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
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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?]
The New Our Bodies, Ourselves (1984, 1992)
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How old were you at the time?
Who brought the book to your attention?
Friends or college professors. I may have purchased it when I started in recovery for incest issues.
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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.
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What had the biggest impact?
Being told it was okay to be who I was and where I was with my own sexuality.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Did you ever contact the authors with additional comments or questions?
No, but I would like to (see above).
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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?
No, but I'm sure I will need to reference some of them as I enter my mid-life and older years.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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