The New Our Bodies, Ourselves

by Boston Women's Health Book Collective, Jill Rakusen

The 20th-anniversary edition of the book hailed as the "most important work to come out of the women's movement" (Ellen Frankfurt) contains updated information on breast cancer, AIDS, and other vital contemporary health concerns. Illustrations throughout. Index.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Feminism, Health, Womens, Gender, Sexuality

Paperback

About the author

Our Bodies Ourselves is a nonprofit education and advocacy organization focused on women's health. We aim to combine women's personal stories with reliable, up-to-date health information, while examining the social and political influences on women's health and well-being.

Reviews

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. My copy is nearly 20 years old. I feel ancient. An excellent owner's manual to the body.

[Velma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had this book forever, or at least what feels like it: the mid-'80s, at least. When I pulled it off the shelf today to add it here, I was greatly amused to discover, tucked in the back, the syllabus from my 1988 Human Sexuality class in college.

Although I am sure that there are more modern, more up-to-date, references on women's health out there, this title remains for me a (no pun intended) seminal work. Because I discovered it when I was coming of age both sexually and emotionally, and because it is written from such an empowering perspective, it will always be a touchstone and my jumping-off point when looking for knowledge about health.

[Mélanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un super guide, bien documenté et illustré, facile à prendre en main pour s'autonomiser et répondre à toutes les questions concernant la vie et le corps des femmes. Une référence !

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

YES! YES! YES! I have to admit that this is honestly one of the very first books I looked at/read when I was a child (yes, I was advanced). And yes, even though my parents were educational, upfront and honest with me about not only the human body, but also "how babies are made", and sexuality, I still would look at this book. My mom had the very first edition in the early 1970's, and when I was in my early twenties I obtained this edition. It has since been revised as the "new century" edition, which I will eventually purchase as well. This book covers so much information that some people may find hard to ask or embarrassing to find out about. I urge ALL teenage girls and ALL women to please check this book out, and of course men as well!!

[Mirhanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I used to recommend this book to every woman I knew. I even bought a copy for my mother, who also loved it. That was back in the early 90s. My ex-husband destroyed all my books, so I bought a new copy in the late 2000s and it was NOT the same. It's main focus seemed to be on men's health rather than women's. I can no longer recommend this book, unless Boston Women's Health Collective realize that men and men's health aren't women and women's health. Such a shame because this book had been a gold mine for learning about our own health as women.

[Kathryn Jennex · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must have book for every household that includes women. Delves into the topic of gender, sexuality, sexual practices, rights to health-care and the medicalization of womens natural process.

I have this copy but will definitely be investing in the newest release. .An excellent gift for every female in your life

[HeavyReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for any person with female anatomy. If you don't want to read the whole thing (which I did--has anyone else?), keep it around for reference. This is the first book that made me consider homebirth as a sane option.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book for a sociology course in 1989 and have kept it ever since.
It shows every perspective of every body (and everybody's body).
Answers questions you didn't know you had, but in an empowering way!

[Cookiesue9x · Rating 5 out of 5]

My rating (of 5 stars) is based on the edition I read and gave to every woman I knew is based on the edition I read in 1973.

[erl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of useful information here. In spite of the title, this book is an older edition, and some information is outdated. Still, it will be my go to graduation gift for young women from now on. I wish I had read it years ago.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

every woman in the world should own this book and the updated version of it. EVERY. WOMAN.