Our Bodies, Ourselves 1957138 219786416 2008-06-16T21:35:57Z Cgingold 2013997 /* Further reading */ another category [[Image:OurBodiesOurselves.jpg|thumb|230px|The cover of the 2005 edition, calling itself a "new edition for a new era."]] '''''Our Bodies, Ourselves''''' is a book about women's health and sexuality produced by the nonprofit organization Our Bodies Ourselves (originally called the Boston Women's Health Book Collective). First published in 1973, it contains information related to many aspects of women's health and sexuality, including [[menopause]], [[birth control]], [[childbirth]], sexual health, [[sexual orientation]], [[gender identity]], [[mental health]] and general well-being. Now in its 12th edition, and published in over 20 languages and [[braille]], the current edition, calling itself "a new edition for a new era," contains 832 pages, including new pictures, diagrams, and interviews. ''[[The New York Times]]'' has called the book "America's best-selling book on all aspects of women's health" and a "feminist classic." {{ref|back_cover}} In addition the book has inspired single-topic spin-off books. In October 2006, the first of these books (on [[menopause]]) was published, with a childbirth book being released in March 2008. __TOC__ ==History== The book arose out of a 35-cent, 136-page booklet called ''Women and Their Bodies'', published in 1970 by the New England Free Press, and written by 12 Boston feminist activists. The booklet was originally intended as the basis for a women's health course, the first to be written for women by women. The health seminar that inspired the booklet was organized in 1969 by Nancy Miriam Hawley at Boston's [[Emmanuel College, Boston|Emmanuel College]]. "We weren't encouraged to ask questions, but to depend on the so-called experts," Hawley told ''Women's eNews''. "Not having a say in our own health care frustrated and angered us. We didn't have the information we needed, so we decided to find it on our own." [http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/1820/context/archive] The women researched and wrote up the information themselves. Wendy Sanford wrote about [[abortion]], Jane Pincus and Ruth Bell about [[pregnancy]], and Paula Doress and Esther Rome about [[postpartum depression]]. The booklet sold 250,000 copies in New England without any formal advertising. [http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/1820/context/archive] As a result of their success, the women formed the non-profit Boston Women's Health Book Collective (which now goes by the name Our Bodies Ourselves) and published the first 276-page ''Our Bodies, Ourselves'' in 1973. It featured first-person stories from women, and tackled many topics then regarded as [[taboo]]. Since then, over four million copies have been sold. Simon & Schuster is the current publisher. ==Style== The first book was a product of the [[feminist movement]] and could still be said to reflect its values. The personal experiences of women are taken into account and are quoted throughout, while the social and political context of women's health informs the content of the book. Topics such as [[male-to-female]] and [[female-to-male]] [[transsexualism]]/[[transgenderism]] are discussed in the most recent edition and considered in a nonjudgmental manner, despite the controversy to which they have been subject within the feminist movement. The writing style of the book tends toward a familiar, inclusive tone, with the authors referring to women and themselves as a collective group. The current edition uses material published in the 1984, 1992, and 1998 editions, and was made possible from a grant by [[Brigham and Women's Hospital]] and the Boston University School of Public Health. The book's advisory committee included [[Teresa Heinz Kerry]], Susan Love, and [[Gloria Steinem]]. ==Chapter Topics in Book== '''Taking Care of Ourselves'''<br /> 1: Body Image<br /> 2: Eating Well<br /> 3: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Mood-Altering Drugs<br /> 4: Our Bodies in Motion<br /> 5: Complementary Health Practices<br /> 6: Emotional Well-Being<br /> 7: Environmental and Occupational Health<br /> 8: Violence and Abuse<br /> <br /> '''Relationships and Sexuality'''<br /> 9: [[Gender Identity]] and [[Sexual Orientation]]<br /> 10: Relationships with Men<br /> 11: Relationships with Women<br /> 12: [[human sexuality|Sexuality]]<br /> <br /> '''Sexual Health'''<br /> 13: Sexual Anatomy, Reproduction, and the [[menstrual cycle]]<br /> 14: [[Safer Sex]]<br /> 15: [[Sexually Transmitted Infections]]<br /> 16: [[HIV]] and [[AIDS]]<br /> <br /> '''Reproductive Choices'''<br /> 17: Considering Parenting<br /> 18: [[Birth Control]]<br /> 19: Unexpected Pregnancy<br /> 20: [[Abortion]]<br /> <br /> '''Child-Bearing'''<br /> 21: [[Pregnancy]]<br /> 22: [[Childbirth]]<br /> 23: The First Year of Parenting<br /> 24: Child-Bearing Loss<br /> 25: Infertility and Assisted Reproduction<br /> <br /> '''Growing Older'''<br /> 26: Midlife and [[Menopause]]<br /> 27: Our Later Years<br /> <br /> '''Medical Problems and Procedures'''<br /> 28: Unique to Women<br /> 29: Special Concerns for Women<br /> <br /> '''Knowledge is Power'''<br /> 30: Navigating the Health Care System<br /> 31: The Politics of Women’s Health<br /> 32: Organizing for Change ==Criticism== On [[July 17]], [[2005]], ''New York Times'' columnist Alexandra Jacobs wrote an unflattering review of the new edition of ''OBOS'', stating that she disliked the pink cover, as well as the sharper editing and new policies.{{ref|times_review}} The editors of the book responded in an [[August 14]] [[letter to the editor]] stating they "appreciate[d] Jacobs's nostalgia for earlier editions," but that they were "evolv[ing] to stay relevant and accessible to [their] readers." ''Our Bodies, Ourselves'' also was listed on the conservative [[Intercollegiate Studies Institute]]'s [http://www.mmisi.org/ir/35_01/50worst.pdf "50 Worst Books of the Twentieth Century"] (alongside works by [[Margaret Mead]], [[Herbert Marcuse]], [[Bertrand Russell]], and others). The book's website saw this as newsworthy and accepted the designation gracefully, even posting the text of the review.[http://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/news/archives.asp] ==References== #{{note|times_review}} ''[http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/17/books/review/17JACOBSL.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1121694259-hrAJtKlnrchHW0dafaeuXw New York Times review]'' #{{note|times_letter}}''[http://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/book/inside/nyt_response.asp OBOS editor's response]'' #{{note|back_cover}} Back cover. *Ginty, Molly M. [http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/1820/context/archive "Our Bodies, Ourselves Turns 35 Today"], ''Women's eNews'', [[May 4]], [[2004]] ==Further reading== *[http://www.ourbodiesourselves.org ''Our Bodies, Ourselves'' companion website] *[http://nantucket.plumtv.com/stories/our_bodies_ourselves Judy Norsigian on Plum TV] [[Category:Gynecology]] [[Category:Sexuality and society]] [[Category:Feminism books]] [[Category:Health and wellness books]] [[Category:Sexuality books]] [[Category:Self-help books]]