History & Legacy
Since its inception, Our Bodies Ourselves has had a tremendous impact on the lives, health, and human rights of women across the world. Explore this section to learn more about the history and legacy of Our Bodies Ourselves and the Boston Women’s Health Book Collective.
Our Story
In May of 1969, as the women’s movement was gaining momentum, a group of women in Boston met during a “female liberation conference” at Emmanuel College. In a workshop titled “Women and Their Bodies,” they shared their experiences with doctors and their frustration at how little they knew about how their bodies worked.
The discussions were so provocative and fulfilling that they formed the Doctor’s Group, the forerunner to the Boston Women’s Health Book Collective, to find out more about their bodies, their lives, their sexuality and relationships, and to talk with each other about what they learned.
The Impact and Influence of Our Bodies Ourselves
Since 1970, Our Bodies Ourselves has had an enormous impact on women's health at both the individual and systemic level. It has inspired and shaped the women's health movement. It has shifted the public discourse on women's health and had an enormous influence on the generations of women who have read it.
“Our Bodies, Ourselves”: The Nine U.S. Print Editions
The print edition of "Our Bodies, Ourselves" – first published in 1970 – was revised or updated nine times over forty years. The most recent edition was published in 2011.
“Our Bodies, Ourselves” Worldwide: Global Translations and Adaptations
Ever since the first English edition of "Our Bodies, Ourselves" was published in 1970, the book has been translated and adapted into many different languages. As far back as 1974, publishers and women’s organizations in Europe sought to use it as a resource for their countries. Many of these moved away from commercially produced direct translations to resources that were adapted by women who lived in the communities where the materials were created.
As of June 2025, resources based on "Our Bodies, Ourselves" have been developed in 34 different languages.
“Our Bodies, Our Blog” archives
Our Bodies, Our Blog – a series of blog entries that examined the intersection between health, politics, and reproductive justice – was active between 2006-2023.