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Our Bodies, Ourselves Wikipedia

Our Bodies, Ourselves is the title of a book about women's health and sexuality produced by the Boston Women's Health Book Collective under the supervision of Betty Dodson. It contains information related to many aspects of women's health and sexuality, including (but by no means limited to) menopause, birth control, reproduction, sexual health, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental health and general well-being.

Our Bodies, Ourselves was first published in 1970 and is now in its 12th edition. Selling over 4 million copies since its launch 35 years ago ("America's best selling book on all aspects of Women's Health"ref|back_cover), the current edition contains 832 pages total, including new pictures, diagrams, and interviews.

The book arose from the feminist movement and could still be said to reflect the values of that movement. 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 BDSM and male-to-female and female-to-male transsexualism/transgenderism are discussed in the most recent edition and considered in a non-judgemental manner, despite the controversy to which they have been subject within the feminist movement. The writing style of the book tends towards a familiar, inclusive tone, with the authors referring to women and themselves as a collective group (e.g. "we must take care of our bodies", etc.)

The current book uses material published in the 1984, '92, '98, and 2005 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 committe includes such figures as Teresa Heinz Kerry, Susan Love, and Gloria Steinem.

Last Modified:   2005-12-19