{"id":537,"date":"2025-07-28T14:56:44","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T12:56:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/menopausing\/?page_id=537"},"modified":"2025-12-10T16:27:34","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T14:27:34","slug":"meeri-ott","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/menopausing\/menopausing-network\/people\/meeri-ott\/","title":{"rendered":"Meeri Ott"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"945\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/menopausing\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/535\/2024\/12\/IMG_7069-945x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-292\" style=\"width:321px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/menopausing\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/535\/2024\/12\/IMG_7069-945x1024.jpg 945w, https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/menopausing\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/535\/2024\/12\/IMG_7069-277x300.jpg 277w, https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/menopausing\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/535\/2024\/12\/IMG_7069-768x832.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/menopausing\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/535\/2024\/12\/IMG_7069-1418x1536.jpg 1418w, https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/menopausing\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/535\/2024\/12\/IMG_7069-1890x2048.jpg 1890w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 945px) 100vw, 945px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Meeri is a doctoral researcher for the project, aiming to advance critical theories of self-image and productivity by examining menopause-related cases among queer, lgbtiqa+, neurodiverse, chronically ill and disabled communities in Finland and Estonia, including digital spaces. \u201cIndividualistic and neoliberal cultures often equate self-worth with productivity. So, what happens if you can\u2019t or don\u2019t want to be as productive as possible? I want to explore how menopause resonates with or challenges contemporary societal views of productivity and fulfilling life,\u201d she talks about the inspiration behind her doctoral research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meeri holds a master\u2019s degree in arts in Humanities (Folkloristics) and has previously worked with different Estonian cultural organisations. Her past work includes research on Estonian urban nightlife during the 2000s, as well as exploring personal narrative experiences of Tartu\u2019s nightlife in the 2020s. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"links-block\">\n\n    \n    <ul class=\"link-list\">\n        \n            \n            <li class=\"link-list-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/uefconnect.uef.fi\/en\/meeri.ott\/\" class=\"link-reset link hover-scale-down\">\n                    <svg\n        width=\"43\" height=\"25\"\n        viewBox=\"0 0 43 25\"\n        xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n    <path\n        d=\"M30.027 0 43 12.5 30.027 25 27 22.083 34.351 15H0v-5h34.351L27 2.917z\"\n        fill=\"currentColor\"\n        fill-rule=\"evenodd\"\/>\n<\/svg>                    <div>UEF Connect &#8211; Meeri Ott<\/div>\n                <\/a>\n                <div class=\"link-info\">\n                                    <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n\n                <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The spectrum of transitioning bodies &#8211; experiences of menopause and productivity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The upcoming doctoral dissertation with a working title &#8220;The spectrum of transitioning bodies &#8211; experiences of menopause and productivity&#8221; aims to investigate the connections between societal assumptions about productivity, menopause-related experiences, and self-esteem &#8211; focusing specifically on <strong>queer\/lgbtiqa+, neurodiverse, chronically ill and disabled communities<\/strong> in Finland and Estonia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Neoliberal, individualistic cultures often measure person\u2019s worth in direct proportion to their productivity and personal achievements. For some, menopause represents a departure from idealised norms of fertility, youth, and capability\u2014norms that stem from ableist, sexist, ageist and heteronormative assumptions. Big portion of discussion and research about menopause strongly emphasises its medicalised and gendered framings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our project and I believe that menopausing is not a separate crisis or event, but rather an ongoing transition &#8211; it isn&#8217;t just an unpleasant phase in life and can offer opportunities even for self-acceptance and empowerment. It can also be very traumatic transition in life, full of internalised shame, pain and dysphoria. I&#8217;m seeking to contribute critical theories of self-worth and productivity by examining the lived and embodied experiences of menopausing individuals. The dissertation will explore how menopause either resonates with or challenges contemporary societal assumptions of productivity and \u201csuccessful\u201d life. The research employs alternative and critical theories and understandings of productivity, grounded in intersectional feminism, as well as queer, critical disability and crip studies. Both queer theory and crip theory offer radical approaches to the concept of normalcy, revealing how the boundaries between sick and healthy, abnormal and normal, accepted and rejected are fluid and constantly shifting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can read more about the ongoing research from: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"links-block\">\n\n    \n    <ul class=\"link-list\">\n        \n            \n            <li class=\"link-list-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/menopausing\/menopausing-network\/people\/meeri-ott\/ott-research-information\/\" class=\"link-reset link hover-scale-down\">\n                    <svg\n        width=\"43\" height=\"25\"\n        viewBox=\"0 0 43 25\"\n        xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n    <path\n        d=\"M30.027 0 43 12.5 30.027 25 27 22.083 34.351 15H0v-5h34.351L27 2.917z\"\n        fill=\"currentColor\"\n        fill-rule=\"evenodd\"\/>\n<\/svg>                    <div>Research information (in English)<\/div>\n                <\/a>\n                <div class=\"link-info\">\n                                    <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n\n        \n            <li class=\"link-list-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/menopausing\/menopausing-network\/people\/meeri-ott\/ott-tutkimustiedote\/\" class=\"link-reset link hover-scale-down\">\n                    <svg\n        width=\"43\" height=\"25\"\n        viewBox=\"0 0 43 25\"\n        xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n    <path\n        d=\"M30.027 0 43 12.5 30.027 25 27 22.083 34.351 15H0v-5h34.351L27 2.917z\"\n        fill=\"currentColor\"\n        fill-rule=\"evenodd\"\/>\n<\/svg>                    <div>Tutkimustiedote (suomeksi)<\/div>\n                <\/a>\n                <div class=\"link-info\">\n                                    <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n\n        \n            <li class=\"link-list-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/menopausing\/menopausing-network\/people\/meeri-ott\/ott-uurimisteade\/\" class=\"link-reset link hover-scale-down\">\n                    <svg\n        width=\"43\" height=\"25\"\n        viewBox=\"0 0 43 25\"\n        xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n    <path\n        d=\"M30.027 0 43 12.5 30.027 25 27 22.083 34.351 15H0v-5h34.351L27 2.917z\"\n        fill=\"currentColor\"\n        fill-rule=\"evenodd\"\/>\n<\/svg>                    <div>Uurimisteade (eesti keeles) <\/div>\n                <\/a>\n                <div class=\"link-info\">\n                                    <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n\n                <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\t<div id=\"accordion-block_72bed0b5cddf6078e5c19f02838ec567\" class=\"accordions\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion accordion-js\">\n\t\t\t\t<button class=\"accordion__button\" aria-controls=\"content-9351\" aria-expanded=\"false\" id=\"accordion-control-9351\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"accordion__heading\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\tLukinmaa, P.; Ott, M.; &amp; Lulle, A. (2025). H\u00e4pe\u00e4st\u00e4 kohti moninaisia vaihdevuosia. Politiikasta.fi. \t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"accordion__content\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"accordion-control-9351\" aria-hidden=\"true\" id=\"content-9351\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Julkinen keskustelu vaihdevuosista on murroksessa. Vaihdevuosien vallankumouksellinen potentiaalin vapauttaminen vaatii asennemuutosta ja kielellist\u00e4 k\u00e4\u00e4nnett\u00e4.<\/p>\n<p>Lue koko Politiikasta-tiedeverkkolehdess\u00e4 julkaistu puheenvuoro klikkaamalla <a href=\"https:\/\/politiikasta.fi\/hapeasta-kohti-moninaisia-vaihdevuosia\/\">t\u00e4st\u00e4<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Meeri is a doctoral researcher for the project, aiming to advance critical theories of self-image and productivity by examining menopause-related cases among queer, lgbtiqa+, neurodiverse, chronically ill and disabled communities in Finland and Estonia, including digital spaces. \u201cIndividualistic and neoliberal cultures often equate self-worth with productivity. So, what happens if you can\u2019t or don\u2019t want [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1263,"featured_media":0,"parent":427,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-537","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Meeri Ott - Menopausing: Exploring\u00a0diversity,\u00a0awareness\u00a0 and\u00a0activism<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sites.uef.fi\/menopausing\/menopausing-network\/people\/meeri-ott\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Meeri Ott - Menopausing: Exploring\u00a0diversity,\u00a0awareness\u00a0 and\u00a0activism\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Meeri is a doctoral researcher for the project, aiming to advance critical theories of self-image and productivity by examining menopause-related cases among queer, lgbtiqa+, neurodiverse, chronically ill and disabled communities in Finland and Estonia, including digital spaces. \u201cIndividualistic and neoliberal cultures often equate self-worth with productivity. 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