Preface to the 1973 edition of our bodies, ourselves the 1975 harvard conference on women and health the schlesinger library at radcliffe college maintains an extensive collection of records from boston womens health book collective, including minutes from meetings, letters from readers, discussions about health and politics, and. Our bodies, ourselves is a significant work because it was one of the first major texts written about womens health, and because it was one of the first to apply a specifically feminist political frame to thinking about womens health. Click here to view a pdf version of the original women and their bodies. The book our bodies, ourselves, the definitive womens health resource, has been providing important information to women for the past 25 years. As wells explains, the book is also significant because the collective was able to move the book from. This article offers a brief history of our bodies, ourselves, the landmark book about womens health and sexuality first published in 1970, as well as the boston womens health book collective, its author and sponsor of numerous womens health initiatives. Our bodies, ourselves by boston womens health book collective. Apr 10, 2020 spanish translation and adaption of our bodies, ourselves. Susan wells, our bodies, ourselves and the work of writing. Records in our collections describe the making of our bodies, ourselves and the later publications produced by the collective. The work, priced at 40 cents, quickly sold 250,000 copies. This is the best book to help young and older women with the ins and outs about our bodies. Inspired by a movement and written by a collective, both the book in its many editions and translations and the collective, in its various configurations of members, friends and activities, continue to educate and empower women all over the. Our bodies ourselves for the new century a touchstone book.
Apr 11, 2018 put together by a group of women first known as the doctors group, then the boston womens health book collective and now our bodies ourselves, it was a revolutionary resource, thanks to its. In 1973 simon and schuster printed a revised version for a wider audience, and throughout its many editions the book has reportedly sold over four million copies. And if the idea of a collective undertaking to learn. This book is an important piece of feminist history, it had a profound impact on the medical establishment and gave many women across the globe a better understanding of their own bodies and sexuality. The book our bodies, ourselves is a feminist success story. Our bodies, ourselves, the guide that revolutionized womens. Their mission is to empower women by providing information about health, sexuality, and reproduction.
First published in the late 1960s, it contains information related to many aspects of womens health and sexuality. Includes bibliographical references and index taking care of ourselves 1. Six years after the 2005 overhaul of this classic guide to womens health, the 2011 edition focuses on what our bodies, ourselves does best. The book quickly became an underground success, selling 230,000 copies, mainly by wordofmouth. Our bodies, ourselves by boston womens health book collective, 9781439190661, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. I had a copy of it way back in the 70s and learned a great deal from reading it. Our bodies, ourselves is a book written by and for women, and clearly it is much more than that. A course from 1970 digitized by the boston womens health book collective. Our bodies, ourselves will stop printing new editions the. Boston womens health book collective author of our bodies. A short history of our bodies ourselves, otherwise known as the boston womens health book collective.
The story of our bodies, ourselves begins in may of 1969, when 12. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read our bodies, ourselves. As a result of their success, the women formed the nonprofit boston womens health book collective which now goes by the name our. The story of our bodies, ourselves the book and our bodies ourselves the organization also known as the boston womens health book collective. The boston womens health book collective, now also known as our bodies, ourselves, was an outgrowth of the womens movement in the united states. When the boston womens health book collective first published our bodies, ourselves, it was a rare resource on everything from birth control to abortion, pregnancy to postpartum depression. Written and carefully researched by the boston womens health collective, a nonprofit organization committed to education about women and health, the book candidly discusses a variety of issues concerning womens health and their bodies. Get this book when the boston womens health book collective published a 75cent pamphlet in 1971, its message was in sync with the feminist zeitgeist. The boston womens health book collective now known as our bodies ourselves is a nonprofit organization founded in 1969 whose board members include teresa heinz kerry, susan love, and gloria steinem. Our bodies ourselves is a nonprofit education and advocacy organization focused on womens health.
Our changing sense of self, the anatomy and physiology of reproduction and sexuality, sexuality, living with ourselves and others. The myth of the boston womens health book collective 85 4. Our bodies, ourselvesnancy miriam hawley, a founder of the boston womens health book collective, with copies of several editions of. Norsigian, judy and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. In some ways, our bodies, ourselves is returning to its roots. We aim to combine womens personal stories with reliable, uptodate health information, while examining the social and political influences on womens health and wellbeing. Our bodies, ourselves by the boston womens health book. Our bodies, ourselves, american book on womens health, first published in 1970 and followed by eight revised and updated editions, with the last appearing in 2011. Put together by a group of women first known as the doctors group, then the boston womens health book collective and now our bodies ourselves, it was. Originally published in the winter 1999 edition of journal of the american medical womens association.
Mar 28, 20 our bodies, ourselves is a significant work because it was one of the first major texts written about womens health, and because it was one of the first to apply a specifically feminist political frame to thinking about womens health. At first calling themselves the doctors group, in 1970 they published their collected papers as a 193page course booklet, women and their bodies. To supplement scant or unavailable information about womens health and medical issues, the group began writing articles on topics such as sexuality, birth control, abortion. Other articles where our bodies ourselves is discussed. Boston womens health book collective our bodies, ourselves. Our bodies, ourselves boston womens health book collective. To learn about it, check out the following resources. In 1971, they changed the title to our bodies, ourselves to emphasize women taking full ownership of their bodies. The boston womens health collective wrote our bodies, ourselves to educate women about their own health and sexuality, topics rarely discussed openly at the time of its initial publication. Our bodies, ourselves ebook written by boston womens health book collective, judy norsigian. It was then retitled our bodies, ourselves and published as a book by the new england free press in 1971. Oct 04, 2011 our bodies, ourselves ebook written by boston womens health book collective, judy norsigian. Our bodies, ourselves, the revolutionary feminist health book. A brief history and reflection by judy norsigian, vilunya diskin, paula doressworters, jane pincus, wendy sanford, and norma swenson.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Our bodies ourselves for the new century a touchstone book boston womens health book collective on. Our bodies, ourselves by boston womens health book. Please note that as of june 2018 obos is no longer able to update our health content. Our bodies our selves boston womens collective first. Our bodies ourselves american organization britannica. In 1972, the group of founding authors formally incorporated as the boston womens health book collective later known as our bodies ourselves. A course was reprinted in 1971 under the name our bodies, our selves. The authors begin the chapter with a history of antiabortion. But after nearly 50 years, our bodies ourselves, the boston nonprofit home of the book, will stop publishing the pubescent tome amid a period of transition. Our bodies our selves donate to our bodies ourselves. Aug 30, 2011 get this book when the boston womens health book collective published a 75cent pamphlet in 1971, its message was in sync with the feminist zeitgeist.
The cover of our bodies, ourselves a book by and for women by the boston womens health book collective. Reproductive health 2 our bodies, ourselves, a succession to a pamphlet of resources pulled from coops of women in and around boston, massachusetts, was published in new york in 1973 by simon and schuster. In 1971, women and their bodies was republished as our bodies, ourselves by new england free press. Our bodies, ourselves, the revolutionary feminist health. First published in the late 1960s, it contains information related to many aspects of womens health and sexuality, including. Click on a topic below to read excerpts from our books and content developed for our website. Our bodies, ourselves is a book about womens health and sexuality produced by the nonprofit organization our bodies ourselves originally called the boston womens health book collective. Selling more than four million copies since its debut in 1970, it has challenged medical dogmas about womens bodies and sexuality, shaped health care policies, energized the reproductive rights movement, and.
Our bodies, ourselves is on our resource lists for people to seek out. Selling more than four million copies since its debut in 1970, it has challenged medical dogmas about womens bodies and sexuality, shaped health care policies, energized the reproductive rights movement, and stimulated medical research on womens health. Oct 04, 2011 the boston womens health book collective now known as our bodies ourselves is a nonprofit organization founded in 1969 whose board members include teresa heinz kerry, susan love, and gloria steinem. Pregnancy and birth by boston womens health book collective. The boston womens health book collective and our bodies. It was a groundbreaking publication in its expressed goal of dispelling widespread ignorance about the female body and womens health issues. The boston womens health book collective and our bodies, ourselves.
The story of our bodies, ourselves the book and our bodies ourselves the organization also known as the boston womens health book collective is long and fruitful. It was time, the collective declared, for women to take charge of their bodies and their reproduction. Our bodies, ourselves book by boston womens health book. The date an article was last revised is listed at the top of each page. Apr 10, 2018 in 1971, women and their bodies was republished as our bodies, ourselves by new england free press. Our bodies, ourselves by the boston womens health book collective, claims to have served as a way for women, across ethnic, racial, religious and geographical boundaries, to start examining their health from a perspective that will bring about change. Ourselves and our children 1978, changing bodies, changing lives, a book for teens on sex and relationships 1980, and ourselves, growing older, women aging with knowledge and power 1987 and 1994, among others. Spanish translation and adaption of our bodies, ourselves. Duke university press the making of our bodies, ourselves. More than fifteen years ago when i was still living in argentina, my home country, a spanish version of our bodies, ourselves obos landed in my arms as part of the teaching portfolio that young women, like myself at the time, had to master in order to be acknowledged as aspiring feminists. About 50,000 copies were distributed throughout the united states and latin america. In 1970, a group of women in the boston area selfpublished women and their bodies, a 193page booklet that dared to address sexuality and reproductive health, including abortion. A year later, they changed the title to our bodies, ourselves and changed the womens health movement around the world.
May 04, 1970 our bodies, ourselves by the boston womens health book collective, claims to have served as a way for women, across ethnic, racial, religious and geographical boundaries, to start examining their health from a perspective that will bring about change. Our bodies, ourselves wont publish any new editions. The book examined womens reproductive health, including chapters on menstruation, birth control, pregnancy stages, and challenges during pregnancy. Our bodies ourselves obos is a nonprofit, public interest organization that develops and promotes evidencebased information on girls and. Our bodies, ourselves 1973, by the boston womens health book. This may ring true through most of the chapters in this text. An early cover of the womens health book our bodies, ourselves, published by the boston womens health book collective. The history of our bodies, ourselves and the boston womens health book collective bwhbc began in the spring of 1969 at a womens liberation conference.
The boston womens health collective wrote our bodies, ourselves to educate. Our bodies ourselves, also known as the boston womens health book collective, is a nonprofit taxexempt 501c3 organization. Our bodies, ourselves 1973, by the boston womens health book collective 1 by. The history of our bodies, ourselves and the boston womens health book collective bwhbc began in the spring of 1969 at a womens liberation conference held in boston. The boston womens health book collective now known as our bodies ourselves is a nonprofit organization founded in 1969 whose board members include teresa heinz kerry, susan love. Apr 12, 2018 but after nearly 50 years, our bodies ourselves, the boston nonprofit home of the book, will stop publishing the pubescent tome amid a period of transition. The making of our bodies, ourselves duke university press.