek Queer Peri/Menopausal Women for Digital Storytelling Project

Researchers affiliated with the Health Environment and the Arts (HEART) Initiative at UMass seek sexual and/or gender minority people experiencing peri/menopause to participate in a digital storytelling project.

"Queering Menopause: Building Collaboration for Understanding Menopause Among Sexual and/or Gender Minority People" invites participants to tell their stories related to being in the peri/menopausal stage of their lives, bringing together social science researchers and peri/menopausal individuals to produce a digital story about an important moment in their lives.

Participants will be asked to attend a digital storytelling workshop to be held on the UMass Amherst campus from Jan. 6-8, 2026. The workshop will be conducted over three days, for five hours each day, for a total of 15 hours.

At the end of the workshop, participants will have produced a 1- to 3-minute digital story related to their experiences as a member of the LGBTQ+ community who is in the peri/menopausal phase of life. As part of the digital storytelling process, participants will be asked to share their story ideas in a story circle and final digital story in a story screening at the end of the workshop. Participation is voluntary.

With participant consent, the researchers also plan to share the stories with various audiences, such as workshop participants, allied community-based organizations and advocacy networks and public health workers.

Participants will receive $300 for completing the digital storytelling workshop and snacks and meals will be provided.

Those interested in participating can contact principal investigators Krystal Kittle at [email protected] and Aline Gubrium at [email protected].