The Impact of “Our Bodies, Ourselves” on Readers

Cover of the 2011 edition of "Our Bodies, Ourselves" — Cover of the 2011 edition of “Our Bodies, Ourselves”

Over the years, many readers have talked about what Our Bodies, Ourselves has meant to them and shared their experiences with the book and its impact on their lives.

Cover of the 1973 addition of "Our Bodies, Ourselves" — Cover of the 1973 addition of “Our Bodies, Ourselves”

Readers — both women and men — have recalled how they first discovered Our Bodies, Ourselves (peeked at their aunt’s copy, found it in a used bookstore…). They described what they learned about periods, sex and more, and how the book helped them to become comfortable with their bodies and sexuality. Some also wrote about how it inspired them to become a physician or midwife, or to take up a political cause.

You can read some of these stories in the following places:

“Please Include This in Your Book”: Readers Respond to “Our Bodies, Ourselves”
This 2005 paper by sociologist Wendy Kline examines the stories of ordinary women who responded to the 1970s and 1980s editions of “Our Bodies, Ourselves.”
In 2011, in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of “Our Bodies, Ourselves,” readers submitted their memories and stories. View these stories on our blog.
In 2018, upon hearing that Our Bodies Ourselves was cutting back on programs and transitioning to a volunteer-run organization, many people shared their stories about how the book and the work of Our Bodies Ourselves changed their lives. You can read the comments here.