Survey

Reading Our Bodies, Ourselves

Submitted January 21, 2010, 5:41 PM

What had the biggest impact?

The photo of the woman who had died as a result of an illegal abortion...slumped on her knees in a motel room.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

No, I was a child and had no choice in the matter, but I certainly have made very concious choices with my Drs since.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

Absolutely. All areas, learning about masturbation, sex, STDs, etc.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

Yes, I was.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

No.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

Yes, it taught me all about what to expect as I grew up and gave me the ability to stand up for myself both in relationships and in healthcare situations.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

It made me question the "truth" of what they taught in high school, enabled me to question why we spent so much time on men's health and genitalia in class and why the clitoris was not even discussed...my teacher was not impressed, but the other students were. The guys thought I was a weirdo, but the girls just wanted more information.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

Recommend all the time and still do loan it out and have given it as a gift numerous times. My friends started calling me "The Vagina Lady" about 13yrs ago...:)

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

No.

Have you read any other BWHBC publication? (including Ourselves and Our Children (1978), Changing Bodies, Changing Lives (1998), Ourselves, Growing Older (1987), Sacrificing Ourselves for Love (1996). Do you have any comments about these books?

Ourselves and Our Children and Changing Bodies, Changing Lives.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Frequently, yes.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

Yes, as a pro-choice demonstrator/organiser, a doula and now a midwife.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

Through the OBOS site.

Name

Jennifer Duggan

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1976

Which edition did you read? [Women and Their Bodies, newsprint edition published by New England Free Press (1970); Our Bodies, Ourselves (1973, 1976); The New Our Bodies, Ourselves (1984, 1992); Our Bodies Ourselves for the New Century (1998); or a foreign translation or adaptation?]

Our Bodies, Ourselves

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

My mother, it was her copy...:)

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

Nothing...it just fascinated me.

Submitted November 16, 2009, 8:14 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

2007

Our Bodies Ourselves: A New Edition for a New Era

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

My mother gave me a copy before I left for my first year of university.

What had the biggest impact?

This book has been my go to for accurate and relevant information about sexual health. Even with an endless supply of information available on the internet, I still find myself turning to OBO.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

I have always had a good relationship with my doctor, however, this book has always been my first resource. I consulted it before talking to my doctor about birth control.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I would like to know more about health practices that relate specifically to women, especially the recent HPV vaccines.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

Yes. It is quite empowering.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

I often often used the book as a resource for friends who have come to me seeking advice. One day I will give this book to my own daughter.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

No, but I would like to become more involved.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

I came to the web page seeking information about BWHC's opinion on the Gardasil vaccine.

Submitted November 15, 2009, 4:23 PM

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

See answer above - worked for Planned Parenthood, volunteer with NARAL and NOW.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

Friend of a blogger on the Our Bodies, Ourselves blog.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

Not directly, but it added to my knowledge and therefore made me less likely to just blindly accept whatever my doctor told me.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

Not really - I read the entire thing and loved every part of it. Of course, at 18, I was more interested in the sections on sex and sexuality. As a 31-year-old, I'm re-reading the sections on pregnancy, birth, and relationships.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I'm not sure - I would have to go back and re-read it. I know that reading it now, as an adult, there are things on which I have different opinions, but I don't disagree with any of the book's content.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

YES! I finally had a good basic reference to go to when weird things started happening to my body - for example, my first yeast infection. I was really freaked out, and I did go to the doctor, but OBOS was my first stop (and allowed me to figure out what was probably happening and not be so nervous).

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

As mentioned above, my school "sex ed" was worse than useless. So the book was pretty much the bomb.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

Yes, everyone - even those like my mom who were not super interested in actually *discussing* topics like sex and health.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

No.

Ourselves, Growing Older - such a good book.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Yes - I worked for Planned Parenthood for six years. OBOS contributed to that indirectly by fueling my interest in women's health and women's rights.

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1997

Our Bodies, Ourselves (1976)

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

No one - I found it at the used bookstore (and immediately bought it, of course).

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

It was so straightforward - my "sex ed" in high school was total crap (taught by a women's softball coach who was anti-abortion and anti-birth control) and I had never seen information presented in a basic way that didn't try to sway the reader one way or another.

What had the biggest impact?

The section on sex throughout life - I never thought about 40-year-olds having sex. But it was eye-opening that yes, "older" adults still had sex, and it was still good -- and that the sexual experience could and would change throughout one's lifetime.

Submitted April 21, 2009, 12:54 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1977

Our Bodies, Ourselves (1976)

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

It was issued to all incoming women students at Vassar College.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

I suppose the graphic photos and masturbation instructions surprised me.

What had the biggest impact?

I'm sorry to say it had very little impact. Having received it in an official capacity, I promptly put it on my bookshelf and all but ignored it for most of my years in college--as I would have ignored a University Bulletin or other student manual.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

No.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

Not until many years later, and not as much as I might have had I discovered the book on my own.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I remember finding all the "explore your own body" messages a bit off- putting.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Not that I remember noticing.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

Yes, later, but not when I first received it.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

Well, I had had pretty thorough and explicit sex education classes in high school in California, but the book certainly added a more overtly feminist perspective to these issues. But since it was issued to me as, in effect, a textbook from an educational institution, I have always considered that it constituted part of "what I learned in school about women's health and sexuality" .

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

No.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

No.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

No.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

No. However, a few years later I ended up doing research and publishing on the history of literature, medicine and psychology, focusing in particular on women's health and mental health issues.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

I attended a talk and workshop by Susan Wells from her forthcoming book on the history and rhetoric of Our Bodies, Ourselves.

Submitted January 14, 2009, 12:46 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1990-ish

The New Our Bodies, Ourselves

How old were you at the time?

18 or 19

Who brought the book to your attention?

It was on the shelf at my campus Women's Resource Center. I still have my own first copy of The New Our Bodies, Ourselves: Updated and Expanded for the '90s on my bookshelf.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

The famous photo of the dead woman in the motel room, after an illegal abortion. I used to photocopy it and paste it over the fetus picture on "abortion stops a beating heart" flyers that campus pro-life organizations left in the Women's Resource Center lit rack.

I plan to show the documentary "Leona's Sister Gerri" in my Women's Health course this semester.

What had the biggest impact?

The physical reality of having all that information compiled in one place. Instead of needing to dig around for answers to lots of separate questions and make the initial connections myself, I was able to take in and work from the collection of other women's experiences with this process.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

It certainly reinforced my inclination to do my own research about evidence-based standards, and to get second opinions. Now that I have more material resources, I am able to choose a physician who is willing to be collaborative rather than patronizing (mostly).

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

Yes! Excellent resource for information about contraceptive options.

I toted my copy around with me as a reference for answering other people's questions, too. It was a safety net during life skills presentations on safer sex with an inpatient psychiatric population-- patients had questions way outside the range of what I'd prepared for.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

It's been a long time. I can't say with any certainty, but I do remember a general dissatisfaction with academia (and the version of feminism associated with it) in terms of not including women living in rural poverty.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Not that I can think of, other than perhaps women in poverty (especially rural women).

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

Very much so. It validated my growing sense that, when my experience contradicted textual information, the text could be wrong.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

I didn't learn much in school about women's health or sexuality until I was working on a master's degree. These were largely absent from my public education, with the exception of the classic filmstrips about menstruation and feminine hygeine products supplied by pad manufacturers.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

I recommended the book to everyone. I don't think I had the resources at the time to buy books for people.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

No.

I require the current edition of Our Bodies, Ourselves: A New Edition for a New Era for a college-level course I teach on women's health. It's a fantastic resource. I'm thrilled that more copies are circulating around campus every semester. I've heard that the campus bookstore tends to sell out, well before everyone enrolled in the class has purchased a book; and hardly anyone sells it back.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Sort of. I went to a direct-entry midwife for prenatal care during my second pregnancy, and I used symptothermal family planning for several years, as taught by a direct-entry midwife.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

I am a registered nurse with clinical experience in inpatient maternal-neonatal and gynecologic care. I teach an OB clinical course for a baccalaureate nursing program, and I teach an interdisciplinary Women's Health course from an explicitly feminist perspective.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

I use the OBO webpage as support material for the course that requires the book. I decided to explore the site today, in order to find resources that could help my traditional-aged college students get their heads around the sociohistorical context of Second Wave feminism.

Submitted November 14, 2008, 12:17 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1990

1984

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

College dorm RC who was enthusiastic about women's health issues.

What had the biggest impact?

No major impact at the time, since the biology was familiar, and some of the controversial issues still felt far away.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

Reread later edition of OBOS and read OBOS upon becoming pregnant this year. Found both books to be a rare source of sane advice in what I discovered to be a plethora of bad and/or unrealistic advice.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Selected a midwifery clinic for current pregnancy based upon dissatisfaction with OB treatment for previous pregnancy loss and advice in OBOS Pregnancy Guide. Used OBOS-recommended criteria to make my own decisions about prenatal care provider and prenatal lifestyle choices.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

Occasionally attended pro-choice rallies in college.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

Google. (Looking for research about maternity leave).

Submitted November 9, 2008, 11:42 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

2006

1998

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

My best friend at Smith College

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

that abortion photo: the woman bleeding to death on the floor

and graphic descriptions of sex and masturbation

What had the biggest impact?

the openness and honesty - real terms, real women's voices (the way we actually talk to each other about these issues - or wish we did!)

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

absolutely! I still go to the same doctor who birthed me - but I go prepared, I ask questions and I know that I can always go home and read up on what might be wrong with me too.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

Yeah - I used it myself when I skipped six months of periods (with no chance I could be pregnant) to see what might be going on inside my body. I also passed it along to my little sister to ease her fears about starting to have sex with her boyfriend, about getting pregnant, not being able to have an orgasm. In a way, her reading OBOS helped us even to start talking about her sex life.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

Aside from the way my Mom talked about our bodies, the culture of women's health I had always known was one of disgust - about periods, about birth, about yeast infections and hormonal changes. I appreciate my body so much more now that I understand it.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

I'm doing an oral history with Jane Pincus right now! I can't believe how accessible all of the original 12 are.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

I'm hoping to be - as a nurse-midwife - after I graduate this spring.

Submitted March 16, 2008, 8:25 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1989

The New Our Bodies, Ourselves

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

My college roommate. She wanted me to understand her experience as a survivor of sexual abuse.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

In regards to my roommate, how accurate the descriptions of her behavior as a survivor of incest.

What had the biggest impact?

The graphic photos of the woman who died from a botched, back-alley abortion.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

Not really, but I did feel more informed. Perhaps it meant I didn't need to ask as many questions, because I understood more.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

I'm sure I probably did at the time but I do not recall, almost 20 years later!

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I remember that it was highly politically charged but since it matched my beliefs it was not offensive to me.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

Not just mine but others as well.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

Huh??? They didn't teach us anything in School!!!

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

Just today. I mentioned it to an Author friend who is writing a book that involves sexual abuse. I said there was no better resource for understanding the long term affects.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

No.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

No.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

No.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

I googled the book to give a friend more information and found out their was a webpage. I navigated to the study from the History page.

Submitted February 13, 2008, 7:49 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1970

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

don't remember

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

all of the above

What had the biggest impact?

instructions on examining myself

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

absolutely

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

sexual response and reproduction

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I refer to myself now as part of the OBOS movement

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

when I experienced urinary incontinenece I was not impressed Ourselves growing older

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

absolutely

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

Long a student of my body I had to glean my knowledge from Dr. Spock, Cosmo, marriage manuals that someone's sister had

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

everyone! from my mother-in-law to my daughter

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

Changing Bodies, Ourselves Growing older

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

yes, yes, and yes. Ended up working in women's health

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

Health on line magazine. Gladly followed the link from Judy Norsigian's Q&A. Looking for a job.

Name

Maryann

Submitted November 26, 2007, 7:11 AM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1996

the new our bodies, ourselves

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

an acquaintance at my college.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

the frank tone-- i was looking for information on contraception but ended up reading the entire book. it was illuminating and useful without being condescending or judgmental in any way.

What had the biggest impact?

the section on childbirth-- it was demystifying in a good way.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

my feminist mother always took me to female doctors where feasible, and encouraged me to be outspoken with them so this wasn't really an issue. however, 'our bodies, ourselves', made me realise that this sort of upbringing was, sadly, not the norm!

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

i did and continue to do so now. i find, these days, the discussions of childbirth and identity are even more relevant as i contemplate motherhood.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

i would have been interested in a more detailed discussion of sexual health, just as a useful guide, but on the whole i found the book to be useful and illuminating.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

perhaps the most recent update has addressed this issue, but i find the discussion of life immediately following the birth of a child, incomplete. probably this is due to my current fears on the topic!

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

it reinforced the fact that taking responsibility for your own body is of paramount importance and also highlighted masculine biases in the healthcare system-- something which, especially as a 17 year old, i hadn't thought much about.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

my school was thorough when it came to discussing sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy but had a strong abstinence message. i had already had discussions about sex with my mother but there were always a few questions i was too embarrassed to ask-- 'our bodies ourselves' provided the answers! it was great to see a positive sexual message with no media association.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

the girl in my dorm who owned the only copy of 'our bodies ourselves' was lovely about lending it out-- even to strangers. my circle of friends referred to it simply as 'the book' and recommended it to everyone we knew who wanted an easy reference point without going straight to the college health center.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

i was curious about the existence of a new edition of 'our bodies, ourselves' as i am still reading the 1998 edition.

Name

Kate

Submitted October 24, 2007, 9:55 AM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Approx. 1977 or 1978

1973, I believe

How old were you at the time?

between 7-8 years old

Who brought the book to your attention?

No one really brought it to my attention. My mother had the book in the house and it was not a "secret" next to (or in) the nightstand. It was almost like a coffee table book.

I was told I could read it or look at it any time I wanted to.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

Being so young, I loved the pictures! The topics like masturbation and lesbianism were really beyond my congitive development at the time, as was most of the text, actually.

I guess I got a feeling out of the book about my body and about being female more than anything else at the time.

It was sort of normalized as a part of my life...just like having Harold and the Purple Crayon home from the library.

What had the biggest impact?

I think being exposed to this so young had the greatest impact. I picked things up somewhat by osmosis, from continued exposure. For that reason, nothing ever was shocking or surprising. Being an adult and a parent now, I am shocked about what I read that didn't affect me at the time! I, of course, am very open (as is my husband) with our children, and I wonder how much they really understand about what we talk about and have around for them to read and view.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

Well, considering that I decided to have homebirths with midwives for my two children...I'd say I certainly had a different relationship with my doctor, as well as my choice of doctors throughout my adult life.

I will only work with physicians (primary care or ob/gyn, etc.) who are partners in health care with me. I will not be "treated" for anything. I have even had to have some invasive test procedures and minor surgery that I chose local anesthetic for rather than anesthesia or sedation of any kind. I want to be THERE and an active participant in even surgical care!

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

Since this book was "around" for my entire literate life, I sought it out for different things at different times. It is a good healthcare resource and also a resource that is accurate and honest and "plain" about sexuality. There are no value judgments, just lots of information, which is WONDERFUL!

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I have not revisited the book for some time now, even though I have a current copy in my home. Overall, I think I am quite satisfied with the book.

The way things are presented, I do not think there are things that are disagreeable. I think information is presented through some story in applicable areas, that show different viewpoints and I think the health and birth control information is factual, and so, undeniable.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Since I have not revisited the text recently, I cannot say for certain. I don't remember a big section on choice in maternity care, per se. And, a section on "general self-advocacy" would be helpful. I realize the entire book is about self-advocacy...but I know plenty of women who would benefit from the plain statement of this kind of thing.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

Absolutely. While I credit my mother with raising me to feel happy and healthy in my skin, Our Bodies, Ourselves went a long way toward giving me a concrete way of understanding my body and my health. OBOS gave me "words" for the attitude with which I was raised.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

In school, there was no learning about women's health or sexuality. The "movie" was nothing in comparison to the education I got from my mother, other books and OBOS.

And, the information drastically contrasted with what I knew other girls were hearing/learning...or not learning, as the case often was!

OBOS contributed significantly to my understanding of women's health and sexuality by offering information and stories from the voices of other women. This made me feel like I could trust my own voice on these issues.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

I have given this book many times over the years and I recommend it for inclusion in every home library! I think it is a historically significant text, as well as valuable for its own information and original in the presentation of that information.

Friends have gotten this book from me. Also, I have the new version in the house for my son and daughter to explore as they'd like.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

Not to date, I have not. However, I have dreamed our a maternity companion book something along the lines of "Our Bodies, Our Babies."

No, I have not read these texts.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

I do not believe I have sought care from a feminist health clinic.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

I have been actively involved in promoting self-advocacy in medical care. Specifically, I have been a breastfeeding counselor for mom's returning to work through La Leche League in the past. I also served on the Massachusetts Friends of Midwives Board of Directors for many years and produced three editions of their Directory of Birthing Resources, the 7th, 8th and 9th.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

I visited the Our Bodies Ourselves webpage. My reason for visiting is because I am exploring my literacy history as part of my graduate coursework in adult learning. Since Harold and the Purple Crayon and Our Bodies, Ourselves are my two first books that I read independently...I am doing research into these publications.

Name

Kate W. Robinson

Submitted October 23, 2007, 3:16 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1976 (?)

1973

How old were you at the time?

high school

Who brought the book to your attention?

the librarian in our town hid it, so I knew it had to be worth reading

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

lesbianism; hadn't heard of such a thing!

What had the biggest impact?

information not tinged with moral judgment

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

for three decades!

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

just read the menopause book

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

wanted more on emotional issues surrounding menopause

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

you're kidding, right?

all I learned in school was that I would Soon Become A Woman. I think it had something to do with a blooming rose and Kotex pads.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

Yes, for years: my students, my daughters especially

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

No, but have spent a lifetime seeking feminist medical care in mainstream operations.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

Yes, in college/early 20s very active in NARAL as fundraiser

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

google; read the small print

Submitted October 12, 2007, 11:11 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

During or shortly after college, mid-late 80s - early 90s

The New Our Bodies, Ourselves (1984, 1992)

How old were you at the time?

late teens, early 20s

Who brought the book to your attention?

Friends or college professors. I may have purchased it when I started in recovery for incest issues.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

I loved the book. I was somewhat surprised by the photo-negative image of lesbian lovers on a wheelchair, but glad for the inclusiveness.

What had the biggest impact?

Being told it was okay to be who I was and where I was with my own sexuality.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

YES! I had always preferred women ob/gyns and the book was very affirming about women's medical experience and wisdom, past & present.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

Yes, esp. lesbianism (coming out), sexual abuse & healing, and general bodily care.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I found it somewhat limiting in that it did not seem to addess certain non-P.C. areas of women's lives, like having *happy* relationships with men, or safe & consensual bdsm, or the many issues surrounding not having children. I was also very surprised all these years later to only recently learn about the true structure of the clitoris, from a different women's text, which I would have liked to have known many years ago.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

As above, I would have liked to have known about the research and findings on the more substantial structure of the clitoris than is usually illustrated and explained in health books. Also, I am especially unhappy with the newest version of OBOS, because I am "childfree" and it devotes a few mere references to all of us non-childbearing women, even though we are a rapidly-growing minority and need safe spaces to explore all of our feelings and concerns about choosing not to have children. Also I don't recall if it covered transgender and other non-normative gender identifications at all.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

OBOS was helpful to me beginning to understand that women really are different (from men) and special, unique beings with our own needs and wants. At the time I first read it, I was seeking validation that I was still "normal" and somewhat conforming with other people's experiences. Now I read it more to confirm my own experience and less to worry about whether or not if fits with other women's experiences. I recommend it to all women.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

Mostly it was more affirming than the "neutral" stuff I learned in school. Also I liked the excerpts from "real people" in the text. It expanded my knowledge base about my body and women's bodies in general, and I liked especially that it was affirming of taking yoga, tai chi, dance, and other movement classes and opportunities to help stay present in one's own body. I liked that it did not pretend sexual abuse, assault, harassment, etc., do not exist. I want it to be more inclusive of all women, including trans & genderqueer.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

I always recommend the book to young women, because I believe we are taught many falsities by our culture and media. I was thrilled to discover a book put out by a women's collective and I want to support their efforts. I think women's ancient and historic wisdom has been pushed out of the "medical" and scientific arenas for a long time and I want to see them growing in strength and reputation again.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

No, but I would like to (see above).

No, but I'm sure I will need to reference some of them as I enter my mid-life and older years.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Yes. I always sought out feminist and/or lesbian ob/gyn's and doctors because of the reasons noted above.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

I was involved briefly in encouraging the publisher of Lesbian Health News in Columbus, Ohio.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

I am aware of Dr. Klein through her work at the University of Cincinnati.

Submitted October 5, 2007, 5:48 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1973

Our Bodies, Ourselves

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

I found it in a bookstore.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

What surprised me about the book, was the fact of it.

What had the biggest impact?

Again, the fact of it. The validation of everything I believed in.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

Absolutely. I became an even more vigorous advocate for women's health, and worked at a women's health clinic, where women were not treated like hysterical babies.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

The book did introduce me to issues of sexuality of which I had not been previously aware.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I recall being annoyed by the home birth section, which seemed to glorify that choice, instead of presenting it as one.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Single parenting. It wasn't 'popular'. Relationships, validation...all of it.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

Absolutely. And the book was worn thin as a reference. We, the clinic, obtained many copies which we gave to women, and men.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

The book didn't really explore sexuality as deeply as it might, but there surely was more information than I'd learned.

I was raised in a women's health-conscious household, so wasn't surprised by that information.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

We distributed many copies of the book as an educational tool. But we didn't leave it at that. We established an on-going diaglogue with clients, based, in large part, on the book.

The first non-client person I gave it to was my daughter.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

Yes.

I was overly-loyal, perhaps, to the original OBO -- the style and presentation -- everything. It as the BIBLE, after all. And when I looked at Ourselves and Our Children, for example, it didn't seem to relate to me. Same was true with CBCL, and OGO.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Worked at one.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

Women's Health Services Coordinator. But every day, and in every way, an advocate on all need levels.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

A happy accident. I had forgotten about the Boston Women's Collective, and was doing a Yahoo! search under for guerilla breast cancer. Found ya!

Name

healthcareguerilla

Submitted October 5, 2007, 3:02 AM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1988

1976

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

a feminist friend

What had the biggest impact?

I don't remember specifically. It came to me right when I was discovering feminism and I can't separate this book from so many others. I remember being awed that this book even existed.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

I used this book to read about lesbianism. I had been in a relationship with a woman and when she told me she wanted me to be with her and her boyfriend, I ran screaming back into the closet for a year (and did a lot of drinking that year). I started looking at my sexuality again when I read that book.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Yes and yes. After I came out and then moved to a more open city than where I was from, I sought out feminist doctors.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

I found out about this study from the OBOS website. I went to the website because my friend Wendy Sandford had a story published in Narrative Magazine about early organizing of OBOS. I knew that she was involved in the beginning of OBOS but I had no idea to what extent.

Submitted July 13, 2007, 8:43 PM

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

Awed by the whole phenomenon.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Don't remember, to be honest.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

Yes -- the feminist approach was empowering and clarifying.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

It was more informative and matter of fact and, of course, written from a progressive woman's point of view.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

Gave a copy of the current version to my 22 year old when she was a teenager.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

No.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Yes and yes.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

No.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

From the OBOS website.

What had the biggest impact?

Its frankness and completeness.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

Yes. Active consumer vs passive recipient.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

Reproductive issues in a real-life context.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

Its frankness and completeness.

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

I was in college in Boston and it was the height of the women's movement. Of course I knew about it!

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Early 1970s

Our Bodies, Ourselves

Submitted June 13, 2007, 4:06 AM

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

It made me more confident to ask questions and get second opinions. If a doctor didn't answer my questions or respect me as a paitent, I went elsewhere.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

In those days I worried a lot about getting diseases or pregnant.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

The earlier versions seemed like they were written by well educated liberal white woman for the same audience. It made me a little cynical. A few photos of brown skinned women didn't change my impression. I guess it's different now, I see the book in different languages and editions.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

Yes, now I'd like to read the menopause edition.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

My first sex ed was in grade school, very basic, so that doesn't count! I had a good human sexuality class in college by a male professor who was quite open and funny.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

I wish I could give it to French women, where I live now. There is a lot of emphasis on romance here, but the French are actually fairly ignorant about the mechanics of sex. Maybe it's an old Catholic mindset. My husband is French and he is amazed that I know so much about my body, he is sure that his sisters would never question a doctor the way I do. His first wife refused to have oral sex with him so he is delighted that I enjoy this. The Latin mindset still seems to be rooted in the Madonna - Whore syndrome.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

When I lived in Seattle I was fortunate to find many doctors who had a feminist perspective already. In Berkeley I was less enchanted with a clinic who made a big deal out of marketing themselves as feminists and were pretty self-righteous about it, which bored me. I am 48 so I am not an ex-hippie nor am I in the X-Generation. I gravitated towards the younger 'lipstick-feminists' in Berkeley, they seemed confident of what they wanted and most importantly, they were HAPPY! When I worked at Radcliffe I was surrounded by some grey-frizzy haired women with hairy legs and sandals, everyone was always indignant about something. They were no better or worse than the Taliban.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

I created a multi-lingual database of health info for the YMCA when I lived in San Franciisco. It was basic health flyers translated to various Asian languages.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

I would like to buy the menopause edition of OBOS

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1976

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

I sw it at a Planned Parenthood in Seattle

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

It was very practical, like a friend talking to me. I was not inhibited about my body at that time but I lacked more in-depth info.

What had the biggest impact?

I was shocked to see a photo of a woman who died from having an ilegal abortion. She was crouched face forward on the floor, her blood pooling under. It enraged me that she had to suffer and die like this. Years later when I was in the Graduate Studies program at Radcliffe (writing business plans for non-profits) , I interviewed some people at the organization and wrote a paper about Our Bodies Ourselves. I included a photocopy of this picture in my presentation to the class. The instructor was adversarial in the Q & A after my presentation. Others in the class picked likeable non-profit groups like seeing eye dogs. I was the only person to choose what the instructor clearly saw as an 'inappropriate' subject. I wonder what she was so afraid of, that she needed to attack me this way?

Submitted April 28, 2007, 1:04 AM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1977

1976

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

my sister had it

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

graphic photos ...

What had the biggest impact?

info on birth control/abortion

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

yes - all areas

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

completely satisfied

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

none

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

absolutely.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

I did not learn anything in school or at home. The book filled a void.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

all my friends.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

no.

yes - all great resources

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

yes - was an administrator for a family planning clinic

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

from obos web site

Submitted May 20, 2006, 1:30 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

around 1972

must have been N Eng Free Press, but I could be off a year - possibly 1973 version

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

my best friend from childhood and my feminist coming-of-age roomate from grad school was living in Boston and she sent it to me. I immediately sat and read through the book and felt a shift in my world view. Some of my housemates asked what I was reading and there was clearly a sense that it was subversive in some way!

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

access to medical knowledge and open discussion of lesbianism

What had the biggest impact?

open discussion of lesbianism - very affirming for about to be coming out lesbian!

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

It made me start asking for women doctors, they I did not find feminist doctors, or even many women doctors, for several years.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

I think that the overall impression of empowerment concerning health care, demystifying medical authority, and taking responsibility for health knowledge was more important than any particular medical/health information

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

no dissatisfaction at the time

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

can't recall feeling that way at the time

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

yes - helped shift to a sense of ownership that paralleled my feminist consciousness re: intelletual life

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

key points: doctor is not the only authority and lesbianism is not a taboo subject

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

yes - women friends at the time, students since then

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

I bought an updated edition (1990s) but have not read the specialized books.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Yes, and I'm sure it was related.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

I was collecting documents for the 1970s women's movement to use in my women's studies classes, in which I tell students about the history of OBOS.

Submitted May 3, 2006, 9:38 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

I don't remember.

Probably the 1992 version

How old were you at the time?

I was in high school.

Who brought the book to your attention?

My therapist. Sex was a shameful subject in our family, but my therapist kept telling me it was okay. I was attracted to boys but I kept my desire in check. One day she said, "Do you let yourself touch yourself?" and all of a sudden I remembered masturbating as a young child. I went to find the book in the library and looked at it secretively to make sure other people masturbated--that I wasn't alone.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

I think all the graphic photos were shocking, but I was excited and relieved to see them. I thought, hey these people aren't afraid of their bodies. They've got guts to show them off like this!

What had the biggest impact?

There was a picture of a family--the kid(s?) were in the front and the mother and father were kissing behind them. i thought, wow, there's a couple that actually loves each other. You mean you can be parents and be in love at the same time??

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

It definitely did. I consulted older women (I was in high school) about whom to see. I felt really scared about having a pelvic exam, so I wanted to make sure I got a feminist doctor because I thought she would understand young women's issues better.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

Yes, because sex was such a hush-hush subject, I really wanted to learn everything possible. It was such a relief that somebody was acknowledging sexuality. I was mainly interested in heterosexual sex and masturbation at the time, I believe.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I didn't disagree with it. If anything, I wished it could have even been longer! With more stories. I remember a woman in the book talking about how her husband liked to go down on her. I couldn't believe it. I thought, really? Wait, are there more guys like him out there? I thought all men thought vaginas were gross.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

I didn't read it cover to cover, so I don't know.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

Absolutely. It taught me that it was okay to HAVE a body, for goodness sake--to have private parts, to have desire.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

It was much more up-front and positive. I got a sense that these women weren't shy about being women. They were delighted to have and explore their bodies and selves. At school the teachers were pretty positive and open, but I always felt very self-conscious. Alone in the library, I could smile about it.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

No, because in the 90's it was already famous.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

No.

I have read parts of Ourselves, Growing Older. I'm glad somebody is addressing the later years of life. I feel very afraid of growing older, and I'm 27. I feel like you lose your worth as a woman. My mom, who died young, was always very ashamed of her body, and was very de-sexed when I was growing up, so I equate growing older with becoming unattractive and less worthy of love.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

No, but I did see a feminist doctor.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

No.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

I was searching for information on the history of women's bodies in America (a la Joan Jacobs Brumberg) for a timeline for a women's history class.

Name

Anonymous

Submitted April 26, 2006, 7:27 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Spring Semester 2005

1998--the gray "dirty hippie" version

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

It was a required text for my Intro to Women's Studies Course at St. Olaf College, so I guess my professor (D. LeBlanc) first brought the book to my attention.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

It's huge!

I loved the photographs (esp. the one of the woman masturbating) and the personal testimony.

Perhaps what suprised me the most is the fact that it truly is useful. I had to buy it for a Women's Studies course, but within the first few weeks of owning it, I was using it to help my women friends answer question about birth control and other health issues.

What had the biggest impact?

I think the Boston Women's Health Collective is amazing: that some women could come together, recognize a need, and create a solution. Especially when one thinks about the impact of BWHBC and OBOS and similar organizations, how much gynecology and health care in general have changed because of feminist pressures, it really makes one aware of the fact that she can make change in the world. The book and the story of its existence are truly inspiring!

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

I would say it, and my Women's Studies background, have made me more aware of doctor-patient interactions and about what I should ask.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

Yes, my college friends and I have used it to answer questions regarding birth control, menstrual problems, etc.

I also used it as a text for an Intro to Women's Studies course, so pretty much skimmed the entire book: sexuality, abortion, birth control, aging, pregnancy and birth--all these issues were taught with the aid of OBOS.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I am satisfied with the book. I own the '98 gray version and I don't like the new pink one very much. But otherwise, I' satisfied.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

None that I've encountered yet, but I'll let you know.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

Yes, I think it did. At the very least, I know that there is a handy resource I can turn to that will help me address heath issues. I call OBOS the "owner's manual for the female body." It's nice to have something like that in a world where we're told women's bodies are "out of control." To know, yes, this problem is something, and, yes, other women have had it, and here's what you do about it, is comforting.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

Again, I bought it as a college text book, so it was my college education regarding sexuality and health.

In high school, health class certainly never got so explicit. I don't think we ever covered same-sex issues, abortion, or masturbation. I also think that the section on the aging process is a critical feature of OBOS.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

YES! All my girl friends. OBOS is such a great resource.

Tomorrow, my college's feminist club is hosting an OBOS Celebration and we're going to talk about what we love about the book, it's inspiring history, and the difference among the editions.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

No, I haven't.

But I have looked at referenced websites or books. I think the section references are invaluable.

No, I haven't.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

No, I haven't.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

No.

But I am involved in an advocacy organization for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

I got here from the OBOS website in the "Our History" section.

Name

Meghan

Submitted April 22, 2006, 8:40 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1985

The New Our Bodies,Ourselves (1984)

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

I saw it listed in an offer to join a book club.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

Almost everything!! Graphic photos and abortion the most. I remember feeling angry about abortion; at that time I was clueless about life and being a woman, and would have been considered 'pro-life'.

What had the biggest impact?

Honestly, the book as a whole.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

Yes. I had a male doctor up until I was 18; when I moved away from home, it was very important for me to have a female doctor, which I did.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

My body as a whole, particularly my genitals and sexuality in general.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

At the time, yes, I disagreed with abortion.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

I don't think so.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

It helped tremendously! I learned so much from this book that I never heard, saw, or read anywhere else.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

These topics were not covered at all in school.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

At the time, no-it was my special secret book!!! I supposed I felt that at 16, maybe I really should not have been reading it, that it was for adults only.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

No.

No. I have only purchased and read 3 editions of OBOS, and will be buying the most recent edition.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Yes. I learned about Planned Parenthood from the book.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

I wrote letters to newspaper editors and politicians, created and printed posters, confronted protesters outside a hospital, and I currently search the web and contact anti-choice sites.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

I was looking for information about the latest edition of OBOS through a web search.

Name

Shelley

Submitted March 20, 2006, 9:01 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1976

Our Bodies, Ourselves

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

The local woman health clinic.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

The graphic photos.

What had the biggest impact?

That it was okay to talk about our bodies as females.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

I felt that I didn't need to see a male OB-GYN to get answers. That I could talk to a nurse midwife and get more understandable information.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

Sexually transmitted diseases.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I like it.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

I don't remember.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

It helped me ask more questions.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

My parents never talked to me much about sex. School only covered biology at the time and I think we avoided most of those parts.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

I used it as a reference when I had to start talking to my daughter.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Yes, but it wasn't because of information I read in the book. I found out I was pregnant and was not in a position that I could have a baby. I went to the clinic for help in deciding what to do.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

No. I was a very passive young woman and didn't realize the importance of the movement at the time.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

I am doing rearch for a paper on Menopause then and now. My main resource is the book "The Silent Passage", by Gail Sheehy. I'm to analize menopause back in history (prior to 1990's) to today. In trying to get enough on how menopause was viewed back then I remembered your book and thought it would be a good resource of how what people were thinking back then and how society dealt with menopause (or didn't deal at all). Your time line of how the book first began will be very helpful.

Submitted February 21, 2006, 6:55 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1973

1973 S&S

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

my boyfriend! pointed it out to me in a bookstore. I bought my first OBOS that day. still have the book and the boyfriend.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

drawings

What had the biggest impact?

I got very behind in school! When I would sit down to do work the OBOS book would be the first that I opened - I read that book the whole month of September of my junior year of college. This book started me on my lifelong career in women's health - pretty big impact.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

probaby

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

I used it to read about everything! I was most interested in the information about sexual intimacy, contraception, abortion and pregnancy at the time.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

The book really opened my eyes to information and the concept of women being in charge of their health.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

can't say - it was an early issue - look at how much it has grown in these 30 years!
I am really happy to see how many topics are not included - especially environmental health issues because they are often misunderstood.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

YES YES YES

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

In school, in 1970 and 1971 I had some health classes but really only recall STD education - not birth control and certainly not sexual intimacy

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

probably each of my college roommates had her own copy

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

I once worked with Susannah Cooper Doyle in providing information about Natural Family Planning

yes, all but Sacrificing Ourselves for Love.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

yes and yes

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

I worked at the NH Feminist Health Center in Portsmouth , NH in 1981 and was on the early board for The Mabel Wadsworth Women's Health Center from about 1985-1990. I am a member of the National Women's Health Network - for at least 10, probably 18 years.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

I am working on a talk for women's history month and was "googling" the women's health movement. I use the current OBOS in a women's health class that I teach so I have explored the web site.

Submitted December 4, 2005, 2:56 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1973

Our Bodies, Ourselves (1973, 1976

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

saw it in a feminist bookstore in Cambridge

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

wasn't "surprised" I guess

What had the biggest impact?

just its very existence

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

yes--I found Bill Baird Clinic--then on Boylston St, Boston, I think--looking to get my Dalkon Shield removed!

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

yes--six years later (1979), when happily pregnant against all odds and after three operations (that damn Dalkon Shield), I first turned to OBOS for info re: pregnancy

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

no disagreement

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

at the time--probably not

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

yes, definitely

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

I had learned nothing in school--grew up in NH in the 60s...

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

gave it to my daughter for her 14th birthday (1997)--the New OBOS

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

no--though I read a recent commentary on the latest edition (and I confess I can't now recall by whom or where), critical of the new publication from the BWHC with section on bikini waxing--if you happen to know of this critique, I'd appreciate the cite--while I was surprised that such is included, I guess it makes sense if only to reach many young women of today

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

yes--see above--and when Bill Baird's clinic closed down, I started going to PP in Brookline until I left Boston later in the 70s--since then and to this day, I have tried (some places and under some health care plans more successfully than others) to see only women health care practitioners

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

other than being a part of the class action suit against Robins, maker of Dalkon Shield, no

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

was searching for quick background for my US women's history class (like our students, we all "google")

Name

Kathleen Banks Nutter

Submitted November 28, 2005, 5:18 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

early 70's

1973 edition

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

My sister.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

The common sense and honesty, in that order.

What had the biggest impact?

Hard to say, although that book had more to do with my shaping that any other single source.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

Hah - absolutely. And still does to this day.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

Yes, all of them.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

When I was 14 I wouldn't have known enough to disagree, and now, it wouldn't be right to remove it from its time and place.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Not that I was aware of.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

Profoundly.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

Contribute and contrast imply there was something else there to begin with - that was not the case. The book was my sole source of information.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

Yes, yes, yes - everyone and anyone.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Yes

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

Yes

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

Looking for my history -

Name

Jean Marie Shepherd

Submitted November 20, 2005, 2:22 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

2004

I started with The New Our Bodies, Ourselves

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

I was taking a women's health course at UW-Madison, but I'd also heard OBOS mentioned in the movie If These Walls Could Talk. I was curious to read the newest edition, and got a chance to recently.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

No, I expected an uncensored approach.

What had the biggest impact?

The environmental health section was really good.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

Yes, OBOS reinforced my confidence in women's health specialists and helped me understand what qualities I would like to see in a healthcare provider. Because of my specific needs, I started working with an internist.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

Sometimes. I liked the nutrition section.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

Please see response to next question.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

I hope to see more information on some medical conditions:
-depression
-bipolar
-dental health
-whether Rxs are more habit-forming than drug companies admit
-the problems with psychiatry for woman patients
-difficulties within the rape crisis movement
-why someone may elect not to press charges, as this exposes them to further abuse and trauma
-that whatever a recent "victim" needs to do is OK, whether it means locating emergency contraception, doing a home pregnancy test, taking a shower (which will help a person to empower herself by taking and regaining control of her body), choosing among different health resources (Planned Parenthood, her long-term healthcare provider, a social worker or psychologist, a hospital providing state-supported services--really whatever she feels comfortable with is most important; a survivor should never be pushed into pressing charges or investigating, which way too-often happens in hospitals and in rape crisis centers)
-campus systems for rape are badly developed and stupidly designed, so it is wise for students not to rely on them, but an 18-year-old freshman isn't necessarily going to think about the realities of the system in these terms, and so will require support from friends and if possible a long-term counseling therapist

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

Yes, it shows that we must work to have good body images.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

OBOS provides real information and doesn't have the constraints that schools too-often work under (which needs to be changed, but at least OBOS is always there as a resource).

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

I have recommended the book to friends because OBOS puts together lots of broad information.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

I will consider doing this because there are areas where I would like to submit comments on and/or ask questions.

No, not yet.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Not directly.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

Yes. I volunteer for Pro-Choice Wisconsin, and work for candidates who stand up for women's health. I went to the March in 2004. I also focused my undergraduate program to include a minor in women's studies.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

I knew about the website from a standard net search, and from there I randomly found a link to the study.

Submitted November 10, 2005, 5:44 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1973

Our Bodies, Ourselves 1973

How old were you at the time?

23 years old

Who brought the book to your attention?

A girl friend - my age.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

The information about sex and childbirth was facinating to me. I had become sexually active as a Junior in college, but was very innocent about many things. I was hungry for information.

What had the biggest impact?

By publishing a book, written by doctors, the concept of being a woman with a sexual life was legitamized. I came from a generation that was brought up with very little information. We didn't get information from the older women in our families - in my family the only talk about bodies had to do with eating and elimination. Most of my life I had hated being a girl. I vividly remember, as I first looked through the pictures in this book, feeling like someone had shaken me awake. I had several "ah-hah!" sensations. "Oh! Now I know what it looks like!" I think seeing/reading/knowing about myself, gave me a feeling like I was now being both ushered and welcomed into a 'club' of other woman. This raised my self esteem immeasurably.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

At the time I first read the book I didn't have a doctor, I was using the student health clinic.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

Yes. I used it to understand my own anatomy - I didn't know the 'real' names of anything! I remember feeling amazed at learning the vocabulary. I was also facinated with the pictures of childbirth.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I was completely satisfied.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

Yes, it was a very positive affect.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

This book answered real questions in an honest and nonjudgmental way. Up to this time the only other book I had on the subject was called, "For Girls Only". My brother had a copy of "For Boys Only" which my sister and I snuck out of his room to read when he was out of the house. The only thing these books covered, in the matter of females, was menstruation --which to me was very boring. I knew there was more to being a woman than having periods....but what? Up to the time of the publication of this book, any information about female sexuality was found in 'dirty books' written for men. Everything about what it truly meant to be a woman, and what my future held, was shrouded in mystery.
I knew, from the minute I opened the book, I could trust the information in it.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

I recommended it to many women and also to my daughter when she was a teenager. As I am now in menopause, I have used the edition for older women.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

I have seen all of them except Sacrificing Ourselves for Love. I was so happy to find Ourselves Growing Older - it was like finding an old friend who was having hot flashes, too!

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

My daughter (Kate Stewart) sent it to me - she met Wendy Kline at the Univ. Iowa and heard her speak.

Submitted November 9, 2005, 2:11 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1999 or 2000

1998

How old were you at the time?

About 22

Who brought the book to your attention?

My sister-in-law bought be a copy because I would read hers a lot.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

The pictures- the sex and disability one on p. 249, pictures of women masturbating.

What had the biggest impact?

It made me reconsider natural childbirth, and I'm no longer afraid of giving birth.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

Not really, but I feel more informed before I go into an appointment. I use it to look up symptoms a lot.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

Yes- I though I had an outbreak of Herpes. It turned out not to be that, but I obsessively read that part of the book. I think it can be not so good for those of us who tend to be hypocondriacs...it is easy to assume that you can self-diagnose.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

So far I have no criticisms.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

In some ways I wish it included more about men, but that's not the point of the book.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

I feel more confidant about my knowledge of health, and it does help with body-image issues. I'm not self-conscious about talking about health and body related issues with friends, family and doctors anymore.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

It is a lot more detailed about homo/bisexuality, masturbation, birth control, STDs, and a lot of other things. I learned much more from the book than I did in school.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

Friends- I have many who borrow my book.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

No.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

No, but I would like to some day.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

No.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

Wendy Kline's visit to U. of Iowa.

Submitted November 8, 2005, 3:40 AM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1974 or 75

our bodies, ourselves

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

my mom

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

its detail and frankness

What had the biggest impact?

birth control info.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

yes, it let me know what to expect during an exam, since i had never been for a pelvic before

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

both

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

i loved the book and bought it again, twice after losing my copies

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

yes, it gave me power over my health care decisions

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

i learned so much more from the book.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

i remember being scared to show it to my friends as a teen because of the frank portrayal of sexuality though i did show a few. Later, as a young adult, i loaned it out to many friends and we discussed it a lot.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

first i've heard of these

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

no, the one here seemed geared toward pregnancy and termination, not general health

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

no, just the women's movement in general, beginning at 14

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

dunno, but glad i did

Submitted October 28, 2005, 2:26 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1982

I think it was the 1976 edition

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

I was a senior in high school doing a report for my biology class on the rhythm method

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

The graphic photos were definitely a surprise for me, as were the themes of the book you mention. There was no discussion of such things in my home.

I was always terribly drawn to that awful photograph of the woman who died from an illegal abortion.

What had the biggest impact?

the information, presented competently and helpfully. I loved this book -- it was like a health bible!

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

Yes, though I was still too young to be very assertive, and had bad experiences with doctors into my early 20s.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

first, contraception.
later, STDs

I read the whole book about a thousand times.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I loved it.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Not that I recall

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

Absolutely -- I was MUCH better informed, and much better informed than many of my friends.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

Well, my teacher recommended it to us, so it was definitely part of my education.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

Roommates in college always borrowed it. Later, when I was a high school teacher at a boarding school, my students borrowed it. I considered that it had the best information possible, presented with the least amount of judgement.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

Never seen any of them.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Not really. I did contact such a clinic about the cervical cap once, but decided against it for various reasons.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

I was googling Pamela Berger

Submitted October 10, 2005, 12:51 AM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

2001

1992 edition

How old were you at the time?

27 -- and by the way, I'm a man. I read "Our Bodies, Ourselves" as a gay medical student, to get guidance for a project training gay men to become peer STD screeners for a gay men's health clinic in San Francisco's Castro neighborhood. (The oringal attempt at creating a clinic flopped, but 2 years later a center indeed opened in the Castro doing exactly what we envisioned--although we were by then stuck in residency and had to wait until after training to join the clinic.) There was very little guidance for us from what exists of a "men's health movement," so learning to empower young gay men to take charge of their health and education themselves meant learning from those who knew how to do health education and self-empowerment: We learned from the women.

Who brought the book to your attention?

I'd first learned of the book from friends in college (Yale, grad 1991).

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

Actually, the most inspiring section for me as a physician in training was the section about using a mirror for do-it-yourself pelvic exams. Talk about self-service!
(Magnet health center is now pioneering a program having young men do their own STD swabs, rather than having a clinician do them. Which makes perfect sense.)

What had the biggest impact?

Just the overall message of self-empowerment, of de-mystifying medicine, of taking back health care power from a system of "experts." My outlook was framed by exposure to activists (men and women) in ACT UP New York in the early 1990s. But the book gave a more practical approach to what interested me, which was self-empowered health care. Gay men have been as pathologized by medicine as women (gay men, just like women, were often viewed as having bodies inherently disease or unclean, and were subject to diagnoses that had little bearing in reality, such as "gay bowel" syndrome, just as women were labelled with "hysteria."

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

It affected how I doctor.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

See above. While the actual information covered e.g. on STDs was useful as a framework, of course for men's health the information is similar but different.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

See above.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

I think the book's comfort with discussing queer sexuality was amazingly foresighted and inspiring to anyone now working in LGBT health issues.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

To men in my health collective, and to medical students at UCSF.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

I found out about your link while reading about the history of the BWHBC for a talk I'm preparing for the gay men's health summit in Salt Lake, Oct 2005.

Submitted September 23, 2005, 3:14 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

2005

The 2005 edition (35th anniversary

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

Had the 1998 edition, but hardly looked at it or read it

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

Nothing

What had the biggest impact?

Not sure, propaply everything

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

Don't know

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

General

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

Completely satisfied with it

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Not sure

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

Not sure

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

Really don't know

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

Will defenitly recommed it not sure whom or why

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

Yeah

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

From official OBOS site

Submitted August 9, 2005, 2:20 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1992

My mother gave me the then-brand new 1992 edition as a gift when I got my first period.

How old were you at the time?

Twelve.

Who brought the book to your attention?

My mother, who had every previous edition, including the now-rare newsprint first edition.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

Hmm...well, every time I read it I find something new and surprising because I always approach it looking for a new piece of information.

What had the biggest impact?

Learning about the obstacles faced by women who want to become doctors, like harassment in medical school. Reading it made me a real crusader-to-friends about health and women's health because I realized reading OBOS how much of this information and sentiment I grew up taking for granted. I bought the new edition not because I really need it but because I use it all the time to show friends who need guidance and information.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

Absolutely. I only see female doctors and I really prefer to see Nurse Practitioners when possible. I chose to make a Planned Parenthood NP my ob/gyn because I knew that having a sex-positive, well-informed health practitioner would make a big difference.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

Sexually transmitted infections (luckily, I don't have any!), the yeast infection/bacterial vaginosis cycle (one of the biggest undiscussed issues in women's health, in my opinion), and urinary tract infections.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I think a lot of the tone of the original book (which is definitely lessened, but having read so many editions, I can still hear it in the text) is now outdated and would be very, very off-putting to many of the women who need the information the most. I also never found the "relationships" information to be useful; since OBOS isn't a sex manual, the book's discussion of lesbian relationships or pansexual relationships or heterosexual relationships outside the context of safe sex or the prevention of violence always seemed irrelevant to me.
It is evident that many of the original authors/collaborators are still involved in the process, because I get from the book a lot of the obsolescence that I hear from my own mother when it comes to some contemporary issues. Specifically, the book's criticism of pubic hair grooming (which, anti-old school feminist or not, is prevalent and accepted for both men and women of a younger age) does not take into account that many feminist, activist women, gay and straight, choose to do this. There aren't any actual health problems associated with it, so I think the criticism is unwarranted and kind of condescending. Not every beauty trend amongst my peers is so harmless, though; the rise in tanning bed use is actually a real problem and deserves scrutiny.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

I haven't had a chance to read through the whole book yet, so I'm not sure.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

Definitely. My biggest health challenge of the past year was a negative reaction to a birth control pill that resulted in a bout of bacterial vaginosis followed by yeast infections. I had an incredibly difficult time finding information about how to really fix this problem, since medical convention is to treat BV with antibiotics (which cause yeast infections) and to treat yeast infections with antifungals (which cause more BV). This cycle is incredibly common among women who take birth control pills, and OBOS made a big difference in my understanding the issues with vaginal pH and self-help for this problem.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

The self-help focus is always good. I'm actually writing a health course for use online by public school students and have found my own OBOS-influenced sensibilities to be far too radical and, god forbid, informational than the current educational climate will allow.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

I've given it as christmas gifts several times, and I recommend it to all of my friends.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

Not that I can remember.

I read Changing Bodies, Changing Lives to consider as a text for an adolescent sexuality workshop I led. I didn't end up choosing it because I wasn't focusing on puberty but actual adolescent sexuality, so I chose a book called "The Underground Guide to Teenage Sexuality," which I think is excellent. I think that BWHBC would be wise to put out a more teen-focused version of OBOS because a huge amount of the information included in OBOS is not appropriate or relevant for younger audiences. There is a gap in what's covered by the publications; there is a space in adolescence between CBCL and OBOS that could definitely be filled by another BWHBD publication.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

I've never been to a FWHC because I've never lived in one of the cities they serve, but I have gone to several Planned Parenthood clinics because I appreciate the openness fostered by a sex-positive atmosphere.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

Not personally, but my mother was so we had all manner of specula around the house when I was a kid. I've educated countless friends about different women's health issues and gone to OBOS for help repeatedly. I'm going into public health and focusing on sexuality and health, and intend to keep working in women's and sexual health as long as I can.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

The OBOS website.

Submitted August 5, 2005, 2:59 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Early to mid 1980s

1973, 1976, & 1984; read around in friends' or bookstore copies till I could afford to buy my own.

How old were you at the time?

late teens-early 20s

Who brought the book to your attention?

Friends; I attended a feminist-oriented women's college (on scholarship).

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

The themes and photos didn't faze or shock me, infact I loved them! Though I already knew sex was beautifully varied, I had never seen these variations dealt with in such a woman-centered way before & in such detail and that was refreshing and informative.

What had the biggest impact?

That careful attention throughout to the lived realities of women's lives. The sense of our flesh as sacred and important, not some bothersome or evil thing to be ignored away or "overcome." All this has deeply affected my politics and spirituality from day to day. Well-timed discoveries that have lasted and deepened and brought much joy to me and others!

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

As a disabled & financially challenged person with very limited health coverage options, I find that the phrase "choice of doctor" and even "relationship with your doctor" often do not apply. This has made it all the more important that I take matters into my own hands as much as I can. I have multiple disabilities and the book helped me to be more vocal and questioning with doctors, and less heistant to show them that I am intelligent and informed about my conditions. I also challenge insensitive behaviors. Overall, while recognizing that some people do have greater knowledge & experience with certain things than I do, that doesn't mean I am any less of a human being, or that I don't have my own areas of "expertise." It's helped me question all sorts of assumptions about which human--and other--beings count and which don't.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

Yes--what I learned from family of origin about sexual/reproductive health was very limited and moralistic. I really wanted to learn all I could about contraceptive methods & what is now called outercourse *before* I became had intercourse, because I wasn't ready to have kids, but no way was I ever going to have an abortion. It was such a relief to finally see not only good concrete explanations of the different methods, but discussion of family planning issues for women with various disabilities.

But I eventually read just about the whole book! And as questions and issues came up, it was a good starting point to learn something new, or it served to remind and reinforce things I needed to know.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I saw an effort to embrace cultural diversity in the book, but it still had that tone of well-meaning, white, ablebodied, middle-to-upper class liberals who still have not unlearned their class & race assumptions of privilege.

There was still the assumption of women as a monolith...which brings me to my **main gripe** about OBOS.

I have always felt that there is room within feminism to disagree about abortion, while working on the many other issues of common concern, including those to help reduce abortion. I felt back then (and still do!) as if I and people like me were rendered invisible or automatically suspect by the book's staunchly onesided presentation of the issue. Of course it has an agenda, but this was not entirely factual.

Not everyone who opposes abortion is a rightwing religious-zealot misogynist with a freakish desire to control other people's sex organs, a cruel self-righteous disdain for life after birth, and a habit of toting guns and taking out clinic workers!

But you'd never know that from reading OBOS. There's nothing in there about people whose concerns about abortion are deeply related to their devotion to feminism & women and the practice of nonviolence at all levels.

This onesideness made me deeply skeptical of the abortion history presented in the book, and I was inspired to do my own digging around. I found that there was a consesus among early feminists *opposing* abortion, not exclusively as a danger to women's lives & health, but as an unjust taking of unborn lives, caused by the withholding of better choices from women, like sex ed, birth control, housing for single mothers...

Alongside the prochoice materials, may I hope that someday OBOS will also present the prolife feminist side, including the history? I'd be glad to help with a more complex and accurate presentation. We are all feminists who care about women! If only more prochoice feminists would believe people like me...what could we accomplish together?

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Just discussed it (#9).

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

See above.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

Didn't learn much of anything at school, or home, about these vital topics, other than the drily, anxiously presented, rudimentary mechanics. OBOS was so much more detailed & vivid & applicable to everyday life and relationships and feelings.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

In casual conversation, to friends; have also referred to it in my work as a writer & activist. My kid wasn't ever interested, or was too young for such a big book, but since I knew what quality, woman-centered sex ed materials looked like, I knew how to find other books for her. Books that OBOS preceded & might have made possible to exist!

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

Don't think so.

haven't read these yet.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

No, never went to one even if my health plan allowed it--many of them provide abortions, and it would make me sad to be near these lifetakings as they happen. I do consult some of their websites from time to time & find some of the educational materials to be in the same wonderful spirit as OBOS.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

Not per se, because I felt unwelcome due to my stance on abortion. But down the years I have often been moved to sign petitions, send letters to politicians, do public speaking on, provide clinical services for people dealing with, rsearch & devote my writing to, etc. a whole host of issues that the movement as such is concerned with: birth control, comprehensive sex ed, the global HIV/AIDS pandemic, environmental health, nutrition/hunger, aid to women in difficult pregnancies, shelter/housing, public assistance, health care access & equity, childbirth choice including midwifery...So i hope that counts, because affirming the lives and wellbeing of women is a sacred task.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

From the Boston Women's health Book Collective site

Submitted June 25, 2005, 9:47 AM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1979

1976 edtion

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

my mother

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

particular themes

What had the biggest impact?

The book helped me to understand my sexuality and the importance of taking care of my body. It taught me about different lifestyles . I sometimes think when I first read the book I was a little young but came back to it many times during the years that I grew up as a reference to changes in my body. Im very sorry I still dont have my copy of the book.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

I have always choosen a women obgyn over a man as I can recall reading in the book that women would naturally be more gentle and understanding of another women.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

I used the book all the time during my teenage years and into my twenties. The first yeast infection I had ever gotten scared the life out of me, I thought I had vd. The book explained it all to me. When I look back its funny but I was on my own and embarressed to ask friends about it. On that particular occasion the book was a lifesaver :)

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I never disagreed with any of the content

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Not that I can remember

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

drastically It also made me feel proud to be a women

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

I dont recall learning about sexual issues in school.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

i knew a newer version of the book came out and I,d like to purchase for myself and my daughters.

Submitted June 2, 2005, 3:19 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1974

Our Bodies ,Ourselves 1973

How old were you at the time?

Twenty

Who brought the book to your attention?

A group of women I was doing theatre with at SUNY Albany, NY brought it into our CR(yes that's conciousness raising group!)group. We had formed , not to raise our conciousness , which were flying pretty high at the time. We were putting together our own piece of "agit-prop" called "Home to Ourselves" and going through a lot of stuff in the male dominated theatre dept. I had a workstudy job in the scene shop & two other women had assistantships,one building scenery, one doing lighting so we were dealing with a lot of crap every day, accused of "taking jobs " away from the guys etc.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

I don't know if surprised is the right word. I think we were shocked by the photo of Gerry dead on the motel floor, but felt strongly that the photo should be there! Women were dying , it seemd important. My first expereince of sex was being raped by my advisor at a previous school and we all began to really understand how the fight for reproductive rights affected us all & was always going to be there. Abortion was leagal in NY , had been for a while, but still our poor sisters were dying. And we first began to talk about rape as violence, aquaintence rape, how the availability of the pill was a two edged coin.

What had the biggest impact?

Information about health and reproductive rights,and the truth about abortion. The pill freed us, but it also caused many of us , many problems. Distorted our sex drives, and there was a lot of pressure on us culturally to "be free" and have casual sexual relationships. How could we refuse? If our only fear was getting pregnant? And what about the women who couldn't take the pill? the alternatives for drug free contraception were just not there. Politically we were a lot more accepting of same sex realtionships, we felt like queer people were our allies, and we understood why they still hid, we'd been hiding who we really were our whole lives too since we did not want to work in the costume shop, or be the ingenue, or screw the directors to get a chance to direct... It was our boss,a male Technical Director who encouraged us to do something on our own and gave us the chance to prove ourselves. He was our "brother" and stood with us in our fights with the administration

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

When I first transferred to Albany I went to the college health services , because I had a vaginal infection. The gyn was like 70 years old , lectured and humiliated me for having sex (though it was forced on me)and gave me a terrible & rough pelvic exam. The Doc who inserted my IUD, the following year was Bengali, gentle and educated me. She was the same doc who removed it six months later, because of infection and we had very frank ,but respectful talks about sex and making choices. It was a completely diffferent expereince. So much so that I was able to seek out healthcare from a FEMINIST healtcare facility in NH when I moved there years later.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

yes, as mentioned above, and used it with my friends and everyone that I met for well, the whole rest of my life. At the time I coudl have probably used a bit more info for my gay male friends, and in hindsight my queer female friends but we had what was avialbale and that was incredible torve .

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I don't recall disagreeing with any part of it, It always seemed a great resource to me, I still have my very well worn , well thumbed copy!

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

It's hard to say, in retrospect perhaps more multicultural info, perhaps insight into the huge headlock the pharmaceutical companies had on our reproductive lives, but I'm not sure we all even realized it . Though we should have been able to extrapolate the power coporate organizations had and would have over lives in so many areas. In the most basic way.
Perhaps eating disorders and the effect of our violent culture and our culture of appearance, but we ere just beginning to know this too.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

Completely. It is inextircably interwoven with my attitude about my body, my reproductive life, and the lives of my family.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

I learned nothing other than basic biology in school. There was no idea of sex, or health ed. Health ed consisted of seeing a slide show about your period in fifth grade. The boys got a slide show about using deoderant, and nocturnal "emissions".

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

I gave copies of the book to every woman in my family at Christmas. This caused HUGE repercussions for many years to come with my parents and all of the adults in my life. I eventually came to work for the Feminist HealthCenter of Portsmouth, NH in 1984, after being a client and volunteer for three years. I continued to give copies of OBOS , in it's various forms to nieces and nephews and eventually my own kids.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

yes, through my work at the FHC/P I came to know Judy Norsigian and Esther Rolle primarily. The BWHBC had been the inspiration for the two health centers in NH,and they modeled themselves after the collective. We also had many close associations with the Eastern "FWHC's" and met as sister organizations on many occasions.

All of them. I always wanted an un updated version fo CB,CL, but Judy told me it had been their least successful book,, so probably not. This is really sad for me now that I have a teenage daughter.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Yes, see above. After I moved to NH, I became aware of the Feminist Health Center in Concord, which was a bit too far for me to go for regular healthcare. But I gave them whatever financial support I could and sought out the bourgeoning women's community in the Seacoast. I never would have know such organization and groups could exist without these books. I was reared ina a pretty traditional blue-collar and large family of seven. I was the first of my family to go and graduate from college which defintely exposed me to ideas and people I would never have been able to expereince otherwise.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

I worked for the Feminist Health Center of Portsmouth for 15 years, as well as being a client and a volunteer three years previously. I also served on the board of NH NARAL for years as well. The opening of the satellite center in the Seacoast caused a huge amount of controversy in the town. Groups from the Bible Speaks and other anti-choice roups began picketing regularly. I lived in Portsmouth at the time and attended the public hearing and voiced my support. After the center opened I became a client , and only left when I needed ob care which unfortunately they have never been able to provide. FHC/P offered the first STD clinic of it's kind and is till the only place in the state to offer anonymous HIV testing for men& women. I joined Women's Lobby of NH & went to the state legislature many times to give testimony on bills that affected the health of women & children. I also gave talks at UNH and other places on the history and value of the Women's Health Movement , on collective process
I returned to the HC as a client, and a volunteer

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

From your webpage, which you sent me a notice of! I now work at the Women's studies Program at UNH , and I am on your e-mail list.

Submitted April 24, 2005, 6:44 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1984

The New Our Bodies, Ourselves (1984,

How old were you at the time?

21 years old

Who brought the book to your attention?

I can't remember exactly, I know I was looking alot of feminist literature in college and also healthcare.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

Not anything really, being a young woman (21) in college, involved already with a women's center, I was fairly familiar with the topics. I did like the explanation on how to use a speculum and were to get a plastic one to see your own cervix!

What had the biggest impact?

The childbirth section--it helped me understand that I controlled my body. It also furthered my desire to become either an women's health practioner or a midwife. The book indirectly helped further me on my career goals. I now work as a RN in women's health care.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

Yes, I was more informed in asking questions and I also sought out alternative medical care. ie. herbalists and midwives

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

I mostly just read the entire book for fun and general information. But my particular favorites were health care, birth control, childbirth.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

Yes, I can't remember any glaring things I disagreed with.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

I was newly discovering the various healthcare issues specific to women, the book helped tie it together. It also was a very powerful book for me to see that there were "other women out there" who were as interested as I was in this subject!! It's difficult, even now, to find women to talk to about vaginas!! (smile)

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

I had very little health care information in school. I read widely myself as a teenager, and the book reinforced what I had learned and also encouraged me to go further and look outside of the conventional medical community.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

I recommended it to several female friends at the time. I knew they were feminists and thought this would encourage them to take more control of their health care.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

No.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Yes, to both questions. And it also led to me working at a feminist health clinic.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

I worked at the New Bedford, Mass. Womens health center as a Health Educator. And I volunteered with the MFM, Mass Friends of Midwives to pass legalization of lay midwifery in Mass. In college I also volunteered for a year in the college's Women's Center doing peer counseling on birth control and rape.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

I was on the Canadian Womens Health Network website and saw the new edition advertised.

Submitted April 16, 2005, 8:34 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1983

Our Bodies, Ourselves (1976 edition)

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

my cousin, their was also a copy in the guidance office of my high school.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

That it was all written down in one place.

What had the biggest impact?

The chapter on sex, although I wasn't having sex it helped me to feel very nornmal concerning my feelings

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

later on it did

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

it nurtured my desire for Woman centered healthcare..... I grew up in a very old fashioned home, it helped to read about others with the same thoughts and ideas I had.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I loved it and bought the 1984 edition for myself... and now I have bought the 2005 edition as a reference to share with my daughter as she grows into a woman.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

nothing that hasn't been addressed in subsequent editions.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

yes, it taught me a lot about my body, what different parts of me were called and where they are located.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

I learned very little in school about womans health and sexuality.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

I have and will continue to recommend the book to everyone because I believe if you own one book about womans health and lives it should be this one.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

nope

not yet

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

no...not an easy thing to find where I live and not easy to find one that takes my healthplan.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

an advocated for Natural Childbirth and Breast feeding.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

From the book

Submitted April 4, 2005, 4:32 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1986

Our Bodies, Ourselves (1973,1976)

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

A friend referred me to the book - we were discussing how women's bodies periodically change and the changes that take place at certain ages.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

I was amazed to find so much information on everything from nutrition to childbearing to alternative life styles and sex to menopause. The open commentaries with women expressing their realities dealing with physical and emotional health - this information just was not available - the books jump started my search for knowledge about my life as a woman.

What had the biggest impact?

I used the book as a research guide. It gave me enough insight into most issues of the time that I could bring questions to my primary physician and gyne related to our discussions about my personal health.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

During my pregnancy my doctor wanted to perform a procedure. I checked the "book" and it informed me of the dangers that my doctor had not discussed with me. I had a talk with my doctor and was able to make a decision based on fact - not just the short hand information the doctor had originally given me. It also opened the lines of communications between the doctor and me - he had a greater respect for me as a knowledge-able patient.

My doctor no longer assumes I was letting him make decisions for me - we had a partnership in my health.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I enjoy every topic in the book - it is a reference guide (along with The New Our Bodies, Ourselves), and my 15 year daughter refers to it - we have some great q&a sessions about the information in the book.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

yes

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

There were no discussion on women's health in school. All we learned was that you'll begin to menstruate to become a women and around age 50 menstruation would stop. We discussed the primary two sexually transmiteed diseases and the penicillian cure. There was definitely no discussion of abortion or lesbian life styles.

The book discussed the physical and mental changes associated with puberty, the female fertility cycle, changes to your bodies chemical make up during menopause, sighns of sexual or uteran disfunctions -

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

I've probably recommended and shared the book with everyone. I encourage them to buy their own copies - I need my for reference and to enlight others.
Friends/ sisters / cousins / daughter

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

no -

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

No - althought I do participate in AIDS Walk, Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, and Komen Race for the cure.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

In search for menopause information at the
http://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/histobos.htm
website.

Submitted March 24, 2005, 7:44 AM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1972 - I thought

Mostly Our Bodies, Ourselves 1973 and 1976

How old were you at the time?

21, and male!

Who brought the book to your attention?

A feminist friend. I was a naive young man with an upbringing in a UK boys grammar school. I had no understanding of what women were.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

Everything! The knowledge that women were different to men was a revelation to me - but the honesty of the books was a shock.

What had the biggest impact?

The depth of knowledge.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

I have given away at least 6, and probably more like 10 copies to friends, colleagues. Those that I don't give away get stolen!

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

My current girlfriend (I was married for 29 years) is post menopausal and I don't remember much advice about that - but maybe I just didn't read it. I've ordered a couple of copies of the new edition.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

A junior version would be good - Our bodies at puberty. Especially one for the early-starters (my daughter was 9 and the first in her class) - but something easy to read for those who are younger or not so good at reading.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

Yes - and it made a big impact on my relationships. I had a better understanding of my girl-friends bodies than they did themselves - this was england in the 1970s and attitudes were primitive.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

I learned nothing in school about any of this.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

All and sundry. See above. I should be on commission.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

I had Ourselves, growing older for a while, but that went off with a friend and I'm not sure I read it much.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

N/A

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

Google looking for Boston Women's Collective

Submitted March 18, 2005, 2:29 AM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1973

The one that you have pictured at the top of this questionnaire; I presume that it must have been 73-74.

How old were you at the time?

26 yrs.

Who brought the book to your attention?

My husband's aunt (mother's sister) gave me a copy because I was having trouble with bladder infections; she was a "with it" adult!

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

The matter-of-fact descriptions and advice and the graphic photos, and it seemed to say something about anything I could think of.

What had the biggest impact?

Helped me to understand about discomfort with intercourse and with my "honeymoon cystitis."

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

I could use the true terms for things rather than the rediculous terms we'd been taught as kids.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

For any question about sexuality or conditions I went to the book first. I was fascinated by homosexuality and was glad that it gave such real information about something I would/could never ask a lesbian friend.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I never discounted anything it said; it was amazingly informative.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

None that I knew of then.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

It helped me extensively with understanding my body; what was normal and what might be a concern.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

It was so far beyond anything I had learned from my mom; she would even call me to have me look things up in it for her. Especially after she reached menopause. What we learned in school was pathetic when compared to the book! Thank God for the book or my sisters and I would have grown up as naive as our mother!

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

I have recommended it to so many friends that I have lost count. And, of course, I bought my own two daughters their own copy. They are quite knowledgeable of their bodies, and aware and comfortable of their own sexuality.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

No, never thought of it.

I haven't -- yet. I didn't know about them until now.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

No.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

No, not in women's health issues.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

I was seeing if there was information on-line that was contained in the book. I am away from my copy. It led me here.

Submitted March 17, 2005, 9:02 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1987

I got a version of the teenage edition (Changing Bodies, Changing Lives) for my 13th birthday in 1987. I got a copy of the 84/92 edition of OBOS when I went to college in 1992.

How old were you at the time?

13/18

Who brought the book to your attention?

My mom gave both books to me.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

When I read the teenage book, everything surprised me exccept the basics about how babies are made -- afterall, i was only 13.

What had the biggest impact?

Overall, I think the best thing I got from the book was that sex was fun, not shameful.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

Yes, I think I'm a very knowledgable health care consumer as a result.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

STDs and pregnancy.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I was completely satisfied with the book.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

The book was much more informative than anything I got from school, and my school was a progressive NYC private school.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

Yes, any teenage girl.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

No.

I read an earlier version of Changing Bodies, Changing Lives in 1987. It was my much-needed guide to puberty.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

I went to Planned Parenthood when I was 17 and became sexually active, because Changing Bodies, Changing Lives said that a gyn exam was necessary.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

I volunteered for a short-time for the RI Women's Health Collective when I was in college.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

From the OBOS website.

Submitted March 15, 2005, 8:21 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1981

Our Bodies Ourselves (1976)

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

My Mom

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

I remember that I loved the pictures of the naked women because they looked so different from my own little girl body. I was especially fascinated with the pictures of birth.

What had the biggest impact?

Well, considering that all these years later I am now studying to be a midwife, I think the pictures of the birth process probably impacted me the most.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

At the time I was of course too young for it to influence that, but it certainly helped to build a foundation for being actively involved in my healthcare and advocating for what I wanted. In fact just recently I went to a women's clinic to be fit for a cervical cap (which I first learned about in OBOS) and the FNP was very reluctant to proceed, but seeing I had done my research and decided this was the birth control method I wanted she agreed to fit me. She nearly gave up when the first cap proved very hard to dislodge, but thanks to my comfort level with my body I simply hopped off the table, squatted and after some work pulled it out. She finally told me that the last time she fit one that it was very hard to remove it and she had always talked women out of it since then. Thank goodness for books like OBOS to empower women to ask for what they want even when clinicians are reluctant!

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

Definitely to learn about all the things that my body would one day be capable of doing. I believe that the honest and open discussion of sexuality in the book fostered a sense of comfort and security in my sexuality and saved me from the shame and discomfort so many of my women friends have about this aspect of thier lives.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I was pretty happy with it.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

Absolutely! It made me appreciate my wonderous female body and see it as good and healthy and normal!

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

This book was nothing like the lessons I later learned in school about women's health and sexuality Which was basically a very abbreviated version of female anatomy and how that fit into sex and how sex should just be avoided and childbirth was painful and messy. All of these facts and images were very hard to relate to myself, it never seemed like the female reproductive anatomy was something that belonged to a real live woman, it just sort of existed on the page of the textbook, luckily I knew better because of OBOS.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

I recommend this book to everyone, which is funny because I haven't had a copy since my father packed up all my mother's books after she died when I was 12. I think I will go out and buy a copy first chance I get, but what I wouldn't give for that tattered old 1970's edition that I had flipped through so many times.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

I thought I had read Changing Bodies, Changing Lives, was there a version of it before 1998? I would have had it back in the mid-80's sometime. If it is the book I am remembering about puberty and adolescent sexuality - it was great!

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Yes, probably.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

I am certainly beginning to be. I am studying to be a doula and a certified nurse midwife. I hope to bring a greater sense of trust and respect for women's bodies to health care and the birthing process. I also recently co-produced and performed in a V-Day production of the Vagina Monologues because every woman needs to be comfortable with this part of her body and this play is a funny, moving, great way to help!

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

From the OBOS homepage.

Submitted March 14, 2005, 4:15 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1978

Our Bodies, Ourselves

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

Post Partum Counselling Group, Vancouver, B.C.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

The candidness and factual writing

What had the biggest impact?

Being able to read this book without feeling shameful, and feeling "normal"!

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

Yes

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

Yes, all of the above

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

Yes

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Don't remember, have not looked at it in many years.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

Yes, Yes, Yes!!

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

Having gone to school in England, where women still referred to their genital as "down there", and having a mother who told me nothing about my body, except that I would "bleed" once a month - this book was so informative, like a breath of fresh air, and, as I said earlier, makde me realize I was normal.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

Over the years, yes. Friends, children of friends colleagues. For obvious reasons.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

Participated in a training film for the National Film Board on Post Partum Depression. Also group work with sexually abused women. I don't know if you would includes these topics under "health"?

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

Just typed in Womens Health Collective. Study is on website.

Submitted March 12, 2005, 7:30 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1973

Our Bodies, Ourselves

How old were you at the time?

Eighteen`

Who brought the book to your attention?

Saw it in a bookstore

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

nothing

What had the biggest impact?

the birth control information

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

yes

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

yes, birth control

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

still have it on my bookshelf

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

yes

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

added a wealth of information never told about it was an invaluable quick reference for all women's health issues

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

yes any young woman, and uninformed older women

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

yes, yes it did

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

was told by my healthcare provider (menopause clinic)

Submitted March 6, 2005, 4:38 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1973

Our Bodies, Ourselves - 1973 edition

How old were you at the time?

18 years old

Who brought the book to your attention?

My best friend, Sally, gave it to me with a wonderful inscription inside on the first page.

She had a sister who was four years older and who was already in college, where OBOS was all the rage.

Sally came from a really progressive family -- they sponsored about 40 Vietnamese refugees in their house, had students from Up With People stay with them when they came to town, had unisex haircuts for awhile, ate a macrobiotic diet (in the 1970s!), and her mother was the spitting image of Mick Jagger (at the time) in a pantsuit!

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

It was 1973, and although I was sexually inactive and very naive, I found all the information interesting -- it was like kind of like going on a worldwide journey through women's health and sexuality - being introducted to the diversity of it all -- like readin National Geographic. I think that it was done very tastefully and, since the emphasis was on accurate information and not on promoting one thing or another, it seemed more like a reference book.

I DID wonder about the people who posed though, because SO MANY PEOPLE had this book and could recognize them if they passed them on the street!

What had the biggest impact?

It was like the internet is today - it was THE one-stop reference for just about anything anyone would want to know or might come across in your life.

For me, it gave me power -- and the message -- to not just rely on doctors -- to go and look it up myself -- at a medical school library if necessary.

Unfortunately for me, what I DIDN'T get until decades later, was that medical schools are BEHIND the popular consumer health section at the bookstores in providing accurate information on women's health.

It was QUITE a revelation, when I realized that I had to go to the bookstore and to meetings sponsored by NON-HOSPITAL & NON-ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION patient support groups in order to get accurate information on Fibromyalgia. This is largely still the case.

There is a SERIOUS politics of knowledge problem and information lag time in medical school training, academic medical centers, and in medical care in general. That's the message that has to get out to people. The bookstore or itnernet is the place TO START oftentimes in dealing with your health.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

Oh yes, a lot of doctors at the time pooh-poohed women's health concerns - told me that when I had kids, I wouldn't have really bad cramps anymore - stuff like that.

This book gave us knowledge so that we were no longer solely at the mercy of bad, ill-informed or bigoted doctors AND we could read it in the privacy of our home and take time to think about it all.

I am now studying to become a consumer health/children's public librarian (a good combination). I think that OBOS really was the impetus for my interest in that AND I would have majored in library and information science in the 1970s if they had not required all those foreign languages at UT-Austin.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

I used it to learn about EVERYTHING!

In college, it was particularly useful about UTI's, yeast, other infections.

I didn't learn anything at home really, and even though we had some semblance of sex ed or health in junior high, it was clinical - involving anatomical charts - no faces, etc., so I didn't really GET IT until I read OBOS and then of course there is a whole other level of "getting it" that comes from actual experience.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I was satisfied with the book except for the following areas:

(1) This is hugely important. Many women START having problems with fibromyalgia, thyroid, fatigue, in their 20s. I felt that some of the issues in the book for older women needed to be addressed in the book for younger women - it would have saved me endless amounts of heartache and money if info on fibromyalgia, hypoglycemia and migraine headaches had been in the book or more extensively covered in the book;

(2) I feel that these issues/diseases need a chapter by themselves:
(a) Migraine headaches (including ALL types of migraines - ocular, variants, gastrointestinal, etc.),
(b) the "fatigue" diseases and causes, (e.g., Fibromyalgia, Hypothyroidism, parasites, obstructive sleep apnea, low iron, low potassium, vestibular problems, etc.);
(c) the brain fog/low productivity diseases and causes (e.g., fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, parasites, obstructive sleep apnea, low iron, low magnesium, vestibular problems, etc.);
(d) insomnia and all its causes, ramifications, etc.;
(e) more on Bladder issues and Bladder health, including
how vestibular probs affect continence and surgical interventions for younger women (that often aren't mentioned until you are older);
(f) more on IBS and how it is often misdiagnosed and how EVERYONE should have a thorough 3-day purged stool test + blood Test + saliva test for parasites if they have IBS symptoms;
(g) LISTING GOOD LABS like Diagnos-techs in Kent, Washington
that do excellent work and have very accurate tests and treatment recommendations on parasites, adrenal issues, women's hormonal problems, etc., even academic medical centers like UCLA do not do NEARLY as good a job of testing for these issues as Diagnos-Techs does;
(h) "bad" cramps and "bad" first day of period -- all of the causes, ramifications, treatments, etc.;
(i) disability -- there is a crazy period where you -- and your doctors -- may tell you that you need to quit your job if you are having so many physical problems, so you quit your jbo and then you don't have disability insurance - when it was not "stress" at all, but a true physical problem; and
(j) how the choice of domestic partners can dramatically affect your life for the + or the -, I think that the new book, "He's Just Not That Into You" does a good job of telling women HOW to discern who is the right person to live with. It should be read by single AND married women. THIS deserves its own chapter too.

(3) I DIDN'T get, until decades later, that medical schools and academic medical centers are WAY BEHIND the popular consumer health section at the bookstores in providing accurate information on women's health. They catch up, often decades later, often by coopting the work of the people who started the movements/treatments, so that they can get credit.

There is a SERIOUS politics of knowledge problem and information lag time in medical school training, academic medical centers, and in medical care in general. That's the message that has to get out to people. The bookstore or itnernet is the place TO START oftentimes in dealing with your health.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

See my extensive answer to #9 above.

I was satisfied with the book except for the following areas:

(1) This is hugely important. Many women START having problems with fibromyalgia, thyroid, fatigue, in their 20s. I felt that some of the issues in the book for older women needed to be addressed in the book for younger women - it would have saved me endless amounts of heartache and money if info on fibromyalgia, hypoglycemia and migraine headaches had been in the book or more extensively covered in the book;

(2) I feel that these issues/diseases need a chapter by themselves:
(a) Migraine headaches (including ALL types of migraines - ocular, variants, gastrointestinal, etc.),
(b) the "fatigue" diseases and causes, (e.g., Fibromyalgia, Hypothyroidism, parasites, obstructive sleep apnea, low iron, low potassium, vestibular problems, etc.);
(c) the brain fog/low productivity diseases and causes (e.g., fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, parasites, obstructive sleep apnea, low iron, low magnesium, vestibular problems, etc.);
(d) insomnia and all its causes, ramifications, etc.;
(e) more on Bladder issues and Bladder health, including
how vestibular probs affect continence and surgical interventions for younger women (that often aren't mentioned until you are older);
(f) more on IBS and how it is often misdiagnosed and how EVERYONE should have a thorough 3-day purged stool test + blood Test + saliva test for parasites if they have IBS symptoms;
(g) LISTING GOOD LABS like Diagnos-techs in Kent, Washington
that do excellent work and have very accurate tests and treatment recommendations on parasites, adrenal issues, women's hormonal problems, etc., even academic medical centers like UCLA do not do NEARLY as good a job of testing for these issues as Diagnos-Techs does;
(h) "bad" cramps and "bad" first day of period -- all of the causes, ramifications, treatments, etc.;
(i) disability -- there is a crazy period where you -- and your doctors -- may tell you that you need to quit your job if you are having so many physical problems, so you quit your jbo and then you don't have disability insurance - when it was not "stress" at all, but a true physical problem; and
(j) how the choice of domestic partners can dramatically affect your life and health for the + or the -, I think that the new book, "He's Just Not That Into You" does a good job of telling women HOW to discern who is the right person to live with. It should be read by single AND married women. This deserves its own chapter too.

(3) I DIDN'T get, until decades later, that medical schools and academic medical centers are WAY BEHIND the popular consumer health section at the bookstores in providing accurate information on women's health. They catch up, often decades later, often by coopting the work of the people who started the movements/treatments, so that they can get credit.

There is a SERIOUS politics of knowledge problem and information lag time in medical school training, academic medical centers, and in medical care in general. That's the message that has to get out to people. The bookstore or itnernet is the place TO START oftentimes in dealing with your health.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

OBOS changed everything for the better.

There was a HUGE difference between my level of knowledge and my Mom's level of knowledge about stuff.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

In 6th grade, I saw a HORRIBLE film about childbirth.

I decided, that day, that I would NEVER have children and go through that. I never wanted to have an abortion either, so as soon as they would let me (at age 29), I had a tubal ligation. I had wanted one much earlier in my 20s, but no one would believe me that my mind was made up on the matter.

I felt that OBOS did a MUCH better job in fairness and accuracy in depicting the pros and cons of all sides of issues like pregnancy, tubal ligation, etc.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

I recommended it to scores of people over the decades. Mostly women.

Because it is your "at-home" place to start to see and understand the panorama of it all.

There should be a campaign to educate medical librarians and consumer health public librarians about the new OBOS.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

No. I didn't know that you could!

Ourselves, Growing Older (1987).

This needs to be updated (obviously).

I felt that some of this info was ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY for inclusion in OBOS.

I also felt that, in a way, this should have been OBOS Part II, not getting older, as many of the issues come up earlier than when you have white or gray hair. The title needs to be rethought, the cover photo, etc., particularly since VERY few people have white hair anymore. We just don't see ourselves that way.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Yes, the Free Clinic in Austin, Texas that was near my apt.

This was a WONDERFUL clinic in the basement of my church and my physician at the UT-Austin health clinic practiced there, so I could continue to see her after I graduated. I was a "paying" client. It was just SUCH a great clinic.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

I lived in women's coops in the 1970s, so the health thing was just part of living there. I currently reside in a UCLA residence hall with 1000 people. I live there with my husband who is a faculty-in-residence. We have done women's health programs for our residents each year we have lived here. Our programs on fibromyalgia and hypoglycemia, in particular, have resulted in students here as well as their parents getting diagnosed and treated.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

The OBOS website.

Submitted February 26, 2005, 4:18 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

197\3

I think I read the first published book, but may have seen excerpts prior to 1973, in Ms. Magazine (?).

How old were you at the time?

I graduated high school in 1973, but I think I read something excerpted or a book review in Ms. before that (early subscriber, started in 10th grade, 1970).

Who brought the book to your attention?

Ms., and then saw it in bookstore, can't remember exactly where that was.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

I thought - WOW. This is it. Everything I had wondered about as a teen, with no real information. I've got to show this to my less-than-feminist girlfriends. First time I saw accurate info and graphics on clitoris, on masturbation, etc.

What had the biggest impact?

This book explained my sexuality to me, just as I was exploring it on my own. The anatomy, the male medical establishment, and why nobody else did anything about this. The idea that women could take control of the bodies - that was the most revolutionary idea. It just confirmed what I already felt, but had nobody to discuss this with, or even the language to talk about it.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

made me very cynical about male doctors - I have always had female doctors since that time! Female ob/gyn, female general, female periodontist. Will never go back.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

yes. Orgasms, anatomy, idea of empowerment.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

no disagreement - just left me wanting to know more,a nd wishing that I could live in an area that had more resources (I was 17 at the time, about to graduate from high school in OH). Did eventually move to Bay Area in early 1980s, but not because of this. Grateful to be here ever since.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

At the time, as young woman, if memory serves, I felt that the book spoke directly to me, but a bit one-off since I wasn't old enough yet to completely explore everything on my own. Gave me goals to work towards in terms of empowerment, but didn't give me a "teen" message. I haven't read any other edition, but believe strongly that very young girls need this empowerment. Have tried with my own daughters, and mostly worked well....but have always wished I could get a pre-teen version of OBOS and say "here, read this and then let's talk."

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

yes, see above comments

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

school sex ed was old early 1960s cartoons whown to me/us in late 60s/early 70s...just limited to menstruation and egg fertilization....100 light years from OBOS!

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

yes, every woman I knew at the time. Obvious as to why - only place to learn about our bodies, and to take control!

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

no. But 35 years later, my oldest daughter just got her internship in women's health at OBOS! Apparently, the message got thru! Politics is personal, as you know.

no - but looking forward to menopause book. Just went thru menopause.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Got abortion in brand-new clinic in 1975. Was feminist in orientation, but legal and licensed and had good male doctors, too.

Then, when needed health care, lived in SF Bay Area, so very easy to get mainstream feminist doctors my own age.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

No. I am extremely active in another socially-concious profession instead (national consultant in affordable housing and community development). But raised feminist daughters, now oldest is in women's health policy field as senior in college. I always told my girls to consider med school, partially for women's health, partially for global health issues spanning both genders, and partially to fix health care system here at home. Guess it worked (daugther is MPH bound, then probably med school, outstanding bioscience work already underway).

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

reading OBOS web page because daughter got internship there for summer 05.

Submitted February 25, 2005, 5:38 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1991

"Our Bodies, Ourselves(1973,1976)

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

my roomate

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

I felt a sence of suprise, curiousity and releif, that there was a book like this at all, that I could look to.

What had the biggest impact?

A sence of empowerment, and community amoungst all women from many different backrounds.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

Yes

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

At the time my concern was to educate myself about "the pill" and condoms and how to not get pregnant.
After reading OBOS I found myself completly curious ( almost as if a third eye had opened) and wanting to know more about woman's issues and the world around me.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

Since the first copy of OBOS I read was from the year I was born I was really impressed by the historical impact of the book. On the other hand -as an 18 year old "punk-rocker" I had to look past the bell bottoms.
(Also the book was written before any knowledge of the Aids epidemic.)
Now at 32 one of my favorite aspects of OBOS is the historical documentation. It's great to look back and see how far we have come and how much more of an ever evolving battle we still have to contend with!
Especially now in these times of conservative bigetory trying to eliminate what should be basic human rights for all women from all backrounds of life. Such as health care, woman's right to choose, and equal rights to marry the partner they love.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

Yes.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

After high school discussing sex in a serious way felt Taboo. OBOS really helped me to begin looking at woman's health in a more confident and mature manner. OBOS helped me gain the courage to seek out contraception and practice safe sex.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

Yes, future roomates and partners.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

Once at a retail job I was working in Harvard Sq. in Cambridge Masachusetts a group of women walked in the door.
As I began talking with these women they explained that they were in the area for a reunion conference for the women contributiors and writers for the OBOS book .
At this moment I actually got to say Thank you! and It was one one of the proudest moments in my life.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Yes and Yes!

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

No. But I really wanted to go to the recent march in Washington D.C.!

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

From the OBOS website

Submitted February 20, 2005, 10:49 AM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1994

1973

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

I was pregnant and staying in a women's shelter. It was a very confusing time for me. I was pregnant and alone and my doctors were talking over my head. The counselor at the women's shelter suggested it as a way to be better informed about my body so that I could understand the changes I was going through.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

Yes, the graphic photos and the themese surprised me, but in a very happy and excited way. I felt like, "Now, this is what I needed a long time ago!"

What had the biggest impact?

Just being able to communicate with my doctor on a more intelligent level, besides having to refer to my vagina as my "pee-pee." It was very empowering for me to go in there and talk about the tests that I WANTED done and asking questions to get the information that I felt I needed instead of being told everything like a little child.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

Yes, it did. I have no qualms about walking out of doctor's office now if I feel he is patronizing me and he does not respond to my questions with respect.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

Yes, I did. Dealing with my pregnancy was the most important issue at the time, however, I didn't stop until I had read every page and since it was not my book I made copies of the pages I liked and I STILL have them!

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

Hmmmm, it was eleven years ago that I sat down and read through it completely, but I do not remember any dissatisfaciton. On the contrary, I regretted never going out to purchase my own copy.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Again, I can not remember, but I think not.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

Yes, it did! I am proud to say that doctors and nurses find my knowledge of my body very refreshing and surprising. It makes the doctor-patient relationship so much more healthier

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

in high school the class was not taken seriously at all. I believe it was a coed class and jokes were made all the time.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

I am buying my own copy now to share with my daughter who I was pregnant with when I first read it.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

I did not.

no I did not know about those books

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

I am not sure abotu that. Does planned parenthood count? If so, then yes, I have and yes it did.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

I put the name of the book into google and the website came up.

Submitted February 14, 2005, 4:52 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1985-ish

Our Bodies, Ourselves (1973, 1976);

How old were you at the time?

12-ish

Who brought the book to your attention?

on a hippe relatives book shelf

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

all, surprisingly thorough

What had the biggest impact?

whole book, i remember being fascinated

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

no, was too young at time

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

was a resource in every aspect

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

i hope it would educate other young women

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

googled the book

Submitted February 10, 2005, 3:32 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1980 (or so)

The first edition of Our Bodies, Ourselves.

How old were you at the time?

About 8.

Who brought the book to your attention?

My mother.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

Nothing surprised me. (I was so little, I don't think anything in the world surprised me, or rather, everything did.)

What had the biggest impact?

The section about lesbians (see further discussion below).

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

No.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

I learned about most aspects of healthcare and sexuality from the book, since I knew so little. The chapter on lesbians was tremendously important to me, though. I knew I was a lesbian from the time I was very small, and I read and re-read the chapter obsessively. (In the first edition the "lesbian" part was a chapter on its own; only in later editions was the material about lesbians incorporated into the book as a whole.) "In Amerika They Call Us Dykes." A very traumatic moment came when I was in high school, so the first edition of the book was no longer available, and my dog literally ate almost the entire chapter on lesbians (because the book was on my floor open to the chapter). I eventually found another used copy, but still. It was very sad. (But the dog had good taste, apparently.)

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I loved the book. The one thing that concerned me, in later years, was that in the earlier edition there was a real bias against psychiatry--I believe there was a reference to "therapists" as "the-rapists."

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

No.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

Yes--it shaped my entire understanding of what an approach to health care was.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

I learned nothing in school about women's health and sexuality.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

In college, I gave it to a woman in my dorm, because she had never seen it, and I thought it was a fundamental text.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

I had the pleasure of going to a presentation by one of the authors/editors when a new edition of the book came out in the early '90s. I think I may have asked some questions, but I can't remember what.

Ourselves, Growing Older.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

No.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

No.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

Actually, I went to high school with Wendy Kline, and ended up at this webpage after looking at something on our high school alumni page.

Submitted February 9, 2005, 4:46 AM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1998

the 1970 edition

How old were you at the time?

about 12

Who brought the book to your attention?

no one, I found it in a used book store and thought it looked intresting

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

I was surprised at the frank discussion of sex and health.

What had the biggest impact?

The section on alternative sexualities

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

yes, the book for me became a subsititute for "the talk", since my parent's neglected to do it.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

yes!

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

yes

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

I didn't really learn anything in school, but the book corrected my misconceptions.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

obos website

Submitted February 8, 2005, 10:44 AM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

In college. I think I was about 19 years old.

I believe it was the second edition; later, I got myself a copy of the original edition. I have both of them stashed away somewhere.

How old were you at the time?

In my late teens, just beginning to come to some kind of a feminist awareness. Probably heading into my junior year of college.

Who brought the book to your attention?

My mother had mentioned it when I was growing up, and I think I saw it for sale at a used book store. I'm not quite sure exactly what made me pick it up, but I remember hanging out a lot in the campus women's center then, and reading a lot of books on feminism. I found the factual nature of the book very comforting and interesting.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

The frankness with which it spoke about various kinds of sexuality, and certainly some of the graphic images--both photos and drawings. It wasn't so much surprise as a kind of long exhalation of breath, an "it's okay, then, to be a woman," moment, and this is part of what being a woman is about. It was really nice to see MANY different kinds of sexuality all placed together and given equal weight -- both lesbianism and heterosexuality. I also found the parts about pregnancy, labor, birth, and breastfeeding really fascinating.

What had the biggest impact?

I'm not sure if it was any one part of the book, so much as the fact that it was written by women, for women, and that it showed the various stages of a woman's life -- and the various paths she might choose -- in a way that wasn't pathologized, the way that most of the medical literature written by men has done. Take a look at Freud's study of neurotic women, or most psychologists' or physicians' case studies of sick women, and hold it up against this quilt of many healthy, productive women living out their lives. It gave me a lot of hope for my future as a woman, and helped me let go of some shame and fear -- both about my sexuality and about the possibility of bearing children (or not).

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

Yes, I think so. I tend to look for female doctors, because I think that a woman will look diffently at another woman. That's not always the case, though. Most importantly, I know now that it's MY body, and that the doctor's job is not to fix it, but to help me heal.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

Yes, although mostly about sexuality. I was pretty well-educated about things like STDs, HIV-prevention, and pregnancy. I came out as a lesbian/bisexual at the age of 19, though, and the book helped a lot with that.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

Not sure. Overall, I agree with it. I consider myself a feminist and don't think that the message in the book is at all over the top. It's definitely presented in a clinical, even-tempered tone.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

It would be nice if there were more of a discussion about bisexuality -- not as a transition between straight and gay or vice versa, but as a bona fide sexual orientation.

I haven't read the newer editions, but it might be interesting to see you address issues of gay marriage, alternative forms of conception/fertility, and alternative family structures. I believe you did that to a certain extent in your previous books. This may be getting too far off the issue of health, though.

Discussion of diet and PCOS might also be helpful.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

More on a spiritual level. I got a lot of the basics from health class.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

Mostly that it's okay to be a woman. And that it's not gross. That's a VERY important lesson, I think. The sections on masturbation, family, and sexuality were particularly important.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

Yes, I'd recommend it to any young woman -- probably after she's out of her parents' house, unless I know the parents well enough. For all the same reasons I think the book helped me. It helps a woman feel better about herself -- and if she DOESN'T know the basic biology of how her body works, then she should!

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

No.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Yes. Only indirectly.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

Yes. I attended the We Won't Go Back rally in the 1990s, volunteered at a women's shelter in 1996, and was a client at planned parenthood. I continue to write letters to my congresspeople about women's health issues, especially abortion rights and access to family planning.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

Wainwrightbank.com

Submitted February 5, 2005, 9:40 AM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1976

Our Bodies, Ourselves

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

A friend and her mother who had given the book to her.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

masturbation

What had the biggest impact?

I think the idea that a group of women was writing about women. It was my first idea that there was a community of women that didn't all revolve around men.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

no, too young

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

Yes, I don't remember if it was directly a result of the contents of the book, but I went out and got my own birth control (an IUD) as soon as I became sexually active (which was, in those days, at age 19).

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I don't recall any disagreement. Some of it was already known territory.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Not that I recall.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

I gave the book to my sister.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

No.

No, I didn't know there were other publications.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

No.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

No.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

Something made me think of the book just now and I did a search for it.

Submitted January 31, 2005, 11:21 AM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1992

The new our bodies, ourselves (1992)

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

my aunt bought it for me when i got my first period

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

at 13, everything surprised me!

What had the biggest impact?

the straight forward information and solutions

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

it made me more aware of what my doctor was saying to me

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

i was able to diagnos myself with chlamydia and get the proper treatment quickly. it helped me be less embarrassed because i had the facts

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

i loved it

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

not yet

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

it made me feel more comfortable with my body. though i still do not feel comfortable masturbating, the book made me realize i'm "normal" either way

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

the information was more in depth and questions were answered you would be afraid to ask in class with your peers

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

my best friend. a great read

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

haven't read them

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

my aunt

Submitted January 23, 2005, 9:42 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

must have been 1970

I read it right after it first came out. I know it was the early 70's.

How old were you at the time?

I was 30 years old and no one had ever mentioned the word Vagina to me, nor had I seen one. Comical today isn't it?

Who brought the book to your attention?

My doctor,a male and a lovely Mormon in Salt Lake City, Utah.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

It was all a surprise, masturbation? I grew up in Germany and in my family body parts were never discussed, let alone intimate details. I doubt that my mother or father or siblings ever masturbated, we wouldn't have known that THAT exists.

What had the biggest impact?

The frank and enlightening explanations, the graphic pictures.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

Absolutely, but I must say, I've had both men and women doctors and both good and bad. I've had some fantastic male doctors and one terrific Rheumatologist and one horrid, horrid female gynecologist, HORRID.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

health care, sexuality.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I was and still am so happy that this book was published.I have given it as a present so many times I lost count.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

If there are or were, I probably wouldn't know it.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

yes it did, it allowed me to fight for myself and make it understood that it is MY BODY and my decision what happens with it.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

Are you kidding? I went to school in Germany 1945-1957, never was anything like that discussed. I doubt that Germans believed that their bodies existed. If I had ever mentioned anything about a Vagina to my mother, my mother would have passed out cold or called me a slut.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

Many many times, to my daughters, to young daughters and sons of friends with their parents permission. It's a bible every young woman and man should have.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

Never did, probably would not have felt myself worthy to comment at the time. Immigrant's fear of bad English usage.

No I have not, but I am about to decide which one of them to give to a young motherless daughter age 12 and your help and advice would be appreciated.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

No, didn't know they exist. On the other hand I've always lived in small out of the way towns due to my husband's occupation.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

No, but active in NOW for a long time and women's issues in the work place and active in health issues in my daughter's lives.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

Went to look up Our Bodies Ourselves because of the decision which one to buy for this 12 year old girl.

Submitted January 15, 2005, 6:28 AM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1975

1973, new our bodies 1992, and foreign translation

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

friend

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

What had the biggest impact?

resource it provided

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

yes

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

all

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

yes

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

more about menopause

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

yes

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

much more

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

friends and step daughters

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

didbn't hear about them - am very interested

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

yes yes

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

not directly

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

through google + name of book

Submitted January 6, 2005, 2:07 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1990

Not sure. It was white / yellow, probably the 1984 edition.

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

It found it on my aunt and uncle's bookshelf.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

The openess of it, photos and themes I had not seen written down before - masturbation, abortion, lesbianism.

What had the biggest impact?

I liked the "for and by women" part of it because it meant solidarity. It was powerful somehow, probably because it was a strong statement and unusual. It was like secrets noone else was talking to me about!

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

It did make me think of my body as being my body. In a way the messages I got at school were positive - "You do not have to give your body away. It is yours, watch out the boys will try and get it!" but that was a loaded responsibility on me as a female in that. I had to do the stopping of the boys, they can't help it. As for and women loving women - that wasn't even raised as far as I remember. This book was open about enjoying your body.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

Yes there was information about enjoying sex and I remember the part about examining your body, using a mirror to examine yourself.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I remember some of the topics were new but I do not think I was in disagreement, it made me more curious about many topics.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

Yes, I think I became more consious of how political women's bodies are in our society (Ireland).

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

Well in my convent school you didn't get any education on safe sex. One biology teacher gave information to pupils about safe sex but that was a brave thing to do given that it was against school principles. Sex before marriage was out. Masturbation was not even joked about. I was 19 before in the company of girls the word masturbation was mentioned and there was a bit of a silence!

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

Yes I must have mentioned it to several friends. My best friend bought me a copy of the book when I was 21 so I must have been going on about it! We were on J1 student Visas in the US in 1993 for the Summer. I was absolutely delighted. I remember thinking I was kind of smuggling it into the country because it had abortion information in it!

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

I thought I would treat myself to the book if I can get it here in Ireland. Then I thought I'd check on the Internet about what editions are out now. I hope the new edition is as good as the one I had. By the way the friend who bought it for me borrowed it and gave it to her friend who must have needed to look up something. I never got it back. It's somewhere in Northern Ireland and I hope it is being used!

Submitted January 1, 2005, 9:33 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1994

Most likely The New Our Bodies, Ourselves (1984, 1992)

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

I found it on the book shelf at my campus women's center. I went out and bought my own copy within a week. I kept it for years, until the time came when I had a friend who needed it more than I. I gave my copy to her.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

I was pretty sheltered in terms of being in touch with my female body, so the whole thing surprised me, but I wouldn't say it was shocking. I was pleasantly surprised and a bit relieved to have access to this kind of information. I read through the whole thing, I especially remember the information on birth control, body image and abortion.

What had the biggest impact?

There wasn't any one section or issue. The impact was it's accesiblity. OBOS was (and is) in many ways like a wise old woman who I could turn to to ask ANY question, without embrassement, without explanations. I didn't have a female relative in my life who could provide me with this information.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

Yes. I realized that I needed to have a female doctor. I am in process of looking for a new doctor... I think I will make sure this book in on her bookshelf!

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

I appreciated the body image chapters and anything related to reproductive system.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

Satisfied. Didn't disagree, didn't have enough knowledge too. Ten years later, I might...

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Don't recall any.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

YES YES YES, as explained before.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

I didn't learned much about women's health and sexuality until my junior year of college when I started taking women's studies courses. The book was quite the supplment!

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

Yes, I gave it to friends and relatives. As a former campus women's center director, I have recommended it to 100s of students. We have even made it available to purchase through our Center.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

Flipped through each. Actually came to the OBOS website today to order a copy of Sacrificing Ourselves for Love.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

I am in process of trying to find a feminist health clinic or at least a feminist-identified doctor. I am presently getting the run around from my healthcare providers and I need someone who takes my symtoms seriously. This book just emphasizes the need to have healthcare providers that are female-focused, which I define as feminist.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

No.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

Through www.ourbodiesourselves.org.

Submitted January 1, 2005, 9:10 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1997

The New Our Bodies, Ourselves (1984, 1992);

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

My mother

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

The loving, graphic photos (esp. around issues of pregnancy and childbirth).

What had the biggest impact?

I think the book helped me internalize the idea the lived experience is as important, if not more so, than clinical or scientific "knowledge".

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

It helped validate my anger/fear toward my medical experiences. The book has continually empowered me to know and trust myself and my experiences.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

I've used to book many times for information about birth control abortion, relationships and sexuality.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I have some issues with the edition I have:

1) I think the information about fertility awareness is somewhat innacurate. I wish there was more information about it - I think an inclusion of how to "chart" would be incredibly empowering.

2) I think that the problems associated with tampons and synthetic hormone birth control were minimized.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

1) I wish that there had been information about the type of non-surgical abortion I had. Even though the procedure was reccomened to me by PP, I was concerened that it wasn't in your book. It was quite popular int eh nineties for very early pregnancies - it involfved some kind of anti-convulsant drug as a vaginal suppository which caused miscarriage.

2) There were no voices of transwomen. In your future editions, please, please, please don't include the voices of transMEN (I know many have roots in the lesbain community .. . . ) and ignore transwomen.

3) More information about eating disorders (and esp. how women of color, poor women and fat women are under-diagnosed).

4) More discussion about fat issues and fat discrimination.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

OBO has been continually affirming, and each time I re-read a chapter, I learn something new.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

I learned almost nothing in school about health anc sexuallity. My mother, however, was very open with me, so OBO simply augemented what she taught.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

I have reccomended the book to many women in my life. Sometimes a women will seem angry and confused, usually with the medical world, and I find that your book is very helpful in these times.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

I am trying to conceive now, so look forward to reading Ourselves and our children.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Planned Parenthood reffered me to a private doctor to recieve a non-surgical abortion (pre RU-48?). I'm not sure if it had anything to do with OBO.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

Is this like capital letters The Women's Health Movement? I don;t know what that means . . . but I have been involved in women's health activism.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

Reffered by some message board some time ago. Someone said the new editionw ould include more trans issues, more information about eating disorders and fat issues. I surfed over here tonight to see if it was true.

Submitted December 22, 2004, 8:59 AM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1976

Our Bodies, Ourselves (1973, 1976)

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

My ex-sister-in-law.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

A full chapter dedicated to lesbianism.

What had the biggest impact?

The orientation of the book, that women should take control of their own health care.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

Yes.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

Yes: birth control; pregnancy; abortion; post-partum depression; menopause; other gynocological problems.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

The 1973 edition seemed to place undo stress on lesbianism. It is still the only edition I have, and now the chapter on menopause seems inadequate.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

My view of the book has changed drastically as I enter a new phase in my life. The 1973 edition was mostly orientated towards women during their reproductive years, and shortchanged topics of cancer and menopause. Of course it did not mention AIDS.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

Yes.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

Complemented what I had learned, which was very rudimental.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

No. I wish there were a Hebrew translation so I could give a copy to my daughter.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

No.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

Google search for book lead me to the Our Bodies Ourselves webpage which lead me to the study.

Submitted November 28, 2004, 8:57 AM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1975

Our Bodies, Ourselves, 1973

Our Bodies, Ourselves, 1973

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

I can't remember. I think I just saw a copy in the bookstore.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

I was surprised about all the very direct information; happily surprised.

What had the biggest impact?

The section about sexually transmitted diseases. I had just learned that I had gotten genital herpes from a sex partner who had NOT informed me about his own herpes. I was devastated.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

No, I had already been to the doctor about it. It was a doctor I picked out of the yellow pages and, thankfully, he was understanding and objective.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

Yes, I think I read the entire book! My knowledge was quite limited up to that point.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I was satisfied. It's so long ago. I remember its being a real eye-opener on many topics but I was grateful for it.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

I don't remember thinking that.

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

Yes, I remember thinking I was in charge of making sure I stayed healthy.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

Hey, I had learned practically NOTHING in school. My sex education in high school was a joke for the most part.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

I had some good talks with two women across the alley!

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

As a high school teacher I used sections of the books about teen girls. Can't remember the exact title of the book I used at the time but I think it was one of yours!

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Yes, there was a place in Minneapolis called Crysallis that I visited several times. That may actually have been the place where I heard about the book - just can't remember.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

No, I wouldn't say that. I've donated money for breast cancer research.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

Well! I'm just now having a herpes outbreak and I remembered your book so I typed in Boston Women's Health Collective to see if I could get some tips on "home remedies" for the condition. I've been lucky through the years; very few outbreaks and only one sore. The last couple of years, the outbreaks have become more frequent, like three times a year. I had been told by a doctor that this could happen. I am distressed by it. Fortunately, my husband is very understanding. I got herpes before I met and married him. So, anyway, I noticed your survey and decided to take it because I remember that your book was very helpful back then on a whole range of issues. (Now, THERE'S an answer I'll bet you weren't expecting!) :)

Submitted November 23, 2004, 10:46 AM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1988

The New Our Bodies, Ourselves

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

Women's health class at University of NE-Lincoln

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

the photographic comparison of intact hymens

What had the biggest impact?

the usefulness of the book. I just referred to it this AM while discussing birth control/pap smear exams with my newly sexually active 17 year old son.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

no--I already had my consciousness raised a couple years prior to reading OBOS.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

oh yes--every chapter of the book has been used by me to learn or teach others (like my son's male and female friends)

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

My disagreements have changed over time, so I can't say that there is anything in particular.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

I don't remember any...

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

yes

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

added immeasurably to what I learned (did I learn ANYTHING?!?!)in school

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

see above #s 6 [I just referred to it this AM while discussing birth control/pap smear exams with my newly sexually active 17 year old son.] & 8 [teach others (like my son's male and female friends)]. Am taking this survey b/s it was a link on the page where I plan to buy several copies to give to my son's female friends.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

nope

All but 'sacrificing...'--they are good additional, focus information, but do not merit "stand alone" status

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

no, see answer # 7 (no--I already had my consciousness raised a couple years prior to reading OBOS.)

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

Only tangetially doing pro choice activism and volunteering at my university's Women's Center

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

Am taking this survey b/s it was a link on the page where I plan to buy several copies to give to my son's female friends.

Submitted November 22, 2004, 5:09 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1974

1973 version

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

Women's resource center at michigan state university

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

Everything! That it was so readable, engaging, informative.

What had the biggest impact?

The energy and empowerment and belief in the importance of individual women's experiences.

That so many lay women believed that they -- and all other women -- were entitled to information about their bodies that previously was only available to formally educated, licensed health care professionals.

And that they could take that belief and through the energy of organized action, research various health concerns and provide information in a readable, educational format to a lay audience.

Plus...including the personal anecdotes and individual feelings about all these issues -- now that was very powerful. Adding the photos and drawings personalized the book and made it three dimensional.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

yes -- gave me confidence to speak up for what i wanted.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

Yes, all areas.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I just wish there was more and eagerly awaited the next version.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Yes -- inherited bleeding disorders that disproportionately affect women... but I've addressed that by being a contributor!

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

Absolutely.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

The book's feminist lens created an entirely different and woman positive interpretation that was not provided in school.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

Of course: all my friends and young teenage first cousin. Now I'll give it to my neices.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

Yes! I introduced myself to Judy Norsigian and Norma Swenson at various women's health conferences.

Ourselves, Growing Older (1987)

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Yes, I was involved (still am) in the then called 'feminist health movement' in the 1970s.

When I was pregnant I sought prenatal/birth care from a free standing birthing center. My knowledge about midwives originally came from OBOS. I've been a long standing midwife advocate.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

Yes:

late 1970's: advocating for improvements in sexual assault services and abortion rights and services in Lansing, MI

early 1980s: Coordinating DES Action and advocating for abortion rights and midwifery services in Michigan

mid 1980's -- advocating for abortion rights and midwifery services in Philadelphia

1990's present -- advocacy and education in California, Hawaii, Nevada, Guam and nationally about Von Willebrand Disease, the most common inherited bleeding disorder

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

I'm an OBOS fan.

Submitted November 15, 2004, 4:48 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1976

our Bodies, Ourselves, 1976

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

It was my mother's book. She had it hid in her closet. I asumme because of the graphic photographs and its address of certain "taboo" issues such as abortion and homosecuality.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

The graphic photographs and frank discusion of sexuality, birth control, abortion, pregnancy and childbirth did surprise me, as well as open my eyes.

What had the biggest impact?

Probably the birth control information - I was a teenager in the deep south at the time, and the information simpky wasn't available. Also, the pregnancy and childbirth section open my eyes - for the first time I think - to the idea that woman does nothave to labor and birth in a hospital with a male doctor as her master, but that woma does have a choice in hoe she brings her children into the world.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

Yes, as an adult.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

Mainly birth control, but as I previously stated it had a major impact on my views of pregnancy and childbirth.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

As I reacll, I was completely satisfied.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

Very much so.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

In the 1970's deep south, such topics other the basics of menstruation were not addressed. The book was, basically, my main source of information until I went to college.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

Yes, my roomate in college. Why? I think she need the information on birth control as much as I did.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

I have all editions of Our Bodies, Ourselves and plan to share them with my daughter when appropraite (she's only 7 now).

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Yes

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

Yes, I have worked to have home birth direct entry midwivery legal in all states

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

Via Google

Submitted November 9, 2004, 7:51 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1975

THE 1973 EDITION, THEN I BOUGHT THE 1984 ONE

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

My sister, and ardent feminist at the time, suggested I get some better knowledge than the medical stories I was being told about my illness

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

I was really relieved there were women out there who cared enough to put all of the medical/gynaecological facts and our rights as women in charge of our bodies in a book in a sensible, non-frightening or confronting way.

What had the biggest impact?

the fact that I actually had a choice about my body, that I didn't have to take the Doctors'/my mother/mother-in-law's/(insert every bloody expert on the planet) opinion as final, that I had some say about what might happen to my body.
I started to get a picture of what was happening to me - both internally with regard to infertility issues, and externally, in the way I felt I was being "handled" by the medical experts.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

Yes, incredibly. I began to speak more plainly and demand the same of him. I insisted on having EVERYTHING explained, every single procedure, I wanted to read my case history notes, (he gave them to me to read)I wanted drawings, books, medical journals, the LOT. I DROWNED in gynaecology texts, but I realised quite quickly that these men in Australia in the late 70s early eighties knew very little about infertility, PID & associated trauma in the pelvic area.
Before undergoing the hysterectomy that we both (finally) thought was inevitable, I insisted they do the laparoscopy first, then talk to me about what they saw & what options there might be. In most hospitals in Australia in 1984, this was unheard of. I caused a lot of dramas at the hospital by not shutting up & allowing that "doctor knows best"...

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

After finding it so useful for dealing with and understanding my fertility issues, I read it from cover to cover. I learned more about the possibility of being a lesbian (I came out as a lesbian in 1986) and I have subsequently re-read up on menopause, herbal & alternative therapies etc as they have become relevant.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

I LOVED IT
I LOVED IT
I LOVED IT

IT LIBERATED ME IN SO MANY WAYS
THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

YES, SEE QUESTION 7

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

I had a catholic boarding school education and we got nothing from those nuns. Everything we knew was a mixture of supposition, conjecture, rumours, hearsay & rubbish.
We weren't even allowed to use tampons unless we had permission from our mothers, and even then the nuns and other girls were really disparaging about it.
Even 25 years on, at a reunion, when I mentioned this book as being a real turning point for me, I got quite a few "looks" from these catholic matrons...

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

Every lesbian I know has a copy of this book - I have recommended it to everyone I talk to who have issues with the "medical model"

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

I have made a point of only dealing with health professionals who are demonstrably feminist and I think that OBOS has influenced this stance to a degree, although some of my experiences have also taught me to be extremely careful in my selection of HCPs.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

through the OBOS website

Submitted October 28, 2004, 4:49 AM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1991

The New Our Bodies Ourselves

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

my aunt

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

I was surprised at the honesty and wealth of information.

What had the biggest impact?

the information about my body as a woman

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

definitely

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

Yes, it did. I used it to learn about female anatomy, safe sex, and bisexuality.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

Yes.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

yes

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

The book explained everything in a simple, nonjudgemental, and clear format that I had never received at school, from my doctor, or my parents.

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

Yes, I did give a copy to my younger sisters and some of my friends because I felt the book was so informative.

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

I have read Ourselves and Our Children and Changing Bodies, Changing Lives. I thought both were wonderful companions to Our Bodies, Ourselves.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

Yes, I did. The book helped me find the resources I needed.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

At the time I read the book, no. However, a few years later, I did become (and still am involved) in the pro-choice movement.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

I looked it up on google to find out when the latest edition would be coming to the bookstore.

Submitted October 25, 2004, 10:06 AM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1992

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

The Women's health clincic on my college campus.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

No nothing surprised me. I was aprreciative of the fact that the book was so forthright regarding every aspect of a woman and her body-her sexuality and her health.

What had the biggest impact?

The enormous information I received.

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

It did not affect the doctor I chose, but I felt more informed when discussing some of the issues I had at that time. My OB-GYN couldn't really tell me anything that didn't make sense with regards to my body.

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

The book was very helpful when I was faced with dealing with some STD's. I wasn't as frightened or nervous.

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

Completely satisfied. I recommended it to all my girlfriends as a "must have". And I have a daughter now-and this is definitely a book she will have when she starts to become a women.

Did you find that there were any important topics left unaddressed?

Did it affect the way that you understood your own body or your health?

Yes, I learned not to be ashamed of my body.

How did the book\'s information contribute to or contrast with what you had learned in school about women\'s health and sexuality?

Did you give or recommend the book to anyone else? If so, who and why?

Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?

No, unfortunately.

Did you ever seek medical treatment or advice from a feminist health clinic? If so, did your decision to do so have anything to do with reading Our Bodies, Ourselves?

No.

Were you ever actively involved in the womenís health movement? If so, in what capacity?

No.

How did you get to this webpage? How did you find out about this study?

I typed in "Our Bodies Ourselves" at GOOGLE search engine.

Submitted October 19, 2004, 8:14 PM

What year did you first read Our Bodies, Ourselves?

1990

The New Our Bodies, Ourselves

How old were you at the time?

Who brought the book to your attention?

No one, I found it.

What, if anything, surprised you about the book? (such as graphic photos, or particular themes such as masturbation or lesbianism)

What had the biggest impact?

In Amerika They Call Us Dykes

Did it influence your choice of doctor or your relationship with your doctor?

Did you use the book as a resource to learn about particular issues of healthcare or sexuality? If so, in what areas?

yes, lesbianism

Were you completely satisfied with the book, or did you disagree with any of the content? If so, in what area(s)?

it made me feel like i wasn't alone