--- title: Selected Articles about Our Bodies Ourselves date: 2024-03-13T00:02:00-04:00 canonical_url: "https://ourbodiesourselves.org/selected-articles" section: Selected Articles --- [Donate](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/donate) [The Impact and Influence of Our Bodies Ourselves](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/impact-influence)# Selected Articles about Our Bodies Ourselves The following media highlight the tremendous impact “Our Bodies, Ourselves” — the book — and Our Bodies Ourselves — the organization — have had on the lives, health, and human rights of women around the world. [March 29, 2024 ## Our Bodies Ourselves Talk at Wilmington Public Library Our Bodies Ourselves co-founder Judy Norsigian and Our Bodies Ourselves Today program director Laura Prieto spoke at the Wilmington (Massachusetts) Public Library about the work of Our Bodies Ourselves, locally and globally, from 1969 to now. ![A screenshot of Judy from the event. She is sitting in front of a book shelf and a sign that reads "Our Bodies Ourselves." She has short white hair and is wearing glasses. Below in black is the following text: "Our Bodies Ourselves: Half a Century of Health & Sexuality Education and Activism"](data:image/png;base64,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) Our Bodies Ourselves co-founder Judy Norsigian and Our Bodies Ourselves Today program director Laura Prieto spoke at the Wilmington (Massachusetts) Public Library about the work of Our Bodies Ourselves, locally and globally, from 1969 to now.](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/media-coverage/our-bodies-ourselves-talk-at-wilmington-public-library) [October 26, 2022 ## Iconic Book ‘Our Bodies Ourselves’ Goes Digital Our Bodies Ourselves Today Executive Director Amy Agigian spoke with Ms. magazine about the launch of Our Bodies Ourselves Today. ![Ms Magazine](data:image/png;base64,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) Our Bodies Ourselves Today Executive Director Amy Agigian spoke with Ms. magazine about the launch of Our Bodies Ourselves Today.](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/media-coverage/iconic-book-our-bodies-ourselves-goes-digital) [April 24, 2021 ## Our Bodies, Ourselves: A BBC Radio 4 Production A wonderful hour-long radio documentary that features interviews with founders of Our Bodies Ourselves alongside vivid recordings from the early feminist movement. A wonderful hour-long radio documentary that features interviews with founders of Our Bodies Ourselves alongside vivid recordings from the early feminist movement.](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/media-coverage/our-bodies-ourselves-a-bbc-radio-4-production-2) [April 22, 2021 ## The Clitoris, Pain and Pap Smears: How Our Bodies, Ourselves Redefined Women’s Health This article from The Guardian delves into the history and legacy of Our Bodies Ourselves by following the journeys of OBOS co-founder Wendy Sanford and OBOS board member Diana Namumbejja Abwoye. This article from The Guardian delves into the history and legacy of Our Bodies Ourselves by following the journeys of OBOS co-founder Wendy Sanford and OBOS board member Diana Namumbejja Abwoye.](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/media-coverage/the-clitoris-pain-and-pap-smears-how-our-bodies-ourselves-redefined-womens-health) [June 3, 2019 ## Our Bodies, Ourselves Was a Radical Manual for a Generation of Women. In the Era of Misinformation, We Need It More Than Ever An article from Glamour that examines the proliferation of the hugely profitable and highly speculative "health and wellness” industry and talks about the need for "rigorous, collaborative, untainted medical information" like that provided by Our Bodies Ourselves. An article from Glamour that examines the proliferation of the hugely profitable and highly speculative "health and wellness” industry and talks about the need for "rigorous, collaborative, untainted medical information" like that provided by Our Bodies Ourselves.](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/media-coverage/our-bodies-ourselves-was-a-radical-manual-for-a-generation-of-women-in-the-era-of-misinformation-we-need-it-more-than-ever) [May 10, 2019 ## Our Bodies Ourselves: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow Three generations of feminists came together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first meeting of the Our Bodies Ourselves founders and to discuss the future of women’s health activism. Three generations of feminists came together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first meeting of the Our Bodies Ourselves founders and to discuss the future of women’s health activism.](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/media-coverage/our-bodies-ourselves-yesterday-today-and-tomorrow) [May 2, 2018 ## Feminist Activists Today Should Still Look to ‘Our Bodies, Ourselves’ This opinion piece explores the beginnings of Our Bodies Ourselves and the model the group uses to encourage people to take action in the face of diversity and uncertainty. This opinion piece explores the beginnings of Our Bodies Ourselves and the model the group uses to encourage people to take action in the face of diversity and uncertainty.](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/media-coverage/feminist-activists-today-should-still-look-to-our-bodies-ourselves) [January 1, 2014 ## She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry Mary Dore's film, She's Beautiful When She's Angry, is a provocative, rousing documentary that resurrects the buried history of the outrageous, often brilliant women who founded the modern women’s liberation movement from 1966 to 1971. Mary Dore's film, She's Beautiful When She's Angry, is a provocative, rousing documentary that resurrects the buried history of the outrageous, often brilliant women who founded the modern women’s liberation movement from 1966 to 1971.](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/media-coverage/shes-beautiful-when-shes-angry) [May 1, 2014 ## Afterword to “Trans Bodies, Trans Selves” by OBOS Founders Forty-three years after the publication of "Our Bodies, Ourselves", a group of people, inspired by the book, came together to create a health advocacy resource by and for trans people.In the afterw... Forty-three years after the publication of "Our Bodies, Ourselves", a group of people, inspired by the book, came together to create a health advocacy resource by and for trans people.In the afterw...](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/media-coverage/afterword-to-trans-bodies-trans-selves-by-obos-founders) [March 1, 2014 ## Formative Years: The Birth of Our Bodies Ourselves In March 2014, four of the co-founders of Our Bodies Ourselves — Joan Ditzion, Paula Doress-Worters, Nancy Miriam Hawley and Wendy Sanford — presented a panel on the history of the organization and... In March 2014, four of the co-founders of Our Bodies Ourselves — Joan Ditzion, Paula Doress-Worters, Nancy Miriam Hawley and Wendy Sanford — presented a panel on the history of the organization and...](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/media-coverage/formative-years-the-birth-of-our-bodies-ourselves) [October 18, 2011 ## 'Our Bodies' Gets an Israeli Makeover: Women's Classic Tells How to Say 'Menopause' in Hebrew and Arabic In addition to producing the books, Women and Their Bodies runs an online information center (which has been hacked multiple times since the book was published) and an ongoing series of health work... In addition to producing the books, Women and Their Bodies runs an online information center (which has been hacked multiple times since the book was published) and an ongoing series of health work...](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/media-coverage/bodies-gets-israeli-makeover-womens-classic-tells-say-menopause-hebrew-arabic) [April 1, 2010 ## A Conversation with Judy Norsigian OBOS founder Judy Norsigian discusses the early history of the organization, the conditions that drove the founders to learn about their health and bodies, the early wins of the wome... OBOS founder Judy Norsigian discusses the early history of the organization, the conditions that drove the founders to learn about their health and bodies, the early wins of the wome...](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/media-coverage/a-conversation-with-judy-norsigian) [January 1, 2010 ## “Our Bodies, Ourselves” and the Work of Writing “This \[book\] … tells the story of the first two decades of the pioneering best-seller―a collectively produced guide to women’s health―from its earliest, most experimental and revolutionary years, w... “This \[book\] … tells the story of the first two decades of the pioneering best-seller―a collectively produced guide to women’s health―from its earliest, most experimental and revolutionary years, w...](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/media-coverage/our-bodies-ourselves-and-the-work-of-writing) [October 1, 2008 ## Write a Chapter and Change the World: How the Boston Women’s Health Book Collective Transformed Women’s Health Then — and Now “From the first newsprint edition of "Our Bodies, Ourselves", which became an underground sensation, to the brand new book, "Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth", released in March 2008, the... “From the first newsprint edition of "Our Bodies, Ourselves", which became an underground sensation, to the brand new book, "Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth", released in March 2008, the...](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/media-coverage/write-a-chapter-and-change-the-world-how-the-boston-womens-health-book-collective-transformed-womens-health-then-and-now) [August 20, 2008 ## Encouraging Women to Consider a Less Medicalized Approach to Childbirth Without Turning Them Off: Challenges to Producing “Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth” “Within the United States, women routinely confront negative and distorted ideas about birth, and highly medicalized births are the norm. The writers and editors of "Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnanc... “Within the United States, women routinely confront negative and distorted ideas about birth, and highly medicalized births are the norm. The writers and editors of "Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnanc...](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/media-coverage/encouraging-women-to-consider-a-less-medicalized-approach-to-childbirth-without-turning-them-off-challenges-to-producing-our-bodies-ourselves-pregnancy-and-birth) [June 16, 2008 ## Translating “Our Bodies, Ourselves” “The progressive social movements of the last half-century produced millions of pages of print, from manifestos to journalism to novels, but nothing as influential as "Our Bodies, Ourselves". The f... “The progressive social movements of the last half-century produced millions of pages of print, from manifestos to journalism to novels, but nothing as influential as "Our Bodies, Ourselves". The f...](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/media-coverage/translating-our-bodies-ourselves) [September 1, 2007 ## The Making of “Our Bodies, Ourselves”: How Feminism Travels Across Borders “Based on interviews with members of the Boston Women’s Health Book Collective, as well as responses to the book from readers, and discussions with translators from Latin America, Egypt, Thailand, ... “Based on interviews with members of the Boston Women’s Health Book Collective, as well as responses to the book from readers, and discussions with translators from Latin America, Egypt, Thailand, ...](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/media-coverage/the-making-of-our-bodies-ourselves-how-feminism-travels-across-borders) [July 1, 2007 ## Transforming Doctor-Patient Relationships “Historians often ponder how books change history. "Our Bodies, Ourselves", the enormously popular and influential work, will long be studied for igniting and sustaining a worldwide women’s health ... “Historians often ponder how books change history. "Our Bodies, Ourselves", the enormously popular and influential work, will long be studied for igniting and sustaining a worldwide women’s health ...](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/media-coverage/transforming-doctor-patient-relationships) [April 1, 2005 ## “In America They Call Us Empowered”: Lesbianism and “Our Bodies, Ourselves” An in-depth look at the 1973 chapter, “In Amerika They Call Us Dykes,” the only chapter not composed by the original Boston Women’s Health Book Collective. Written instead by the Boston Gay Collect... An in-depth look at the 1973 chapter, “In Amerika They Call Us Dykes,” the only chapter not composed by the original Boston Women’s Health Book Collective. Written instead by the Boston Gay Collect...](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/media-coverage/in-america-they-call-us-empowered-lesbianism-and-our-bodies-ourselves) [April 1, 2005 ## “Please Include This in Your Book”: Readers Respond to “Our Bodies, Ourselves” “This paper focuses on those ordinary women who responded to editions of "Our Bodies, Ourselves" in the 1970s and 1980s, illustrating how readers played a crucial role in the development and articu... “This paper focuses on those ordinary women who responded to editions of "Our Bodies, Ourselves" in the 1970s and 1980s, illustrating how readers played a crucial role in the development and articu...](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/media-coverage/please-include-this-in-your-book-readers-respond-to-our-bodies-ourselves) [April 1, 2005 ## “Our Bodies, Ourselves” for a New Generation: Revising a Feminist Classic In this special section of the NWSA Journal, four members of the editorial team for the 2005 edition, "Our Bodies, Ourselves for the New Century", share their experiences, what they aimed to achiev... In this special section of the NWSA Journal, four members of the editorial team for the 2005 edition, "Our Bodies, Ourselves for the New Century", share their experiences, what they aimed to achiev...](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/media-coverage/our-bodies-ourselves-for-a-new-generation-revising-a-feminist-classic) [March 21, 2005 ## The Travels of Our Bodies, Ourselves OBOS co-founder Jane Pincus tells the story of how Our Bodies Ourselves came into being and explores the challenges faced by women around the world who translated or adapted the book into their own... OBOS co-founder Jane Pincus tells the story of how Our Bodies Ourselves came into being and explores the challenges faced by women around the world who translated or adapted the book into their own...](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/media-coverage/the-travels-of-our-bodies-ourselves) [January 1, 2002 ## Feminist Body/Politics as World Traveller: Translating “Our Bodies, Ourselves” In this article from The European Journal of Women's Studies, feminist scholar Kathy Davis examines the impact of the global translations and adaptations of "Our Bodies, Ourselves." In this article from The European Journal of Women's Studies, feminist scholar Kathy Davis examines the impact of the global translations and adaptations of "Our Bodies, Ourselves."](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/media-coverage/feminist-body-politics-as-world-traveller-translating-our-bodies-ourselves) [November 1, 1999 ## The Boston Women Health Book Collective and “Our Bodies, Ourselves”: A Brief History and Reflection This article, written by the founders, offers a history of "Our Bodies, Ourselves" and the Boston Women’s Health Book Collective. It looks at the organization’s transition from a small, grassroots ... This article, written by the founders, offers a history of "Our Bodies, Ourselves" and the Boston Women’s Health Book Collective. It looks at the organization’s transition from a small, grassroots ...](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/media-coverage/the-boston-women-health-book-collective-and-our-bodies-ourselves-a-brief-history-and-reflection) [May 7, 1998 ## Building a New Bodies: The Classic Women’s Health Manual is Updated for the Age of Corporate Medicine In 1998 the 7th edition of "Our Bodies, Ourselves" was published. This article features an interview with OBOS founder Paula Doress-Worters and an exploration of what has and what hasn’t changed in... In 1998 the 7th edition of "Our Bodies, Ourselves" was published. This article features an interview with OBOS founder Paula Doress-Worters and an exploration of what has and what hasn’t changed in...](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/media-coverage/building-a-new-bodies-the-classic-womens-health-manual-is-updated-for-the-age-of-corporate-medicine) [January 1, 1988 ## Taking Our Maternal Bodies Back: Our Bodies, Ourselves and the Boston Women’s Health Book Collective This article looks at the history and development of the text in "Our Bodies, Ourselves" from the 1970 edition to the 1984 edition. It focuses primarily on the content on pregnancy and birth, and h... This article looks at the history and development of the text in "Our Bodies, Ourselves" from the 1970 edition to the 1984 edition. It focuses primarily on the content on pregnancy and birth, and h...](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/media-coverage/taking-our-maternal-bodies-back-our-bodies-ourselves-and-the-boston-womens-health-book-collective) ![](/assets/img/monogram.webp)More Impact & Influence - [ Selected Articles about Our Bodies Ourselves](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/selected-articles) - [ The Impact of “Our Bodies, Ourselves” on Readers](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/impact-influence/the-impact-of-our-bodies-ourselves-on-readers) - [ “In Amerika They Call Us Dykes”: The Evolution of the Lesbian Chapter in “Our Bodies, Ourselves”](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/impact-influence/in-amerika-they-call-us-dykes-the-evolution-of-the-lesbian-chapter-in-our-bodies-ourselves) - [ How Our Bodies Ourselves Inspired "Trans Bodies, Trans Selves"](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/impact-influence/how-obos-inspired-trans-bodies-trans-selves) - [ The History of the Women’s Health Movement](https://ourbodiesourselves.org/impact-influence/the-history-of-the-womens-health-movement) Share [](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)[](javascript:void();)