The Nine U.S. 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. Currently there are no plans for another print edition.
Women and Their Bodies, 1970
This first edition, a 193-page stapled, newsprint booklet, was created by the Our Bodies Ourselves founders and published by New England Free Press. The booklet puts women’s health in a radically new political and social context. 5000 printed copies are distributed by hand at workshops and among friends and the booklet becomes an underground success.
Our Bodies, Our Selves, 1971 - 1973
To emphasize women taking full ownership of their bodies, the founders change the book’s title to "Our Bodies, Our Selves". While the book has a new cover, it is otherwise the same as the 1970 print.
Between 1970 and 1973, the New England Free Press released 11 individual printings of the book, and more than 220,000 copies are sold. Small changes were made in some of the printings, but because the texts are primarily the same, each of them are considered the first edition.
In 2025, the Boston Public Library (BPL), in collaboration with Our Bodies Ourselves, digitized each of the New England Free Press printings. You can see them all by clicking on "View the full book" below.
Our Bodies, Ourselves: A Book By and For Women, 1973
The group of founders formally incorporates as the Boston Women’s Health Book Collective in order to negotiate a contract to publish the book with Simon & Schuster. The contract includes a 70 percent discount for health clinics, a clause that is included in every subsequent contract, as well as funding for a Spanish language translation of the book.
Our Bodies, Ourselves: A Book By and For Women, Revised and Expanded (1976)
The founders invite more women to contribute their expertise and experience and publish a major revision of the book, with new content and new topics. The book becomes a bestseller and is recognized by the American Library Association’s Young Adult Service Division as one of the best books of the decade.
Our Bodies, Ourselves: A Book By and For Women, Revised and Expanded (1979)
This edition is very similar to the 1976 edition, with the same cover, preface, table of contents, and page count. However, the 1979 update team made small changes to reflect new health information.
The New Our Bodies, Ourselves (1984)
Completely rewritten, the 1984 edition expands to 647 pages (from 383) and includes new chapters on body image, psychotherapy, women growing older, new reproductive technologies, and environmental and occupational health.
The New Our Bodies, Ourselves, Updated and Expanded for the ’90s (1992)
The 1992 update covers new topics, including the female condom, Norplant, HIV and AIDS, the abortion pill, interstitial cystitis, breast reconstruction after mastectomy, chronic fatigue syndrome, and environmental illness.
The New Our Bodies, Ourselves, 25th Anniversary Edition (1996)
In 1996, in honor of the 25th anniversary of the first publication, Simon & Schuster re-issued the 1992 edition with a new cover and a new preface by Byllye Avery, Helen Rodriguez-Trias, and Gloria Steinem.
Our Bodies, Ourselves for the New Century (1998)
The 1998 edition, the first published in the age of the internet, includes a guide on how to evaluate online health info and how to use the internet to connect with others with similar health concerns. It also includes a new chapter on infertility and pregnancy loss and information on new reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization and surrogacy.
Our Bodies Ourselves: A New Edition for a New Era (2005)
This major revision, the first print published as a regular sized book rather than an oversized one, includes new information on complementary health practices, aging, medical testing and procedures, and navigating the health care system.
Our Bodies, Ourselves (2011)
The 2011 edition of "Our Bodies, Ourselves" – the most recent print edition – focuses on women’s reproductive health and sexuality. It features updated and new content on gender identity, sexual orientation, birth control, abortion, and sexuality and sexual health across the lifespan.
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