From Puberty Blues to Menopause and Beyond, Kathy Lette puts it on the national agenda from Canberra

Posted on 4 February, 2025

The podium of the National Press Club is usually a place in which speeches on politics, policy and issues of national importance are delivered.

So when celebrated author Kathy Lette takes the podium on 19 February she wants the nation to consider issues including why the gender pay gap still hasn’t been closed, why menopause is not recognised for the impact it has on half the human population and why heterosexual woman have, on average, one orgasm for every five enjoyed by the male species.

Plus a whole lot more.

Kathy is the co-author of the cult novel Puberty Blues, which chronicled the abject misogyny of Sydney surfers in the 1970’s, as well as a raft of best-selling novels which humorously (in a sharp and calculated way) promote a feminist message.

Entitled “From Puberty Blues to Menopause Blues – to a Sensational Second Act – and why women are each other’s human wonder bras; uplifting and supportive,” her National Press Club Address is in partnership with Women in Media.

Kathy’s speech will focus on how being a surfie girl ignited her feminist fire, discrimination in the work force, the pay gap and the concussion women suffer hitting their heads on the glass ceiling, the shock of motherhood and lack of male domesticity leading to the second glass ceiling women face at home (which they have to polish), double standards when it comes to female sexuality, and the ageist sexism that encourages women to have cosmetic surgery.

She will also discuss menopause – and how women can have a “sensational second act”.

Kathy has always surrounded herself with women and believes laughter is a salve.

Since her breakthrough publishing deal with co-author Gabrielle Carey at 17, Kathy has written 20 novels (which have been translated into 19 different languages) and is a London-based columnist who spends nine months of each year in the UK and three months in Sydney.

An autodidact (a word she taught herself) with three honorary doctorates, Kathy has two grown children, is a TV presenter, newspaper and magazine columnist and also an ambassador for Their World, the National Autistic Society and Ambitious About Autism (her son Julius has autism).

Women in Media is a not-for-profit organisation supporting women working in media across the country. The National Press Club Address is open to the public and all are welcome to attend.