Our Bodies, Ourselves for the New Century: A Book by and for Women

Our Bodies, Ourselves for the New Century: A Book by and for Women

Touchstone, Rockefeller Center, 1230 Ave. of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. 780p., illus., bibliog., index. ISBN 0-684-84231-9. $21.00.
Boston Women's Health Book Collective. 1998.

This book has been out for over a year, receiving both raving reviews and scathing criticism. Early on it was actually banned and thought of as too radical for today's society. The fact is, it is the first book based on hundreds of women's experiences. "It places women's experiences within the social, political, and economic forces that determine all of our lives, thus going beyond individualistic, narrow, self-care and self-help approaches, and views health in the context of the sexist, racist, and financial pressures that affect far too many girls, women, and families adversely." It condemns medical corporate misbehavior. It was first published in 1970 and now completely updated and rewritten by the Boston Women's Health Book Collective, "a nonprofit organization devoted to education about women and health."

It is divided into 5 parts with a total of 27 fact-filled chapters. Of particular importance is the section on "Sexual Health and Controlling Our Fertility" which discusses such issues as whether or not to have children, sexual anatomy, birth control, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV/AIDS in women, unplanned pregnancies, and abortion. Another excellent chapter is "Sexuality" where the focus of the chapter is on the statement: "We are all sexual--young, old, married, single, with or without disability, sexually active or not, transgendered, heterosexual, bisexual, or lesbian. As we change, our sexuality changes, too. Learning about sex is a lifelong process."

This is a highly recommended book that should be in every library from school to academic. There will be those who say it is too frank and they will try to prohibit it from being in some libraries. How sad. The biggest problem in today's society is that sex is continually swept under the rug, not to be talked about. Young people become confused and never know where to go for advice. Here is a book that they can go to and find the answers to the multitude of questions that they have.

Keywords: Health and Hygiene; Disease; Psychology.
991230
BK990957

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